The ecosystem
Horst-Görtz-Institute for IT Security
The Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI), Research Department of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), is one of the largest and oldest institutes in the field of IT security in Europe. The institute was founded at the RUB in 2002 to address the Europe-wide deficits in public research on IT security. Currently, around 160 scientists* from computer science, electrical & information technology and mathematics as well as the humanities & social sciences conduct research at the Research Department IT Security. Since 2019, the HGI is home to "CASA: Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries", the only German Cluster of Excellence in the field of IT security. CASA is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with approximately 30 million euros. The HGI is part of the Faculty of Computer Science at the Ruhr University Bochum.
WORLDFACTORY Start-up Center WSC
The WORLDFACTORY Start-up Center (WSC) is the central contact point for start-ups and transfers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and one of six Excellence Start-up Centers in North Rhine-Westphalia. It accompanies and supports students and scientists interested in founding companies in translating socially relevant research ideas into long-lasting business models and bringing them to the market and the world. To this end, the WSC offers a diverse, modular range of consulting, teaching and event services, as well as coworking and experimental spaces for product development and collaboration.
Faculty of Computer Science
With the founding of the Faculty of Computer Science in October 2021, the Center of Computer Science, the HGI and the Institute of Neuroinformatics will combine their research power and teaching expertise. The research covers forward-looking subfields of modern (core) computer science and IT security, including, for example, quantum information, machine learning, software engineering, neuroinformatics, cryptography, databases, and distributed systems, and is internationally visible and recognized. The 2,000 students in the bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in applied computer science, computer science and IT security receive a solid basic education and choose from an extensive range of courses on cutting-edge research topics. In addition to research and teaching, networking is a cornerstone of the faculty.
Bochum Economic Development
The Bochum Economic Development BoWE is one of the largest and most innovative economic development companies in NRW. With services for Bochum companies, start-ups and foreign investors, BoWE opens doors, creates perspectives and acts as a strong partner for sustainable urban development. The Bochum Economic Development supports founders in the implementation of a business idea, in financing issues, in the choice of location or networking with other founders and other contacts with a variety of (free) offers.
Security Startups
„I can report from my own experience that it is a very difficult phase to go to market with the first idea. Here it is important to have fellow sufferers. We form a network of founders in which they help each other if there are failures or setbacks in the realiziation of their ideas."
