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Winning team of Klever Birne 2024 presents 22 raised beds on the Kleve campus
The winning team of Klever Birne 2024 presents 22 raised beds for Kleve on the campus of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
Tasting agroforestry – This is how wealthy the region is
In May, the DialogPunkt Xanten was dedicated to the topic of agroforestry. Dr Ana Kreter introduced the concept using regional products.
Launch of the Klever Birne 2025
The Klever Birne sustainability award will be awarded for the third time in 2025. This year, the ideas competition focuses on the sharing economy.
Laborfunk: Sarthak Chadha´s journey through the HSRW labs
Our first “Laborfunk” is all about smelling and scents: Sarthak Chadha´s journey through the the labs Usability Lab, Environment and Energy labs and the FabLab Kamp-Lintfort.
Innovation Sprints with ALTANA AG And Inconsult GmbH
Two innovation sprints with regional companies took place as part of the speed dating event on 9 April 2025 at the Kamp-Lintfort campus.
Fellows wanted!
We are looking for visiting researchers (fellows) for the winter semester 2025/26 with research or transfer expertise in the context of sustainability, transformation or ambidexterity.
Sven Plöger inspires with lecture not only about the weather
Graduate meteorologist and TV presenter Sven Plöger linked the topics of climate change and sustainable management in front of around 450 interested people.
Sustainable monuments
How do monument protection and climate protection meet? If you ask Sebastian Held, heritage conservationist in Xanten, there are few areas that could be more closely intertwined.
Research into drought-resistant apple rootstocks transfers to field trials
The Agroforestry Living Laboratory not only establishes and scientifically monitors agroforestry systems, but also investigates the drought tolerance and diversity of apple rootstocks in a research project.
Company evening – Opportunities in robotics for companies in the Lower Rhine region
A puppet that talks; a robotic arm that grips; a social robot that dances - these were just some of the many impressions at the company evening ‘Robotics for companies in the Lower Rhine region’.
‘Solar power is fun’ – DialogPunkt Xanten at full capacity
Producing your own electricity on the balcony? A topic that is attracting a lot of interest, as was evident at the second event at DialogPunkt Xanten.
In the field at the 5th agroforestry practice round table
The fifth Lower Rhine agroforestry round table took a glimpse behind the scenes at Alleen 3 in Kleve - practitioners discussed tree care, tree protection and irrigation.
Pathbreaking coaching for Klever Birne winning team EcoPark Kleve
It was a clear path that was shown to the members of the EcoPark Kleve initiative: Create structures, secure funding, prepare for implementation and ultimately realise the project or today's vision.
DialogPunkt Xanten: Gravel and its possible alternatives in house construction
Successful start to the DialogPunkt Xanten in February. Themed evening on the Lower Rhine raw material provides interesting insights and lively discussion.
First TransRegINT fellowship successfully completed
Prof Dr Ulrich Holzbaur, our first Fellow with a focus on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), was once again our guest at the HSRW in January. The intensive collaboration is beginning to bear fruit.
Happy faces and great results at the MakerLab
In the fourth MakerLab at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), students organised exciting workshops on STEM topics for pupils in the region. The focus was on the sustainability goals of clean and affordable energy supply, climate protection and education.
DialogPunkt Xanten opens in February 2025
A sustainability event in the Weberturm on the first Tuesday of every month from February to July 2025.
Ground-breaking ceremony for the ‘Alleen 3’ pilot project
Agroforestry in the Galleien with HSRW on the way to the 2029 State Garden Show in Kleve.
Annual review of TransRegINT
December is a time for reflection and looking back, but also for looking ahead to what is to come. And so it is for the TransRegINT project.
Company evening: Resources of the future?
The sixth HSRW company evening focussed on a topic that has become increasingly urgent in view of the climate crisis and global crises: Resource utilisation.
Research cooperation at the Monreberg
The sweet chestnut does not like waterlogging. One reason why it is not found everywhere on the Lower Rhine. As part of a research collaboration between our agroforestry real-world laboratory, eleven trees were planted on the Monreberg in Kalkar in November 2024.
Reading assistant app in use at school
Reading stimulation with a difference - with the STREEN reading assistant app, schoolchildren can experience stories audiovisually
Agroforestry for goats: New cooperation with the goat whisperer from Hanselaer
Establishing an agroforestry system on a goat meadow may sound strange. After all, goats are herbivorous omnivores. Jelmer de Groot, a goat farmer from Kalkar, wants to try it anyway. He is supported by our Agroforestry Living Laboratory team.
Sustain Cup 2024 – The university has voted
This autumn, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) launched its first sustainability award for employees: the Sustain Cup HSRW 2024. The winners have now been announced.
