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Representatives of the university network meet with North American partners to discuss opportunities for research cooperation in the field of „Future of Work“.

The Campus OWL New York office was founded in 2019 and represents the five public universities in Eastern Westphalia-Lippe (OWL). On February 27^th, 2020 the liaison office in the German House, which houses the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, the German Consulate General and the German Center for Research and Innovation, offered an opportunity for international exchange. Researchers from universities in OWL and US partners presented their current research topics and discussed possible research collaborations.

Whether human-robot interaction, human-centered assistance systems, precision farming or the digital transformation of work: The contributions of the German and American researchers highlighted not only the diversity of the universities‘ research topics but also opportunities for international cooperation.

„For the opening event of the liaison office, we chose ‚Future of Work‘, a topic in which the OWL region is particularly strong and which offers great potential for cooperation with North American partners,“ said Dr. Katja Simons, executive director of the liaison office. „The topic embodies exactly what the OWL Campus and the region stand for: innovation, close cooperation between industry and universities as well as applied research.“

Funding organisations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) also presented concrete funding opportunities to support research collaborations and students and researchers during stays abroad, for example.

At the public evening event that followed, the German Consul General David Gill and the director of the DAAD North America Office, Benedikt Brisch, gave welcome remarks. A string quartet with Maren Rothfritz, graduate of the Detmold University of Music, provided musical accompaniment. Sociologist Jun. Prof. Dr. Anja Abendroth from the Bielefeld University discussed the design of flexible working environments in the age of digitalisation in a conversation with the journalist Felix Zeltner.

Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, chairwoman of Campus OWL and president of Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences: „The presentations and discussions highlighted the strengths and potential of Campus OWL and the region. The liaison office makes an important contribution to the expansion of our international network with partners from science, research and industry“. In addition to Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Sagerer, Rector of Bielefeld University, Prof. Dr. Torsten Meier, Vice President for International Relations at Paderborn University, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Krahl, President of the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Prof. Dr. Thomas Grosse, Rector of the Detmold University of Music and other representatives of the universities attended the event.

All five universities in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL), Germany – Bielefeld University, Paderborn University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and Detmold University of Music – work together under the name of Campus OWL to strengthen collaborative efforts in the OWL region in the field of research and transfer, study, teaching and professional development as well as joint infrastructure and administration. The liaison office in New York supports and promotes study and research opportunities and fosters cooperation with North American partner institutions.