IHK President Henner Pasch emphasised the importance of close cooperation between business and science in the region. "Our companies benefit considerably from having the University of Wuppertal here on site. The university is an important partner for key issues for our members, such as securing skilled labour and maintaining and expanding innovative capacity."

The university, in turn, is making a valuable offer to its students with this cooperation: "Through corporate cooperation, they can not only explore professional fields, but also make valuable contacts for the time after their studies," explains University Rector Prof Birgitta Wolff.

Henner Pasch is convinced that many companies could utilise the cooperation even more intensively. "There is no minimum size for companies to work profitably with the University of Wuppertal, and smaller companies in particular can even benefit from this," continued the IHK President.

Birgitta Wolff emphasised the benefits of intensive cooperation in order to drive ideas forward by joining forces. By bringing together researchers from different disciplines, the university offers a broad interdisciplinary repertoire of solutions, for example to tackle the energy and mobility transition or the major issues of digitalisation. "As University of Wuppertal, we are rooted in an inspiring environment. The tradition-rich innovation and economic region offers numerous points of contact to jointly answer important questions about the future and offer practical solutions to pressing challenges. Companies are always welcome to approach us with their questions."