Success Through Coopetition
First, Rector Prof. Dr. Stephan Trahasch looked back on the past year, which had been marked by substantial progress: The University has once again demonstrated its strength in research. Professor Heiner Behring handed over the trinational student “shorts film festival” (sff)—which he founded and which has long been established in the region’s cultural landscape—to new leadership. For the first time, artistic works that sensitively explore the relationship between humans and technology were honored with the Léa Roger Prize. Student enrollment remained stable. Internationalization was and remains a central theme. The rector specifically highlighted the founding of the European university alliance ChallengeEU—in which Hochschule Offenburg played a key role—and noted the introduction of the first English-language bachelor's program in Mechanical Systems Engineering for the 2026–27 winter semester.
However, new degree programs are also emerging from another central element of the university’s identity: close collaboration with regional companies. As examples, the president cited the continuation of the wvib foundation’s “Kobotics and Sociotechnological Systems” program, as well as the new degree program “Digital Public Management and Consulting,” set to launch in the winter semester of 2026/27, which was developed in collaboration with Nagarro. In addition, with generous support from Markant, the foyer of Building A was transformed last year into a modern learning environment for students. The company’s long-standing commitment to the University also includes the endowed chair in “Analytics and Data Science,” membership on the board of trustees, awards, scholarships, sponsorship, and much more. In recognition of this fruitful collaboration and the entrepreneur’s dedication to education, social causes, and sustainability, Stephan Trahasch awarded Markant President Franz-Friedrich Müller the title of Honorary Senator. The rector thanked all other companies and supporters for their commitment and then turned to a current topic. “In a world that has become more complex, uncertain, and harsh, places where people come together, listen, learn from one another, and work on solutions together are important. Universities are such places. And universities of applied sciences like ours are especially so—because we don’t just think about knowledge, we translate it into action,” said the rector.
The interplay between cooperation and competition was also the focus of the keynote address “Coopetition: 30 Years of Research and Practice” by Prof. Dr. Michael Dowling, chairman of the Munich Circle. The Munich Circle addresses issues related to technology, society, economics, and regulation in the fields of information and telecommunications technologies as well as the media. Dowling described coopetition as a strategic necessity for driving innovation and addressing the challenges of digital transformation. He emphasized that more decisive action on the part of companies is crucial to better capitalize on the opportunities offered by collaboration with competitors, startups, and partners from outside the industry. Dowling then discussed possible forms of collaboration in a panel discussion moderated by Kai Wißmann, featuring Mark Michaelis, managing director of Markant Services International, and Hanna Böhme, the new managing director of wvib.
Award Ceremony
The official award ceremony of Hochschule Offenburg also took place as part of the annual academic celebration. A total of 31 students from 18 companies, associations, and institutions in the region were honored for outstanding academic achievements or exceptional commitment to their studies or other areas over the past two semesters. Host Kai Wißmann invited the award sponsors in the categories “Social Engagement,” “Technology and Environment,” “Health and Life Sciences,” “Economics and Management,” “Media and Design,” and “Informatik and AI” to come forward, introduced the awardees and their respective fields, and called them up to the stage one by one.
The Paul Broßmer Trio provided musical accompaniment for the awards ceremony. Paul Broßmer on bass, Linus Rebmann on piano, and Julian Höferlin on drums impressed the audience with the unique sound of their original compositions, their spontaneous interplay, and their virtuosity. At the reception that followed, the participants took the opportunity to network.
Award Sponsors and Recipients
Badische Stahlwerke GmbH: Paul Kron (bachelor's degree in Environmental and Energy Process Engineering, summer semester 2025); Samuel Zuber (bachelor's degree in Biotechnologie, winter semester 2024/25)
EDEKA IT Foundation & Co. OHG: Dominik Friedrich (bachelor's degree in Angewandte Informatik, winter semester 2024/25); Patrick Grommelt (bachelor's degree in Angewandte Künstliche Intelligenz, summer semester 2025); Felix Lüdin (master's degree in Informatik, summer semester 2025)
Elektrizitätswerk Mittelbaden AG und Co. KG: Andreas Fiebelkorn (master's degree in Renewable Energy and Data Engineering, summer semester 2025); Tanya Worrell (master's degree in Elektrotechnik/Informationstechnik, winter semester 2024/25)
Etol-Werk Eberhard Tripp GmbH: Lucas Wiedemer (bachelor's degree in Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, winter semester 2024/25)
Gisela and Erwin Sick Foundation: Carolin Buchholz (master's degree in Medizintechnik, winter semester 2024/25); Simon Walderich (bachelor's degree in Elektrotechnik/Informationstechnik, winter semester 2024/25); Niels Zettwoch (bachelor's degree in Mechatronik und Autonome Systeme, winter semester 2024/25)
Hansgrohe SE: Charlotte Krieg (bachelor's degree in Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, winter semester 2024/25)
Herrenknecht AG: Janis Hemminger (master's degree in Maschinenbau/Mechanical Engineering, summer semester 2025); Julia Mzyk (master's degree in Biotechnology, winter semester 2024/25)
Hobart GmbH: Vincent Nath (startING introductory semester, winter semester 2024/25)
Hochschule Offenburg (Equality Awards in Arts & Science): Laura Dippel (master's degree in Medizintechnik, summer semester 2025); Lena Engler (bachelor's degree in Environmental and Energy Process Engineering, winter semester 2024/25); Julia Marcia Mann (master's degree in Medien und Kommunikation, summer semester 2025); Celine Marx (bachelor's degree in Media and Information Studies, summer semester 2025); Karolin Richter (bachelor's degree in Wirtschaftspsychologie, winter semester 2024/25)
IHK Südlicher Oberrhein: Helal Alsabbagh (bachelor's degree in Applied AI, winter semester 2024/25)
MEIKO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG: Raphael Minolla (master's degree in Medizintechnik, winter semester 2024/25)
Sparkasse Offenburg/Ortenau AdöR: Lene Kuttruf (bachelor's degree in Betriebswirtschaft, summer semester 2025), Alexander Schröder (master's degree in Medien und Kommunikation, summer semester 2025)
Spitzmüller AG: Sophia Kiefer (master's degree in Dialogmarketing und E-Commerce, winter semester 2024/25)
City of Offenburg: Anton Dreher (master's degree in Mechatronik und Robotik, winter semester 2024/25), Manuel Metzger (bachelor's degree in Media and Information Studies, summer semester 2025)
VDI Black Forest Regional Chapter: Vivian Roch (bachelor's degree in Biomechanik, winter semester 2024/25)
VEGA Grieshaber KG: Iris Raaber (startING introductory semester, summer semester 2025)
Association of Friends and Supporters of Hochschule Offenburg: Juliane Schrempp (commitment to international students, including serving as a buddy for exchange students, ambassador promoting applications for study abroad programs, and involvement in the Sustainability Working Group; 3rd semester, master's degree in Medien und Kommunikation)
Volksbank eG – Die Gestalterbank: Ronja Knittel (bachelor's degree in Wirtschaftspsychologie, summer semester 2025)