On September 3, a meeting was held at DNU based on the results of a trip of a group of university scientists to Germany within the framework of the “DniProNRW – Science Bridge” project.
From August 17 to 21, a comprehensive working trip was held by representatives of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, the Noosphere Engineering School at DNU, the Scientific Physics and Mathematics Lyceum of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, and the Institute of Technical Mechanics of the NASU and the State Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Within the framework of the “DniProNRW – Science Bridge” project, the Ukrainian delegation joined the international seminar “Startup Development and Involvement of the Business Community” (DniProNRW – StartUps), which brought together Ukrainian and German representatives of education, science, and innovation.
At the meeting, the participants discussed with Rector Sergiy Okovytyy promising ideas for implementation, developed during their stay in many modern technological spaces of partner universities, and proposals from German colleagues who are actively involved in the development of innovations. The visit covered three universities of the UA Ruhr Alliance, of which DNU has been a partner since 2025: Ruhr University of Bochum, Technical University of Dortmund, and University of Duisburg-Essen.
In particular, the results of multilateral meetings and exchange of experience were presented to the Rector by: Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work in the Field of International Cooperation Viktor Gasso; Head of the Department of Cybersecurity and Computer-Integrated Technologies of the Faculty of Physics and Technology, Director of the Noosphere Engineering School Svitlana Klymenko; Head of the Department of Aerohydromechanics and Energy and Mass Transfer of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics Andriі Dreus; Director of the Scientific Physics and Mathematics Lyceum Iryna Ilchenko. The university team discussed the unique practices of startup development, new approaches to cooperation between universities and business, and outlined effective mechanisms for creating similar opportunities for innovative students of the Alma mater.
Rector Sergiy Okovytyy emphasized that this scientific seminar is a productive continuation of previous visits by the university management and an effective implementation of the memorandum of cooperation with the UA Ruhr Alliance, concluded in 2025 with the assistance of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.
The DNU team spent the second and third days at the University of Duisburg-Essen. This time, the focus was on one of the most important issues for the development of innovations – how to help university startups go beyond laboratories and turn promising developments into successful projects. Here, German colleagues shared their experience in promoting startups, building effective interaction between universities and business, as well as attracting further funding for the development of promising initiatives.
At the University of Duisburg-Essen, colleagues got acquainted with the GUIDEPlus Co-Creation Lab – a space where university research and ideas are transformed into new products and solutions.
Representatives of DNU also visited BRYCK in Essen - an innovation hub for startups and the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, where, among other things, they discussed opportunities of cooperation .
„As a result of these busy working days, we identified the first practical steps for ourselves that can already be implemented in Ukraine, at our native Dnipro National University. So, we were especially impressed by the fact that the BRYCK Startup School, having a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen, is mandatory for all students, especially those in the initial years. The BRYCK School also operates a separate company, EWG (Essen Economic Development Agency), which helps student startups to turn into their own business, providing services for the preparation of all necessary documents. These German colleagues were interested in cooperation and proposed to conclude a joint memorandum with our Dnipro NGO „Noosphere Association“, which operates on the basis of DNU. According to the agreement, after signing the memorandum, it is planned to hold a joint DemoDay, where the work of our two schools - BRYCK and the Noosphere Engineering School at DNU - will be demonstrated,“ - said Svitlana Klymenko, director of the Noosphere School.
Also, according to Svitlana Volodymyrivna, there is an opportunity to create a joint academic mobility program or a dual degree program with three universities of the Ruhr Alliance, which would give DNU students a chance to study in Ukraine and Germany at the same time.
Another interesting point was the acquaintance with NETZ (Nano Energie Technik Zentrum) – a center for the development of nanotechnology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. There, DNU specialists saw how scientific research, modern infrastructure, and interdisciplinary cooperation create the basis for new technological solutions.
The fourth day was held in Dortmund, where our delegation met with representatives of the city, the local economic development agency and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer. At the Technical University of Dortmund, the participants visited the Dortmund Technology Center, which works at the intersection of innovation, technology transfer and cooperation with business.
And the 5-day program ended at the Ruhr University of Bochum, where the results of the visit were summed up and the next steps of cooperation between DNU and UA Ruhr on the implementation of joint educational and innovation initiatives were discussed.
Інформаційно-аналітичне агентство
Дніпровського національного університету
