In 2025, Fachhochschule Dortmund set a new record in terms of third-party funding for the second year in a row. The annual report Research and Transfer 2025 provides exciting insights into how practical research and knowledge transfer at Fachhochschule Dortmund contribute to solving pressing social challenges.
The report shows the impressive variety of projects and activities in which all eight Faculties(Opens in a new tab) - Applied Social Studies, Architecture, Design, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Business Studies - are involved. And this is also where the university's particular research strength lies: for complex research questions, the researchers cooperate across departments in interdisciplinary constellations and transdisciplinary with practice partners, which ensures application-oriented research.
The projects presented address current topics such as digital transformation with AI in various fields of application (e.g. agriculture), energy-efficient construction, energy control and storage systems, sustainability, renewable energies, individualized biomedical technology, the promotion of democracy and family, child and youth welfare. The newly acquired lighthouse projectstart-upcenterfh-dode Fachhochschule Dortmund on its way to becoming a start-up university" has continued its successful work of funding start-ups from academia.
The Graduate Center(Opens in a new tab) can also look back on a successful year in 2025. At 151 people, the number of doctoral students increased once again - also a result of the numerous information and support services offered by the university's Graduate Center.
Other highlights in the annual report include the transfer events that took place, including the Precious Networks, the Fachhochschule Dortmund's research showcase and the laboratory talks to which industrial companies were invited, as well as the "ForschungsDialog", which aimed to promote internal networking among researchers.
A special reporting point is the research prize awarded by the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts Sponsorship Society in 2025 to Harald Opel(Opens in a new tab) , head of the storyLab kiU(Opens in a new tab) in Dortmund U, for his work on digital arts.