Current projects
GRK 2193
This project investigates the interaction of explicit and tacit knowledge in manufacturing and logistics, and the impact it has on adaptability of factories in the the shift to smart maintenance.

GUIDE
The project responds to the risk of permanently excluding people from the labour market due to physical or mental diseases. GUIDE aims to support people with lasting health restrictions to improve their health and well-being and helps them to eventually (re)participate in working life.
SPIRE-SAIS
SPIRE-SAIS is developing the blueprint “European Energy Intensive Industry Skills Agenda and Strategy” for an ongoing and short-termed implementation of new skills demands concerning cross-sectoral industrial symbiosis (IS) and energy efficiency in the eight sectors of the public-private-partnership SPIRE (Sustainable Process Industry through Resource and Energy Efficiency): steel, chemicals, cement, non-ferrous metals, water, minerals, engineering, and ceramics.

T-Factor
T-Factor demonstrates how heritage, culture and creativity can drive urban transformation with meanwhile uses in urban regeneration to unleash vibrant urban hubs for inclusivity, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.

IncluScience
IncluScience is a citizen science project that works with people with visual, hearing and mobility impairments as well as cognitive impairments at eye level to co-create the Wheelmap (a free online map with information on the accessibility of places) and expand it to include certain types of places (verticals). Furthermore, the project will develop inclusive participatory methods for inclusive citizen science and bundle them in a citizen science toolbox.
Working - the way I want to!
Empowerment for people with disabilities from the determination of needs to equal, self-determined participation in working life.

greenSME
In the greenSME project, a comprehensive strategy for the sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry is being developed. First and foremost, SMEs are concretely supported in adopting technologies ("Advanced Technologies") to become more environmentally sustainable climate neutral, to remain competitive and to maximise the benefits for all parts of society.
Prävention Kreativ!
In the project "Prävention Kreativ!" (Creative Prevention), innovative health-promoting offers and measures are developed that strengthen the resilience of residents in inpatient care in a comprehensive approach and thus contribute to the resident-centred prevention of violence and addiction problems.
UbiTrans
The UbiTrans project aims to support citizens in dealing with web-based content and to enable them to make self-determined, effective and informed decisions regarding privacy and the information they consume. The research area Sociology of Technology is working on the sub-project "User types and their practices of dealing with web-based content".
EVE4all
Validation of the innovation potential of the Easy Reading Framework for the improvement of digital participation in cooperation with the department of rehabilitation technology (TU Dortmund University)
DIONA
The DIONA research project pursues the goal of using a multidisciplinary approach to develop a digital hub for the circular economy for stakeholders from science, business, associations, social partners and committees, and thus to enable SMEs in particular to participate in circular value creation.

One4All
ONE4ALL aims to boost manufacturing plants’ transformation, especially SMEs, towards industry 5.0 (I5.0), reinforcing their resilience under unexpected changes in social needs. It is done through a human-and-sustainability-centred development of plug-and-produce reconfigurable cyber-physical production modules (RCPMs).
BRIDGES 5.0
“BRIDGES 5.0 - Bridging Risks to an Inclusive Digital and Green Future by Enhancing workforce Skills for industry 5.0” follows the goal of an inclusive digital and green future by enhancing workforce skills for Industry 5.0. To achieve this ambition, the project – coordinated by TNO / Netherlands – will quantitatively map how jobs are transforming and what new green and digital jobs are emerging in Industry 4.0, and qualitatively understand Industry 5.0 requirements (human- and socio-centric, sustainable and resilience) for these jobs and company practices. It will also map Industry 5.0 skills and skill gaps, set up corresponding training pathways, and engage industry and related stakeholders through a web platform.

PURESCRAP
The objective of the project PURESCRAP is to increase the use of low-quality scrap grades (post-consumer scrap) by deploying and applying best available technologies to reduce impurities. This is achieved through novel sensor combinations and analysis supported by artificial intelligence. The Social Research Centre – as member of the Clean Steel Partnership - will analyse the social impact of the technologies developed in PURESCRAP and correlated training/ upskilling demands.
CHESS
Complex societal challenges can only effectively be addressed by social innovators if they are connected with other actors from the wider innovation ecosystem. This kind of interconnection needs dedicated support and well-designed activities - breaking silos and creating an effective support ecosystem will not happen on its own.
Platform for Social Innovations
The platform will be a contact point for all actors in the German social innovation ecosystem. Information will be provided on current topics from research and practice, seminars, workshops and events will be held and networks will be created.
DepriBuddy - Design Thinking-based modelling of mediatised proximity and app development for a self-help network
Within the DepriBuddy project, an interdisciplinary network with perspectives from sociology, psychology and media studies is conducting application-oriented research into the media-supported creation, maintenance and expansion of social ties and closeness.
DR-RISE
Due to the current energy crisis, the EU is reaching a critical point in the energy transition with the Clean Energy Package. Residential demand response (DR) is a promising framework whose potential is completely untapped nowadays. DR-RISE's main objective is to demonstrate the benefits of DR in the residential sector, not only for the end-consumers but for the overall energy system and the actors involved.

Smash the Box
The project Smash the Box-Challenge - Sustainable Logistics for Reusable Dishes in Dortmund sets up a student-led ideation and innovation process as well as a series of training workshops in the area of social innovation and social entrepreneurship using a particular societal challenge formulated by the municipality of Dortmund. The specific challenge addressed in the project focuses on the establishment of a sustainable logistics system for reusable dishes in gastronomy and catering in the city of Dortmund. To solve this challenge in an interdisciplinary manner, a competition for the best ideas will be launched university-wide, addressing students of all disciplines and levels of education including doctoral candidates.