Klever Birne 2024: 17 raised beds seeking co-creators and a home
‘17 raised beds for Kleve’, each designed to promote one of the 17 sustainability development goals (SDGs): the simple realisation of the idea was a decisive criterion for the jury of the Klever Birne sustainability competition to award the first prize to BBZ Kleve in September.
Climate change and its consequences? Perspectives from a weather expert and agroforestry practitioner
It was quite an evening, and the speakers were rousing. While weather presenter Claudia Kleinert was delighted to have the opportunity to speak in the lecture theatre at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), the 280 or so visitors were inspired to reflect on two presentations with very different perspectives.
23 personal skills to achieve the 17 global sustainability goals
We have a lot to tell and share, but we appreciate opportunities to look beyond our horizons, gain new perspectives and educate ourselves further. How does our personal inner development support us in realising global goals?
New living and working in the countryside
How can the best of town and country be realised in a form of housing in the countryside that is geared towards the common good? Frederik Fischer provided inspiration and examples at the Mittwochsakademie.
Climate change and its consequences: Recommendations from experts from Kleve for Kleve
At the end of the event series ‘Better Climate - Healthier Environment’, the city of Kleve and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences hosted a panel discussion that offered an insightful but also gloomy outlook.
The Aalen example: the town as a place for sustainable education
A lively presentation by Prof Dr Ulrich Holzbaur showed the successful implementation of Local Agenda 21 in Aalen.
Colourful landscape, colourful group at the 3rd agroforestry practice round table
A mixed group of people interested in agroforestry met at our co-operation partner Hof Birgel for an informative and sociable exchange.
EcoParkKleve: Tailwind from Klever Birne
EcoParkKleve impressed the jury of the Klever Birne 2024 sustainability competition with its broad sustainability idea. What will happen next?
Climate walk in Kleve
During the climate walk with the Verbraucherzentrale NRW in Kleve on 30 September 2024, practical examples of ways to mitigate the consequences of climate change were shown.
A ‘fragrant’ agroforestry – Our new cooperation partner Dercks Gartenbau
An agroforestry system in pot plant cultivation has completely different requirements than conventional agroforestry systems. A challenge that we happily accept.
Planting and harvesting together on the Lower Rhine
Since the launch of our agroforestry living lab in summer 2023, there has been an intensive dialogue with local stakeholders. In the meantime, this has resulted in the first contractually regulated cooperation partnerships.
Company evening on the key technology AI
Our team LabLandscapes from the TransRegINT project organised a company evening at the HSRW Green FabLab on the Kamp-Lintfort campus. The fifth company evening focussed on AI.
Our transformation advisory board strengthens the HSRW network
Our transformation advisory board, an accompanying committee of external experts, met to find out about the progress of the project and to provide fresh impetus. .
Award ceremony for the Klever Birne 2024 sustainability prize
In 2024, the citizens of Kleve were invited for the second time to contribute their ideas for a sustainable and liveable city. The winners were chosen on the evening of 12 September.
Annual meeting of the NRW agroforestry network in Kleve – potential for regional agroforestry products
Annual meeting of the NRW agroforestry network: “The Lower Rhine can become a model region for the NRW agroforestry network”
Green Walls for Kleve
Wall greening systems and vertical planting systems in public areas such as libraries, schools and the university are intended to make Kleve a better place to live.
Sharpen your acoustic perception with SOUND TREE
Listening to the weather: The Museum Arenacum in Kleve-Rindern wants to raise awareness of climate change with the help of multi-sensory landscape installations called SOUND TREES and has applied for the Klever Birne 2024 with this idea.
KleveConnect – Spanning a network with one app
Abdul Rahman El Sibai and Danial Sharghi have applied to Klever Birne 2024 with the idea for the "KleveConnect" app. The app aims to connect Kleve residents with local producers and retailers.
TransRegINT at the sustainability market in Rees
At the invitation of Fridays for Future, we presented our TransRegINT project at the sustainability market in Rees. It was a great opportunity for us to engage in dialogue with the public.
Award ceremony for the Klever Birne on 12 September 2024
On 12 September 2024, the city of Kleve and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences invite you to the official award ceremony of the ‘Klever Birne 2024’ sustainability award. A must for anyone interested in sustainability, innovation and the future of our region.
Neighbourhood mobility: sharing instead of owning
Philip Weykamp applied for the Klever Birne 2024 with his idea of neighbourhood mobility: a shared vehicle pool for house communities that share cars, cargo bikes and e-bikes, for example.
