RWTH Aachen University
Driving innovation
RWTH Aachen is one of Europe’s leading technology institutions renowned for its standard of education and research. The high-level academic approach in teaching focussing on the acquisition of expert knowledge in the basic sciences is complemented by application-orientated education and training. In nine faculties, 30,000 students, in particular in engineering, benefit from engagement in research, by applying and developing their knowledge in existing projects undertaken by research groups, thus gaining excellent professional competence. As a result graduates of the RWTH are well regarded in industry and national rankings and international surveys underline the reputation of graduates having the considerable ability to tackle complex challenges, work successfully in problem-solving teams and display leadership qualities.
Work and research undertaken at RWTH research centres, supporting developments in industry, has led to and leads to numerous developments, patents and licences, whereby e.g. artificial insulin and the Cochlea-implant have changed the lives of thousands of people. The scale of differentiation and specialisation of the competence centres of the RWTH Aachen is complemented by successful collaborations in interdisciplinary groups and forums combining the expertise of fields or faculties. Teaching and research in departments, such as software systems and the social sciences, include reference to the natural sciences and engineering reflecting the main focus of the university. The potential in terms of available expertise resulting from the quality of engineering and science at the RWTH Aachen was the deciding factor for international research institutions such as Microsoft, Ford, United Technologies or Philips to settle in the Aachen region. The innovation strength of the university is also evidenced in the large number of start-up companies founded over the last 20 years turning the region into to a type of German Silicon Valley.
