Technological, economic and social change is reconfiguring industries and markets: Challenges such climate change, the ageing of society, scarcity of resources, accelerating information and communication technologies that require new solutions. The IAT researches industries and value chains in its international and regional localisation. This is based on the fact that despite advancing internationalisation and globalisation, companies are often firmly rooted and embedded in the region. To this end, regional networking and the role of value chains in regional innovation systems are in the limelight.
Furthermore, it is apparent that companies with their innovation activities increasingly cross industry lines and established product markets. Such trend can certainly be attributed to the transversal character of many new technologies as well as to the entrepreneurial engagement on markets that are societal demand-driven. New cross-industry fields of action, distinct forms of cooperation and new products blurring establish boundaries are, thus, central subjects of research.
Jointly with the City of Bottrop and the Faktor 10 Institut für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften, the IAT conducts an interdisciplinary and application-oriented research project on "Sustainable Transformation of Urban Spaces" within the framework of the BMBF funding program "Social Ecological Research". Targeting sustainable and resilient development of the urban space, this project focuses on the transition of urban economic structures in Bottrop favouring a long-term transformation. To this end, innovative governance models, which have already been tested in other fields, are transferred to business promotion. Their applicability shall be improved and the sustainable and resilient development of the site promoted.
The main target of our work is to strengthen the performance and innovation capacity of the health and healthcare industry. Quality of life, employment and growth should to be increased by improved and new services and products.
A spatial perspective is the starting point for many ongoing projects at the Institute for Work and Technology. Functional and social spaces provide the analytical framework for the analysis of actor constellations, networks and clusters, as well as of spatial perceptions and cultures, which cannot be found in politically or administratively defined regions.
Innovation research at the IAT analyses innovations in distinct sectors and spatial contexts. Following a broad understanding of innovation, subject of research are social, organisation as well as technological innovations, which are frequently also integral part of all innovation processes.
Work and economic research deal with the question of whether and how working environments change in their structures, processes and relationships. This includes the impact of new technologies but also the interplay/interaction of qualification and organization of work.