17 sustainability goals for the world – 17 raised beds for Kleve
Waste wood from industry will be used to build 17 raised beds. Planted with herbs the raised beds will be set up at various locations in Kleve and draw attention to the 17 sustainability goals. With this idea the BBZ Kleve applies for the Klever Birne 2024.
Agroforestry for geese – The Gänsepeter from Rommerskirchen
The TransRegINT Agroforestry Living Laboratory has signed a cooperation agreement with Gänsepeter from Rommerskirchen. An agroforestry system is to be established on around five hectares of goose pasture under scientific supervision and research.
Green classrooms instead of flying classrooms
Plant pockets on the classroom walls of the Joseph Beuys Gesamtschule are intended to improve the indoor climate. With this idea the school applied for the Klever Birne 2024.
Agroforestry round table offers the opportunity to hear other voices
Around 20 participants discuss the advantages and disadvantages of agroforestry systems at the second agroforestry round table on the Lower Rhine region.
Trés chig with upcycling
Christoph Gebhardt would like to offer upcycling workshops in his Kleve business premises to enable people to rework clothes directly in the second-hand shop in order to keep up with the latest fashion trends in a sustainable way. He has applied for the Klever Birne 2024 with this idea.
Agroforestry meets politics – Stephan Wolters, MdL, visits HSRW
We were visited by Stephan Wolters, CDU member of the state parliament for the Kleve district: Prof Dr Peter Kisters and Dr Ana Kreter discussed with him the possibilities of cooperation in the field of agroforestry on behalf of our project.
Bridging the gap between blind individuals and technology
How can blind and visually impaired people be given a real and effective feeling when using digital devices? By converting images into tactile images in order to feel them accordingly. This idea was the motivation behind Arash Saghi's application for the Klever Birne 2024.
Living together in the cycle of nature and resources
Living in a tiny house development and in harmony with nature: this is what Wolfgang Maus and his EcoParkKleve initiative have in mind. To realise this idea, the initiative entered the Klever Birne 2024 sustainability competition.
Efficient use of waste heat from biogas plants
Tim Werken is looking for solutions for the economic utilisation of waste heat from biogas plants in Kleve in order to make the plants more efficient. For this, he has applied for the Klever Birne 2024.
Automatic greenhouse irrigation
Patrick and Caroline Derksen applied for the Klever Birne 2024 with their idea for an automatic greenhouse irrigation system for the Gesamtschule am Forstgarten.
Companies of Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V. learn from students
In the summer semester of 2024, ten member companies of Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V. took the opportunity to have their online presence analyzed by students on the BA International Business Management course.
Finalists for the Klever Birne 2024 have been announced
Everything from car sharing to music and upcycling: The preliminary round jury selected the ten best ideas for the final round of the competition. The criteria were a high practical benefit, ingenuity and compliance with at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
23 applications for the Klever Birne 2024
23 applications for the Klever Birne were received this year. Over the past few days, the preliminary jury, made up of representatives from the university and the city of Kleve, evaluated the individual applications.
Mobility in Kleve: on the way to a sustainable solution
Mobility in Kleve is on the move: from Fridays for Future to IT experts - our lively discussion revealed visions and concrete proposals for a more sustainable transport future.
Between restraint and interest – DialogPunkt Kleve in retrospect
It's done! 20 events aimed at a wide variety of target groups have aroused curiosity, led to fruitful discussions and provided insights.
Hydrogen-based generator demonstrates its capabilities
Our team "Hydrogen on the Lower Rhine" was invited to the opening of the Omexom Institute and energyLab in Uedem in July 2024. Here, our team clearly demonstrated what is possible with hydrogen.
Cycling for a good climate
The city of Kleve has been taking part in the CITY CYCLING competition since 2016. For 21 days, participants are to cover as many everyday journeys as possible in a climate-friendly way. The interim event has now taken place at DialogPunkt Kleve.
Lively discourse in the DialogPunkt: Hydrogen in the mobility transition
There was a lively discussion about hydrogen and sustainable mobility at DialogPunkt Kleve. Find out more about mobility in the future.
Repaired instead of new – bike workshop at DialogPunkt
"Make your bike ready for summer" was the motto of the invitation to the bicycle repair café. DialogPunkt Kleve was transformed into a bicycle workshop.
„Are we all doomed when the ice melts?“
On Wednesday, 26 June 2024, the 8d class from Joseph-Beuys-Gesamtschule in Kleve visited DialogPunkt Kleve to discover the background and consequences of climate change with the help of the climate suitcase.
Joint tour – Walking through Kleves‘s green spaces
Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of visiting various sustainability projects with Pascale van Koeverden from the city of Kleve as part of DialogPunkt Kleve.
