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Green-blue-brown cloud, in which the outlines of skyscrapers, a turbine, laboratory equipment and a network diagram of a human head with a torso can be seen © UA Ruhr
GAIN 2026

Days of Inspiration and Connection

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in
  • UA Ruhr
  • International
© Barak Shrama
The University Alliance Ruhr was present with a large booth during the three days of the GAIN conference.
At the international talent fair, everyone could be convinced of the strengths of the Ruhr region. Subsequently, the UA Ruhr delegation visited Stanford University.

The GAIN annual conference in San Francisco brought together young researchers, universities, funding organizations, and partner institutions from the entire transatlantic academic community. Among them: the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), which made the strengths of the Ruhr region visible with a joint appearance. NRW’s Minister of Science, Ina Brandes, also got an impression of this at the UA Ruhr’s joint booth. The GAIN conference took place from August 21 to 23, 2026. Afterwards, rectors from NRW universities, including the UA Ruhr delegation, visited Stanford University together with Minister of Science Brandes.

Research, Funding, and Collaboration Benefits
The three universities of the UA Ruhr, with their leaders Martin Paul (Ruhr University Bochum), Manfred Bayer (TU Dortmund University), and Barbara Albert (University Duisburg-Essen), presented joint research initiatives, university-wide research funding programs for talents, and the unique advantages of the alliance. With their expertise, the representatives of the three universities also contributed to the GAIN program, for example in workshops and panel discussions. For Ruhr University Bochum, colleagues from the Research School were also on site, advising interested researchers on career options and funding opportunities.

Scientific Careers in the Ruhr Region
“The University Alliance Ruhr was very well represented at the GAIN Annual Conference in San Francisco. We held numerous discussions with highly interesting researchers who can easily imagine moving to the Ruhr region to pursue their academic careers. This also demonstrates that academic freedom and university autonomy are strong selling points for our research hub. The values that our universities collectively stand for are recognized and appreciated internationally,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Barbara Albert, President of the University of Duisburg-Essen and spokesperson for the University Alliance Ruhr.

Stanford: Entrepreneurial Spirit and Expertise
The visit to Stanford University took place at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The focus was on the successful spin-offs from the university and the culture of creative experimentation and entrepreneurship practiced there. In various areas of the university, there were concrete insights and examples of why Stanford is so successful in promoting entrepreneurial spirit and technical expertise.

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