On 6 November 2020, the sixth edition of ‘Come & Cooperate’ took place at the IHK Düsseldorf – an event that once again proved how valuable the direct exchange between universities and companies or non-profit organisations is for the region and beyond. With well over 100 conversations held across various specialist areas, numerous connections were once again made and collaborations initiated.

The variety of topics that the university representatives brought up for discussion was particularly impressive. The range of key topics ranged from artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation processes, research and transfer to sustainable management, research funding and career guidance. This broad range of topics enabled the participants to find and connect with suitable approaches for their respective interests and needs.

Many company representatives who attended ‘Come & Cooperate’ for the first time were enthusiastic about the new ideas and impetus they received from the dialogue with the universities. The direct contact with science was perceived by all participants as a great added value that paves the way for future collaborations.

This year, the circle of invited universities was also extended beyond the borders of the IHK Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf knowledge region. In addition to HHU, HSD and WHU, we were able to welcome representatives from RWTH Aachen University, Hagen University of Applied Sciences, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences and Dortmund University of Technology. This supra-regional participation was received very positively, as many participants emphasised that there is no comparable format in their region. For us, this is a sign that we, as the Düsseldorf knowledge region, can set impulses that have a supra-regional impact and sustainably promote cooperation between business and science.

The positive response and constructive feedback encourages us to continue expanding ‘Come & Cooperate’ in the future in order to promote the transfer of knowledge into practice and initiate new projects between companies and universities. We would like to thank all participants for their commitment and look forward to future events.