The Conference Agenda
Day 1 - Tuesday, 18 June 2024
09:00 - 09:30
09:30 - 09:40
Welcome & Coffee
Opening ceremony by
Prof. Dr. Martin Paul
Rector of the Ruhr University Bochum
Prof. Dr. Matthias Kiese
Urban and regional economics
TRANSFORMER Project Coordinator
Jörg Kemna
CEO Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH
[online streaming option]
09:40 - 10:00
“We“ is not enough.
Complexity and diffusion of responsibility as
a challenge for climate neutrality in regions
by Katja Witte
Director and Co-Head of Research Unit Structural Change and Innovation
[online streaming option]
10:00 - 10:20
The role of social innovation in urban transformation
by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Howaldt
Professor of Social Innovation and Work
at the Dortmund University
[online streaming option]
10:20 - 10:40
Transition Super-Labs, then and now
by Dr. Gerd Schönwälder
Independent researcher and consultant
[online streaming option]
10:40 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 - 13:00
Implementing a Transition Super Lab – interactive presentations and discussion
Phase 1: Strengthening the local transition capacities
Phase 2: Gearing the transition capacity
Phase 3: Accelerating transition through innovation
13:00 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:30
Networking lunch
Panel Discussion: the status of climate-neutral regional transition in Europe
Kelly Riedesel
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Matthias Kiese
TRANSFORMER Project Coordinator
Georgia Ayfantopoulou
Deputy Director and Research Director
at the Hellenic Institute of Transport of CERTH
Gerd Schönwälder
Independent researcher and consultant
Moderator: Wolfgang Backhaus
Managing director, Rupprecht Consult
[online streaming option]
15:30 - 16:00
Beyond TRANSFORMER Regions:
Interactive Format Exploring User Forum Regions
[online streaming option]
16:00 - 16:30
16:30 - 17:30
17:30 - 18:00
18:00 - 21:00
Coffee Break
Interactive session: Transition World Café
Wrap up
Networking Dinner
Day 2 - Wednesday, 19 June 2024
09:00 - 13:00
13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 15:00
Site Visits
Two simultaneous groups.
Tours are limited to 20 people each.
Please choose one during the registration.
#1: WILO SE in Dortmund
#2: thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG in Duisburg
Networking Lunch
Closing Session
- Key Insights and Takeaways from the Site Visits
- Summary and Interactive Reflections
Place and navigation
Arriving by public transport
The Ruhr University Bochum campus is on the train U35
(see on Google Maps)
Address of the Convention Centre in the local language:
Veranstaltungszentrum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Universitätsstraße 150
44801 Bochum
(see on Google Maps)
RUB Convention centre floor plan
Navigation to the venue from the U35 stop
(see on Google Maps)
Route from the city train station with pictures
Arriving by car
Please see the intstructions in enclosed file
The connection between Essen and the University
The connection between Dortmund and the University
Why join?
While the transition to climate neutrality is urgently needed, the strategies for achieving this goal remain less defined.
This event will discuss the potential of the Transition Super-Lab approach and address how we can drive the transition towards climate neutrality in an inclusive and just manner.
To ensure that the knowledge created within TRANSFORMER can inspire further projects and be adopted by other regions, we believe it is essential to facilitate a debate between actors from across Europe and different societal sectors about Transition Super-Labs and their role in Europe’s green transition.
The event aims to contribute to this challenge by
- Presenting key project results, including the Roadmap and Transition Model and Assessment Frameworks
- Demonstrating the significance of the Transition Super-Lab approach by presenting our TSLs' results.
- Showcasing TRANSFORMER follower regions and replication capabilities
- Discussing transition management, innovation and cluster strategies
- And many more, including workshops and two site visits in the Ruhr Area.