Key topics

In this context, social innovation is a central research topic at the Social Research Centre. Social innovations in the sense of new practices for shaping social change are omnipresent and contribute to social development. The Social Research Centre researches their potential for solving important questions of the present and future, as well as framework conditions for the effective use or emergence of social innovations.

As an institute with a long tradition in labour research, multi-perspective approaches to changes and current and future challenges in the world of work – such as through Industry 4.0 and digitalisation – continue to be a central building block in the scientific work of the Social Research Centre.

Our focus is on the question of the conditions and perspectives for realising economically, ecologically and socially sustainable development. The Social Research Centre is involved in shaping social, technological and ecological processes of change and innovation.

Urgent questions for the future are core building blocks of the scientific work of the Social Research Centre – e.g. inclusion, education, climate-resilient urban development, work organisation, the elimination of gender inequalities in the world of work, health promotion, social relations in companies, sustainability in consumption and production, and climate protection.

In addition to the two main topics of the Social Research Centre – social innovations and labour research – the following is only an abbreviated explanation of the core topics and core questions of our institute. More detailed insights into our research fields can be found on the pages of our thematically delimited research areas.

The research areas at a glance:

Work and organisation in socio-digital change
Work, organisation, gender
Innovation and education in the digital society
Labour policy and health
Science / world of work cooperation office
Transformative governance in city and region
Research field “Industrial and labour research”

Guiding themes of the Social Research Centre

Social innovations
Labour research
Industry 4.0
Digital transformation
(Digital) inclusion
Gender justice
Climate protection and climate-resilient municipalities
Demographic change
Urban and district planning
Labour market integration
Sustainable growth

Social Innovation

Labour research

Location & approach

Arrival by car

A2:
Exit 13 (Kreuz Dortmund Nord-Ost), direction Derne/Schwerte (B236), 1st exit direction Dortmund-Eving, next traffic lights turn right (Kemminghauser Str.), after 2.7km turn left (Evinger Str./B 54), after 1.1km traffic lights turn left (Deutsche Straße), after 500m on the left is the Evinger Platz.

A40/B1/A44:
From the Bundesstraße 1 (extension A40 or A44) to the intersection B1/B236 direction Lünen, 3rd exit direction Dortmund-Eving.

A45:
Exit Dortmund Hafen, turn left until the intersection Münsterstraße (B54), direction Eving, after about three kilometers turn into Deutsche Straße.

You can download an enlarged general map here

Arrival by plane

From Dortmund Airport, it takes just about 20 minutes to get to Dortmund Central Station by AirportExpress and from there to the university by subway (U-Bahn) 41. The stop is "Zeche Minister Stein". A wider range of international flight connections is offered by Düsseldorf Airport, about 60 kilometers away, which can be reached directly by S-Bahn from the university station. From there, you can get directly to Dortmund Central Station.

Arrival by public transport

From Dortmund Central Station, take the U 41 light rail (direction Brambauer / Brechten). The stop is "Zeche Minister Stein". The Minister Stein Center is located on the right in the direction of travel of the streetcar.

You can find an overview map here.