AMO at the JRF Event “NRW in Transition: Science as a Driving Force – Then and Now”

On 12 January 2026, a special evening event of the Johannes Rau Research Community took place, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Johannes Rau’s passing. The central theme was how science has shaped structural change in North Rhine-Westphalia in the past and continues to do so today. Around 400 guests from politics, science, and society attended.

In his keynote, Minister President Hendrik Wüst paid tribute to Johannes Rau as an important architect of change and emphasized the crucial role of research, education, and social cohesion. Science Minister Ina Brandes then discussed the importance of excellent research for the future of the state together with representatives from science and innovation policy. The evening was complemented by reflections on science policy over past decades as well as video statements from former NRW science ministers. The event concluded with words of thanks from Christina Rau and a reception.

AMO GmbH was represented by Herbert Kleinjans, Max Lemme, and Thorsten Wahlbrink, who actively contributed to the discussions. For AMO, dialogue between research institutions, policymakers, and society is a key element in successfully shaping the transformation in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With our cutting-edge research in micro- and nanotechnology, innovative developments, and strong partnerships, we make an important contribution to strengthening North Rhine-Westphalia as a high-performance science and technology location. The evening once again demonstrated that science remains the key to successful structural change—then and now.