Do you know what you are eating?
The Sustainable Food Week at DialogPunkt Kleve came to a close on the evening of 21 June 2024 with a tasting of regional products from existing agroforestry systems or those currently being planned.
Gardening without your own garden – the community of Kleve makes it possible
Two community gardens used the venue of DialogPunkt Kleve to introduce themselves. Community gardens offer you a wonderful opportunity to get involved in a green oasis, even if you don't have your own garden.
Focus on the sustainable use of resources
Under the motto "Science simply explained", researchers from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) presented their innovative projects. They showed how we can turn waste materials into valuable resources - a topic that is also of great importance for the Lower Rhine region!
Tell me about yesterday and tomorrow! For a great environment in Kleve
This was the first "Klima Café Kleve", or, as Steph Rausch, who conceived the concept of the mobile "Klima Café", smiles: "A trial "Klima Café".
A clean-up campaign or “We’re saving the world”
What do schoolchildren do on a Friday afternoon equipped with gloves and tongs? They are saving the world, as one pupil enthusiastically put it. Or to put it rationally: They go litter picking.
New cooperation: Assistance and participation at the Niersenberg primary school
The Digital Showroom transformation project develops innovative assistance systems to support people in various life situations.
Refreshing for the summer – cool places in Kleve
Philip Cantos from the city of Kleve and Jan Sonntag from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) presented exciting projects designed to help Kleve residents adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Crafting for biodiversity
Our "Building nesting boxes for children" event at DialogPunkt Kleve was a complete success! We playfully introduced the children of the Montessori School to the importance of nature conservation.
Agroforestry Week – experience sustainable agriculture of the future
From June 3 to 8, the Agroforestry Summer Week took place for the first time at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW). In lectures, workshops and excursions, various groups were introduced to the concept of agroforestry.
Away from oil & gas – expert explains sustainable heating
Under the motto "The right heating for the energy transition! Heat pumps and alternatives", he explained to the participants how their own four walls can be heated in a future-proof and environmentally friendly way.
It´s getting fair at DialogPunkt Kleve
This week, the focus of our Dialogue Point Kleve, which we are organising in cooperation with the city of Kleve from 6 to 28 June 2024, is on the sustainable community. Kleve has held the title of "Fairtrade Town" for seven years. And Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) has been a certified Fairtrade-University since 2017.
Joint discourse for a green Kleve
The panel discussion at DialogPunkt Kleve focused on the question: “How can the city of Kleve become greener?”.
DialogPunkt Kleve starts programme with guided tour for children
To get to know urban nature better, children aged eight to 12 met up with their parents for a green city tour.
Ethics Day: Science and social transformation in times of polycrisis
As part of the 5th Ethics Day, the Capacity Building team hosted a workshop entitled “Science's contribution to social transformation”.
Between walnuts and truffles: excursion into agroforestry
As part of Agroforestry Week, the Agroforestry Reallabor team organised an exciting and informative excursion to the walnut agroforestry of Pia Haartz from the Birgel farm.
Opening of the first DialogPunkt in Kleve
Today we proudly opened our first regional office, the DialogPunkt, in Kleve's lower town. This new initiative, which was created in close cooperation with the city of Kleve, will be a center for a variety of events and open consultation hours on the topic of sustainability in June.
Agroforestry week: getting to know trees in a hands-on way
Tree rally with students in the forest garden: equipped with a map and pictures of the leaves of the trees to be found, the teams roamed the Kleve forest garden for around two and a half hours.
Innovation up close: Kevelaer and Xanten business development agencies explore Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) opened its doors for an exclusive campus tour on June 4, 2024. The Kevelaer and Xanten business development agencies as well as entrepreneurs from the two cities and the Lower Rhine region were invited.
Wanted: Future shapers – Half time for Klever Birne
Ideas wanted for a future-proof and sustainable development of Kleve: The application phase for entering the Klever Birne sustainability award has reached half-time. Interested parties still have almost a month to submit their concepts.
Agroforestry Summer Week at Rhine-Waal University inspires young minds with children’s university
Under the guidance of Anna-Lea Ortmann, PhD student in the Agroforestry Living Laboratory of the TransRegINT project, children between the ages of 8 and 12 experienced an introduction to the world of sustainable agriculture.
Students collect ideas for more sustainability on the HSRW campus
Integration into the German job market, a sharing economy between the university and students, a repair café for bicycles and education in the area of waste prevention are particularly important to HSRW students.
