We are taking our long-standing collaboration with the Wuppertal Institute (WI) to a new level. With a cooperation agreement, we are jointly providing scientific impetus and developing innovative solutions for the pressing challenges of our time.

Interdisciplinary research projects, sustainability-oriented courses, subject-specific workshops and joint publications are planned. In addition, students have the opportunity to go to the WI for internships, research work or a working student position. Events in which both partners are involved - such as the Humboldt Summer School at the beginning of September at the UW/H - underpin the plan to make optimum use of synergies for joint topics. Cooperation will be further strengthened through the integration of our respective networks.

Focused cooperation in key areas

One focus, for example, is on health and sustainability: together, we are analyzing how the climate crisis is impacting the healthcare system; we are developing scientifically sound strategies so that the system can adapt to the new challenges that arise, for example, from heat waves or new disease patterns that are attributable to the climate crisis. In addition, the ecological footprint of the healthcare system itself is currently still very high - not least due to the massive consumption of energy and materials by healthcare facilities (hospitals, etc.). We develop and promote sustainable solutions to reduce emissions in this area.

We also focus on the topics of business, politics and sustainability: How can companies implement their commitment to sustainability in the face of increasing demands from politics and society while remaining economically successful? How can financial systems and investment models position themselves for the future? And what can sustainable urban development look like? These and other questions are dealt with in joint projects and addressed in teaching and research.