24. February 2026

How do sustainable partnerships emerge — partnerships that build trust, lead to concrete projects, and create long-term impact?
And what kinds of spaces are needed for people from different systems to truly work together on equal footing?

With the certificate program “Co-Creating Knowledge”, city2science has developed a format that addresses exactly these questions. The concept was designed and implemented in close cooperation with UniverCity Bochum and the RUB Research School.

The program systematically brings together actors from academia, public administration, and business. It is structured, professionally facilitated, and driven by a clear objective: to unlock joint capacity for shaping sustainable urban and regional development.

The Core Principle: Don’t Leave Cooperation to Chance

Cross-sector collaboration often does not fail because of a lack of goodwill — but because of differing logics, languages, incentives, and expectations. Research institutions operate differently from city administrations; administrations differently from companies. The certificate program creates a protected and professionally moderated space where these differences are not flattened, but actively leveraged.

Key Elements of the Program

• Balanced participation from academia, administration, and business

• A modular structure across several program days

• Deliberate changes of location and perspective to challenge routines

• Methods drawn from:

  • systemic thinking

  • Design Thinking

  • co-creative project development

  • stakeholder and actor mapping

  • storytelling for transformation processes

• Work on real strategic questions from the city and the scientific community

The goal is not only knowledge exchange, but the development of concrete, implementation-oriented project ideas.

Strong Demand — Clear Need

For the most recent cohort, 30 places were initially planned. More than 65 applications were received. Due to the overwhelming response, the group was expanded to 50 participants:

• 20 from academia

• 20 from public administration

• 10 from business

This balance was not coincidental — it is a central design principle. Different perspectives create productive friction, and from this friction, innovation emerges.

At the final session, six interdisciplinary project groups presented their initiatives — ideas rooted in regional challenges and designed to continue beyond the program itself.

Partner in Concept and Implementation: UniverCity Bochum

The first two program cycles were developed and implemented in close cooperation with UniverCity Bochum, a dynamic network strategically connecting universities, the city, and regional partners in Bochum. The collaboration has demonstrated that when cities and universities systematically align their resources, perspectives, and strategic goals, entirely new spaces of possibility emerge.

We sincerely thank the UniverCity Bochum team for its trust, openness, and commitment to jointly refining and advancing the format together with us!

An Offer for Universities, Cities, and Networks

The certificate program “Co-Creating Knowledge” is not a one-off initiative, but a transferable model. We offer the format to other universities, cities, and regional partnerships.

What we contribute:

• Concept development and content design

• Process architecture and professional facilitation

• Experience in cross-system collaboration

• Methodological depth combined with strategic perspective

• A tested format with measurable outcomes

The program is particularly suited for:

• University networks

• Science cities

• Transformation regions

• Innovation and transfer strategies

• Municipalities with ambitious collaboration agendas

Interested in Bringing the Program to Your City or University?

Let’s talk. We design cooperation in a structured, strategic, and effective way.

Contact

city2science
Science Communication and Strategy Consulting

Dr. Annette Klinkert, CEO

Unter den Linden 31
32052 Herford
Germany

Tel. +49 151 23006370

www.city2science.de