“Hydrogen replaces diesel generator” wins University Prize 2024
The student project “H2-Power: Hydrogen replaces diesel generator” wins the Kleve District 2024 Economic Development University Award
WALNUT-AGROFORST: SUCCESSFUL BACHELOR THESIS
In her Bachelor's thesis, Isabelle developed a marketing strategy for a promising agroforestry product: walnuts.
Practical research: In the search for drought-resistant rootstocks
The research project by PhD student Anna-Lea Ortmann and Master's student Daiana Jambul aims to investigate the drought tolerance of apple rootstocks, i.e. the root system of apple trees.
Macrophotography and biodiversity on the Lower Rhine – series of events to raise awareness of nature conservation
In cooperation with the Naturschutzzentrum im Kreis Kleve e. V., the NABU Kreisverband Kleve e. V. and the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, nature and photography enthusiasts were able to immerse themselves in the biodiversity of the region.
Our first DialogPunkt opens
On 6 June, we are opening DialogPunkt Kleve together with the city of Kleve. Until 28 June, a wide range of initiatives for a sustainable future will be brought to life in the shop at An der Münze 12 in Kleve's pedestrian zone.
WALNUT AGROFORST: NEW COOPERATION WITH THE HAARTZ FAMILY FROM HOF BIRGEL
At the beginning of the year, Pia Haartz and her family planted a walnut agroforestry system on almost two hectares. Our Agroforst Reallabor team also took part in the joint planting campaign. Pia Haartz from Hof Birgel signed a cooperation agreement during a site visit.
Welcome to the team, Froggi!
With our Froggi, we are now flexibly travelling around the Lower Rhine. Welcome to the team!
Agrobusiness Niederrhein e. V. drives innovation forward
TransRegINT establishes contacts for the automation of agriculture.
Many ideas for the design of a regional office at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is planning to create a meeting place for sustainability that is open to all citizens. Firstly, in a pilot project together with the city of Kleve in June 2024 in Kleve, and in future also at other locations in the Lower Rhine region. Our aim is to provide citizens with barrier-free access to regional activities relating to sustainability, science and innovation.
The fascinating world of biodiversity under the macro lens
On 2 May 2024, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences opened its doors to the orchard for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. The inspiring workshop on the topic of insects, their diversity and how to identify and photograph them was the prelude and preparation for the tour of the former Materborn military training area.
Excursion to food forests: Organised chaos with great biodiversity and a broad culinary yield
On 2 May 2024, our Agroforst Living Laboratory team and students joined the Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL) Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V. on an excursion to food forests in the Netherlands. But what exactly is a food forest and how is it created?
Klever Birne: Start of the application phase
This year, the sustainability award will once again be awarded by the city of Kleve and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. We are, just like last year, looking for creative minds and innovative approaches to make Kleve a pioneer in sustainability. The application phase is open and runs until 30 June 2024.
Company evening “New Work – Shaping work!”
The company evening format was once again a success on April 16: inspiring keynote speeches from various perspectives opened up the topic of New Work and stimulated fruitful discussions.
Together for green energy: interdisciplinary project with Omexom
With the "H2-Power substituting diesel generator" project, the team "Hydrogen on the Lower Rhine Region" is using innovative technology to create an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional power generators.
The Klever Birne enters the next round
The Klever Birne sustainability prize will be awarded again this year. The city of Kleve and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences are once again looking for creative solutions from people in the region to make Kleve more sustainable. The application phase starts on 01 May 2024.
Collaborative thinking for innovative solutions: “Open Innovation” workshop
Over 20 committed employees from all four faculties and the library came together to develop creative solutions.
Young winners of the Klever Birne 2023 as guests in the HSRW lecture theatre
On 18 March 2024, the fourth-graders from Johanna Sebus Primary School in Rindern visited Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Their school garden project "Sustainable education in the field" was honoured in 2023 as part of the Klever Birne sustainability competition. As part of their prize, the primary school children wanted to visit the university and take part in a lecture.
Kick-off event: Macrophotography and biodiversity on the Lower Rhine
Together with Naturschutzzentrum Kreis Kleve e. V., we hosted the event "Insects - Fascination and Protection". Dr Werneke gave the participants a deep insight into the world of insects.
TransRegINT on Gran Canaria: Hydrogen for sustainable agriculture
On 27 February 2024, Prof. Dr Irmgard Buder and Omed Abed arrived in sunny Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with students from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) to take part in the seventh 'Smart Green Island Makeathon'. Together with the organiser ITQ they presented the challenge: agricultural machinery and hydrogen - a sustainable concept?
1 year TransRegINT
We are celebrating our first anniversary! And a lot has already happened: We have hired over 20 employees, launched research projects, realized our first collaborations and held events.
