InNoWest – Just do it! Sustainable and Digital together in North-West Brandenburg

The InNoWest project addresses the strategic, structural and implementation levels of knowledge and technology transfer in a triad. At the implementation level, agile innovation teams work together with the practice partners to identify regional needs in the three areas of "user-centred digitalisation", "climate-friendly transformation" and "shaping society". The teams develop and test innovative and contextualised solutions based on these needs. Each innovation team combines different areas of expertise from the three universities in the network and works on an interdisciplinary basis.

Our transfer projects start where solutions are sought on site. For very specific questions such as: What are climate-friendly remodelling measures? Or: How can students support organisations or educational institutions with concepts for greater sustainability? Together with our partners from politics and local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises and civil society, we are working on promising pilot projects. Sharing ideas and working together on solutions are our top priority.

• InNoWest implements pilot projects that improve the quality of life of local people – for example, by revitalising vacant spaces, improving the digital infrastructure or promoting good social interaction.
• InNoWest ensures that scientific findings also reach areas far removed from universities. We support regional learning processes and the transparent transfer of knowledge.
• InNoWest strengthens communication between universities and society and initiates and deepens regional educational processes.
• InNoWest establishes structures for knowledge transfer that is focussed on the needs and conditions of the respective practice partners.
• InNoWest creates incentives to win over more social groups for exchange and cooperation.

The network is already well connected in the region thanks to the existing presence centres of Brandenburg's universities in North-West Brandenburg. The "Wissensberge" transfer location was created as a presence centre on the "discovery track" at Wittenberge railway station. The transfer location will be further expanded as part of the project and supplemented by pop-up science and other transfer locations that act as mobile showcases for the network and are also platforms and meeting places for ideas and transfer.

The project works together with practical partners such as local authorities and administrations, business development organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises from the region and civil society initiatives. To ensure that the transfer of expertise between universities and practice partners is successful and that InNoWest can jointly shape transformation processes digitally and sustainably, the project aims to further strengthen the conditions for equal participation, especially in this area of North-West Brandenburg that is remote from higher education. For this reason, the findings and knowledge gained by InNoWest will be made accessible to all interested parties and the broadest possible subsequent utilisation will be sought.

InNoWest is already implementing pilot projects that very specifically improve the quality of life of local people – for example by revitalising vacant places, improving the digital infrastructure or promoting good social interaction.

We are developing and implementing transfer projects in three fields. Each university is in charge of one of the three fields:

Our contact persons are available for further information on the university network and the individual projects as well as if you are interested in co-operation.

Prof. Dr. Antje Michel is the spokesperson for sub-project 3 "Knowledge transfer and regional learning processes"

Prof. Dr. Armin Schachameier is the spokesperson for sub-project 6 "Education for sustainable development and participation"

Contact persons at the InNoWest partner universities will also be happy to provide you with further information.