Innovative female founders on the rise: Bochum’s successful projects!

Innovative female founders on the rise: Bochum’s successful projects!

On March 9, 2025, the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) set a positive tone in the higher education sector by launching various programs to promote the spirit of innovation. In addition, the university has presented measures to support female founders, which are anchored in the federal government's start-up strategy.

An outstanding example of this is the EXIST-Women program, which was launched by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. This funding program is aimed specifically at ten women interested in starting a business and aims to support them on their path to entrepreneurial independence. This support also includes coaching and access to a network for women with start-up ideas. Ten aspiring female founders will be intensively supported over a period of twelve months. exist.de highlights that the proportion of female founders in Germany has risen to 25% in recent years and that support from start-up networks makes a significant contribution to this.

Innovative research projects

The RUB is also active in the natural sciences and recently founded the Emmy Noether junior research group under the leadership of Dr. Merita Tafili, which is funded with 1.7 million euros by the German Research Foundation. Dr. Tafili researches the climate-friendly use of geothermal energy. Their goal is to calculate the impact on the soil using simulations.

In addition, an initiative to develop superconducting materials is being pushed forward. Supported by the Kavli Foundation and the Klaus Tschira Foundation, an international research team is investing millions in research into new superconductors based on quantum geometry. Artificial intelligence is also used to predict material properties. Prof. Dr. Miguel Marques is involved in this project, which underlines the interdisciplinary orientation of the RUB.

Promoting diversity at the RUB

The Ruhr University Bochum was also awarded the “Diversity Shaping” certificate from the Stifterverband on February 5, 2025. This seal of quality recognizes the RUB's diversity-oriented university culture. With 25 measures implemented to achieve the audit goals, the commitment to equal opportunities and diversity in science is clear. Loud dfg.de Universities are required to choose measures to promote diversity on a location- and project-specific basis. In addition, equality for female scientists remains a high priority and is supported by specific career measures.

Another notable step to promote sustainability at RUB is the auction of 70 disused computers by the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In collaboration with the Sustainability Office, 15 computers have already been auctioned and 30 more are to follow. This pilot project will continue until the end of the year.