Collaboration

Cooperation

The Enterprise Integration Center has been your host and central point of contact at the Smart Logistics Cluster on RWTH Aachen Campus since 2015. Companies from the sectors of industry, IT service provision and trade collaborate with teams of researchers at the Smart Logistics Cluster on resolving relevant real-life challenges. The collaborative format offered by RWTH Aachen Campus and the Smart Logistics Cluster, which has proven highly effective, is based on a membership model. It offers companies the opportunity of enrolling and then partnering with other enrolled member companies in so-called “consortial projects” as part of an exclusive and confidential circle. The concept of learning with and from each other allows high-quality and complex project solutions to be created in the shortest amount of time in response to pressing practical questions.

The respective centers are at the core of these collaborations and set the thematic focus, define projects and manage them in a coordinating role in order to achieve the targets defined within the membership framework. The enrolled members add their own competences, equally to the experts from centers and research institutes in a joint effort of developing solutions. As a result, high-quality solutions can be developed and implemented within a short space of time.

Within the thematic framework of the Smart Logistics Cluster, the individual centers set subject-specific priorities.

Center in the Smart Logistics Cluster

The pooled know-how in combination with the infrastructure offers an excellent platform for the diffusion and implementation of innovative concepts. To date, more than 70 companies have taken advantage of the membership model of the centers, allowing them to further enhance their business models, digital strategy and transformation processes in an effort to ensure their future viability.

Centers and service providers at the Smart Logistics Cluster

Center Connected Industry

Center Enterprise Resource Planning

Center Metropolitan Cities (initiated)

Center Smart Commercial Building

Center Smart Services

European 4.0 Transformation Center

Industrie 4.0 Maturity Center

Demofabrik Aachen

Membership: Benefit categories

The centers at the Smart Logistics Cluster on RWTH Aachen Campus offer up to five benefit categories for enrolled members, depending on the selected membership model.

Membership

Enrolled members have the following options on RWTH Aachen Campus based on their presence in the cluster:

• Use of shorter routes for the assembly of an interdisciplinary team of scientists,
• Knowledge exchange with other enrolled members and scientists,
• Recruitment of qualified experts,
• Target-oriented personal development opportunities,
• Forging of new business partnerships,
• Attending or organizing of events,
• Experiencing public awareness.

Research & Development

The interdisciplinary team of scientists and the enrolled members jointly conduct research and development in the various centers. They have access to scientific know-how and are involved in the definition of relevant technology topics and research focal points on the topic areas of the relevant center over the coming years. The focus will be on visionary solutions that will strengthen the competitive edge of the enrolled members by way of e.g. product or process innovations. Decision-making processes are facilitated using shorter routes, the speed and quality of research results are improved and the research and development costs are reduced. Project meetings are conducted in regular intervals, where new project ideas are introduced and new consortia are formed.

Community

The RWTH Aachen Campus community consists of all scientists and enrolled members. Enrolled members can participate in conferences, fairs and seminars of the various clusters and centers at reduced rates. Scientific exchange between academia and other enrolled members is therefore promoted.

Further Education

The interdisciplinary team of scientists develops target-oriented personal development programs for the industry members. These include seminars and training courses, as well as certification and master programs. These personal development options enable employees to implement their newly gained know-how in their practical business environments, while at the same time developing their personal careers as part of a specific research environment. As an enrolled member, you will generally benefit from lower cost conditions.

The entire professional Education program of the Smart Logistics Cluster can be found here.

Services

The team of scientists offers enrolled members the full scope of their consultancy services. Tailor-made solutions can be developed for enrolled members based on the findings of scientific research.

Office Space

The Enterprise Integration Center provides office space for rent for enrolled companies in order to facilitate intensive on-site collaboration at the Smart Logistics Cluster. Open-plan, bright rooms with all the latest technology facilities are available for lease next to the Innovation Labs and the event areas.