In co-operation with partners from business and industry, Paderborn University, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts run the “InnovationslaborOWL” innovation lab, reaching a target group of approx. 65,000 students, academics and researchers in the region.

Parties involved: 4 universities
Lead university: Paderborn University
Funding amount: €1.27 million (€550,000 Paderborn University; all others €350,000 each, with planned total expenditure of €1.59 million)
Third-party funding sources: EU, “Start-UP-Innovationslabore NRW” funding competition

Further information: InnovationslaborOWL

To encourage more gifted school pupils from educationally disadvantaged households to study for the right degree for them in Ostwestfalen-Lippe – this is the aim of the “Campus OWL Talent Development: Cultivating Talent in OWL” project. To this end, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, which is heading up the project, is collaborating with three other universities within the Campus OWL network – Bielefeld University, Paderborn University and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences – on co-operation projects with schools in the region. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia is funding the project with €2 million.

Parties involved: 4 universities
Funding amount: €2 million
Duration: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020
Lead university: OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Third-party funding sources: State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Further information: www.talentscouting-owl.de 

The “Integra” programme gives student refugees at German universities, colleges and foundation colleges the opportunity to prepare to study for a degree in Germany. The aim is to help them access the higher education sector as quickly as possible.

Parties involved: All 5 universities
Duration: 2016 - 2017
Funding amount:  €660,000
Third-party funding sources: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Further information: Integra

The aim of the joint project “Campus OWL – Study doubts and dropping out” is to further strengthen the co-operation between the four participating universities, as well as their co-operation with non-university partners in the OWL region. The objective: To give students tailored, personal support.

Parties involved: 4 universities
Duration: 2018 - 2022
Lead university: Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
Funding amount:  € 924,000
Third-party funding sources: NRW university competition for the allocation of funds from the Higher Education Pact budget

Further information: Press release

The Rail Campus OWL is being built in Minden. In the future, research, teaching and work will be carried out here on the topics of automation in the rail system, innovative maintenance and networked transport logistics. The planned rail innovation ecosystem is supported by Campus OWL e.V., together with Deutsche Bahn (DB) and other partners from industry. In addition to research and development, education is a key aspect. A new course of study "Intelligent Railway Systems" is being developed in cooperation with the universities.

Parties involved: 4 universities
Lead university: OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Funding amount: €19 million

Further information: UrbanLand OWL - REGIONALE 2022 / Press release