About
The Higher Education Alliance Ruhr (HAR) is a partnership of three universities of applied sciences in the Ruhr region – Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, and Westphalia University of Applied Sciences. For several years, they have been collaborating successfully in teaching, research, and third mission activities. HAR has exceptional expertise across numerous research fields and maintains a strong national and international network, with over 80 industry and research partnerships.
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
1 Additional activities for the European Biodiversity Partnership: Biodiversa+4 Large-scale in situ biodiversity observations for better understanding of biodiversity state, drivers of its decline and impacts of policies5 Assessing and modelling ecosystems’ dynamic processes to guide restoration activities and to improve models used for climate6 Assessing and modelling socio-economic impacts of nature restoration8 Strengthening pathways to alternative socioeconomic models for continuous improvement of biodiversity9 Understanding the perceptions of and improving communication on the biodiversity crisis and nature restoration benefits to sustain citizen engagement and democratic governance10 Supporting the implementation of nature restoration measures for sustainable farming systems11 Living labs and lighthouses co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration
Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption
1 Additional activities for the European partnership on accelerating farming systems transition - agroecology living labs and research infrastructures3 Overcoming the barriers for scaling up circular water management in agriculture13 Raising citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology
Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
1 Novel circular business models to enable the just transition to a sustainable and circular economy2 Improving ecodesign of products and development of testing methods for products prioritised under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation5 Consumption patterns and environmental awareness as enablers of transition to circular economy6 Indicators for the transition to sustainable and circular economy9 Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains11 Demonstration of reduced energy use and optimised flexible energy supply for industrial bio-based systems
Clean environment and zero pollution
1 Innovative and advanced monitoring and modelling systems for revised air quality policies6 Provide digital solutions tailored to small and medium-sized farms to monitor and sustainably manage agricultural inputs and natural resources
Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities
1 Adapting to and mitigating demographic trends in rural areas through evidence-based planning and innovative solutions2 Exploring and improving access to housing in rural areas and developing the houses and villages of the future3 Innovative solutions for resilient and climate-adapted coastal communities in the Atlantic
Land, ocean and water for climate action
4 Monitoring, reporting, verification and mitigation of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollutants from agriculture5 Additional activities for the European Partnership Water Security for the Planet (Water4All)