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.

ESSA
ESSA is realizing an industry driven, sustainable and coordinated blueprint for a European Steel Skills Agenda. A Blueprint strategy for human capital development through a Sector Skills Alliance (SSA) is delivered within a social innovation process involving a broad range of key stakeholders of the steel industry: companies, education and training providers, research institutions, social partners (European and national steel associations and trade unions) as well as sector experts).
BEYOND 4.0
BEYOND4.0 aims to help deliver an inclusive European future by examining the impact of the new technologies on the future of jobs, business models and welfare. We use a multidisciplinary research approach.

Evolving Regions
Integrated adaptation to climate change is to be broadly strengthened in NRW with the Evolving Regions (formerly LIRCA) project funded under the EU LIFE programme. The aim is to test an open concept in practice, which will be applied in seven NRW regions and one region in the Netherlands, so that it can then be established as a standard for regional and integrated climate adaptation in NRW and Europe.

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.
RespectWork
Using the retail sector as an example, the project explores the question of how interactions between employees and their customers can be designed to generate or promote mutual respect.

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.

ViSAS
ViSAS pursues the aim of a transformation of artistic methods of youth work into the digital space on a European level. The transfer is intended to make youth work in Europe sustainable and innovative.

KoSI
KoSI is committed to develop framework conditions for social innovations and supports the implementation and establishment of innovative solutions.
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)
Platform for Social Innovation
The platform is intended to provide information on the current status in the field of social innovations and to enable initial networking and empowerment of the actors in the ecosystem.
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.
Search & People Search
Location & approach
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
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.
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.