Excellent Research in the Ruhr Region: Wilo congratulates TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum

Wilo Global WATER AI Academy showcases best practice in bringing together cutting-edge research and industry

Dortmund. Wilo congratulates Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University on their success in the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. The recognition of their strategic partnership within the Ruhr Innovation Lab highlights the Ruhr region’s growing importance as a hub for research and innovation. It was only in March 2026 that Wilo and TU Dortmund University expanded their long-standing partnership by launching a new collaboration through the Wilo Global WATER AI Academy. The initiative was highlighted as a best-practice example in the universities’ Excellence Strategy application.

“The success of Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University is fantastic news for the Ruhr region and its position as a centre for research and innovation. We firmly believe that outstanding research has the greatest impact when it is combined with real-world business expertise. And that is exactly what the Wilo Global WATER AI Academy stands for,” explains Oliver Hermes, President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group and member of the TU Dortmund University Council.

One outcome of the partnership between Wilo and TU Dortmund University is the WATER AI module, which combines scientific research with real-world applications. Participating students also benefit from first-hand insights from industry professionals. From 2027, the Wilo Global WATER AI Academy will also serve as an official jury partner for TU Dortmund University’s Innovation Challenges. In addition to this, the Academy will become part of a core introductory module for industrial engineering students, giving them early insight into practical applications at the intersection of water, digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments is a competition designed to promote cutting-edge research. It was first launched in 2005 under the name Excellence Initiative. The Global WATER AI Academy is a hub for education, innovation and collaboration founded by Wilo. The initiative aims to bring together academia and industry around the world at the intersection of water and artificial intelligence, promoting innovation, education and applied research.