What do Bochum and Sheffield have in common?
Both cities have strong industrial heritages that have helped shape their identities. Bochum grew around coal mining, while Sheffield became internationally recognised for steelmaking. Today, both cities are developing new strengths in digital technology, research and cyber security.
Colleagues from Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Germany, recently joined researchers at Sheffield Hallam University for a day dedicated to exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
The visit brought together Dr Carlos Da Silva, Dr Jims Marchang, Philippe Skender, Mara Frahne, Dr Diana Hintea and Dr Shahrzad Zargari, creating an opportunity to share expertise, discuss areas of common research interest and identify where the two universities could work together in the future.
Ruhr University Bochum and Sheffield Hallam both operate within cities that have undergone significant transitions from traditional industry towards increasingly knowledge and technology led economies. This shared background provided an interesting foundation for discussions around cyber security, digital resilience and wider technological innovation.
The visit provided an opportunity for researchers to exchange ideas and consider how complementary expertise across the two institutions could support future projects. Discussions also explored how international academic partnerships can create wider opportunities for researchers, students, industry and the communities’ universities serve.
Although Sheffield and Bochum are separated by more than 500 miles, the challenges being explored within computing and cyber security increasingly cross geographical boundaries. International collaboration can therefore play an important role in developing new approaches, sharing knowledge and responding to emerging technological and security challenges.
The meeting also reflects the importance of building sustained research relationships between universities. Visits such as this allow researchers to identify shared interests at an early stage and establish the connections needed to develop future collaborative activity.
With their industrial histories firmly rooted in coal and steel, Sheffield and Bochum are now finding common ground in a very different area: the development of secure, resilient and innovative digital technologies.
Following the visit, colleagues from Sheffield Hallam University and Ruhr University Bochum will continue to explore opportunities for future collaboration.
