Innovations for the future: Vechta is committed to rural growth!

Innovations for the future: Vechta is committed to rural growth!

The inaugural lecture by Prof. Dr. took place on July 16, 2025. Sascha Klein took place at the University of Vechta, an event that attracted around 40 guests in the university's music hall. With the title “Thinking about innovation, shaping transformation – perspectives for a research agenda in rural areas,” Klein addressed the challenges and opportunities in rural regions. This lecture marks the start of his junior professorship for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas, which is sponsored by the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The professorship is part of the research cluster “Sustainability-oriented transformation research in rural areas”, which supports a total of four professorships for a period of six years. This cluster is supported by various partners, including the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Agricultural and Nutrition Forum Oldenburger Münsterland e.V. The interim president of the university, Prof. Dr. In his opening speech, Thomas Bals emphasized the outstanding importance of transformation research for the future of the university and thanked the donors for their support.

Challenges in rural areas

In his lecture, Klein pointed out the pressing challenges facing rural areas. These include climate change, advancing digitalization and demographic change. In order to meet these challenges, innovative ideas, new collaborations and locally adapted solutions are necessary. Klein described the Oldenburger Münsterland as the “Silicon Valley of the agricultural industry” and noted that companies that strategically anchor sustainability are more innovation-friendly.

In his research, Klein examined how sustainability aspects influence the ability to innovate. Companies that position themselves sustainably often show a stronger goal orientation in terms of technology, market and corporate management. His remarks also included the development of new business models based on different values ​​than traditional companies. Klein highlighted the importance of networks to support innovation development in these areas.

Research projects and initiatives

As part of the research activities, several research proposals and projects are currently being implemented for the Oldenburger Münsterland. The research cluster, which was founded in February 2022, aims to better understand and actively shape transformation processes in rural areas. The cluster's financing amounts to 3.5 million euros, with the IHK and the Agricultural and Food Forum each contributing one million euros and the districts of Cloppenburg and Vechta as well as cooperatives and the Raiffeisen Foundation each raising 500,000 euros.

The initiative to shape rural innovation is also supported by the LIONA project. This project examines rural innovation ecosystems and is part of the BMBF-funded We! alliance “Land Advantage”. The aim of LIONA is to support innovation-based structural change in structurally weak rural regions. The focus is on social innovations that have a significant social impact.

In the coming period, action-oriented guidelines for innovation promotion and innovation management will be derived, which are intended to respond to rapidly changing needs in rural regions. The findings from these projects not only promote understanding of rural innovation ecosystems, but also the development of new approaches to shaping these spaces.

The final event of the LIONA publication will take place on May 21, 2025. This study is entitled “Strengthening Innovation – Strengthening Regions: Making Rural Innovation Ecosystems Sustainable” and will provide important impulses for all actors in rural areas.

In summary, it can be said that the innovative transformation research, as carried out by Prof. Dr. Sascha Klein and various projects such as LIONA are being promoted, are crucial for the future of rural areas. It remains to be seen what progress the coming years will bring and how these concepts will become more important in practical implementation.

While further projects are being initiated specifically for the development of rural areas, research will remain essential in order to preserve the strengths of rural characteristics and at the same time provide new impulses for the future. Information and details about these research initiatives can be found on the websites of the relevant institutions such as University of Vechta, Fraunhofer and neuland21 be found.