The former Joint Campus Wolfsburg will in future be known as WeCampusWOB. With the renaming, the partners TU Braunschweig, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Volkswagen, Open Hybrid LabFactory and the City of Wolfsburg are emphasising the cooperative approach to the further development of the campus into a flagship project for Wolfsburg as a science location.
With a new name and a fresh self-image, the former Joint Campus Wolfsburg is entering the next phase of development: as WeCampusWOB, the partners are setting a visible example of cooperation, networking and international appeal. The new name says it all: the focus is on the "we". The partners (we) are committed to research, teaching and transfer at the campus in Wolfsburg (WOB) in order to attract international talent.
The researchers and students investigate current issues in the automotive circular economy in order to develop innovative approaches for resource-conserving and cycle-orientated vehicle production. The campus is thus positioning itself as an internationally visible centre of innovation and science, with the aim of firmly anchoring research and teaching on circular economy topics in the region. The renaming is of particular importance to all partners. It is an expression of the growing research ecosystem in Wolfsburg and the region in order to position it as a leading location for future technologies.
Important building block in the city of Wolfsburg's future concept for science
"The WeCampusWOB Wolfsburg is an important component of the city of Wolfsburg's future concept for science, which focuses on the networking of science, education and urban development," emphasises Lord Mayor Dennis Weilmann. "Wolfsburg is becoming a university location. With the WeCampusWOB label, we hope not only to attract a higher proportion of the younger population in future, but also an even higher density of research institutions."
Building on the research campus of the Open Hybrid LabFactory and in direct proximity to Volkswagen's Mobile Life Campus, a fully-fledged university location of the TU Braunschweig with a high quality of stay is thus being created, where people are working on current issues of the automotive circular economy in innovative research and teaching formats. An entrepreneurship and transfer platform is being created to make the research results available to the economy in the long term.
Prof Dr Thomas Benda, Vice President for Teaching, Studies and Continuing Education at Ostfalia: "Holistic, interdisciplinary answers are required, particularly in the strategically important areas of the circular economy and mobility. We are delighted that researchers from our university are contributing their expertise and experience to joint research teams at WeCampusWOB. The Ostfalia site in Wolfsburg, which has been established since 1987, will also benefit in the long term from additional networking and visibility for the topic of the circular economy. A joint location is being created that literally provides space for even more WE to provide important impetus for sustainable mobility solutions."
Prof Dr Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig: "The WeCampusWOB shows what is possible when people from science, business and society work together on the future. Ideas are not created here in isolation, but in dialogue: across disciplines, institutions and national borders. This creates a vibrant scientific ecosystem that provides concrete impetus for Wolfsburg and Braunschweig and thus strengthens our region in the long term."
Prof Dr Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: "In order for innovations to have a rapid impact on an industrial scale, it is important that scientific findings are quickly transferred to application. Close cooperation between research and industry is a decisive factor here," says Prof Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "The WeCampusWOB creates exactly the environment we need for successful technology transfer. With the Fraunhofer Centre Circular Economy for Mobility CCEM, we are using these structures in a targeted manner to bring solutions for circular vehicle production into application more quickly. Together with our local partners, we are thus sending a strong signal for the future viability of Germany as a business location."
Dr Stefan Schmitt, Managing Director of Open Hybrid LabFacotry e.V.: "We are contributing the experience and network of our public-private partnership to WeCampusWOB. The development of WeCampusWOB together with strong local partners and regional expansion motivates each individual and will open up new opportunities for collaboration. This will significantly advance all sides, both science and business."