Founded in 2008, the EUREF-Campus Berlin is a real-life laboratory for the energy transition. Over the years, around 150 companies that are directly or indirectly driving forward solutions for climate change and environmental protection have set up shop at the Schöneberg Gasometer. 7,000 jobs have been created at this location. It was clear from the outset that research and teaching had to be elementary components of this concept. And so TU-Campus EUREF gGmbH, an affiliated institute of Technische Universität Berlin, was founded right from the start. It offers four continuing education Master’s degree courses directly related to the topics of the energy transition. Recently, 90 young talents from all over the world started their studies for the next one and a half years. At 63 percent, the Asian region is the most strongly represented, with India being the largest country of origin.

The Berlin university model has proven itself over the years. Both sides benefit from the proximity between students and companies, which are constantly on the lookout for new specialists. It was therefore logical that this model should also be implemented on the new EUREF Campus Düsseldorf. Four universities are participating in the program: TU Dortmund University,  University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf , Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen. The first students will begin their studies in Düsseldorf next year.

For a project of this magnitude, not only are leading universities crucial as scientific partners, but also strong business partners. Schneider Electric, Convex Energy, the Wilo-Foundation, Arcadis and SPIE are already among them. This week, we warmly welcomed our new partner: E.ON impulse GmbH. Ulrich Hüschelrath, Head of Recruiting and Retention, traveled all the way from Essen to find out more about the TU-Campus EUREF. He was welcomed by the Managing Director of TU-Campus gGmbH Karin Teichmann and Academic Program Manager Gernot Bohmann, who reported on the multifaceted Berlin talent incubator.

As an internal service provider, E.ON impulse GmbH supports the specialist departments and regional companies of E.ON in the Rhine/Ruhr area and, in some cases, throughout Germany. The working method is similar to that of an internal consultancy – only much more technical and implementation-oriented. This enables E.ON to competently and flexibly handle work peaks, projects and substitution situations with internal know-how and highly motivated people in the increasingly agile working world of the Group. For a reasonable daily rate, of course. A great deal revolves around the implementation of the energy transition. Project implementation, the classic PMO or the temporary assumption of tasks in communication, innovation projects or corporate functions are typical areas of deployment. A quick look at the figures shows the high performance and success of the force: services worth around EUR 20 million have already been commissioned for 2024 alone. Around 160 employees currently work in the force at six standardized qualification levels. The average age is 31 and the proportion of women is over 60%.

Around 20% have an international background – but speak German. The highlight: E.ON impulse supports its employees from day one as a mentor for their personal and organizational development. E.ON impulse does the same for its clients within the Group: How can an assignment be designed in such a way that it is attractive for a career starter? What leeway should be left for design? The company’s name says it all: to be a driving force at all levels. Ulrich Hüschelrath (authorized signatory) and Steffen Kartenbender (member of the management board) of E.ON impulse are constantly on the lookout for new talent. They are sure to find them at the EUREF Campus in Düsseldorf. The successful Berlin model feeds this confidence.

Ulrich Hüschelrath used his visit to the EUREF-Campus Berlin to explore the highlights on site as part of a campus tour. Gunnar Wilhelm, Managing Director of GASAG Solution Plus, welcomed the guest from Essen to the energy workshop, which provides heating and cooling on the campus. The EUREF energy workshop has been meeting the 2045 climate protection targets since 2014 – at the cost of a conventional supply. Here, visitors are shown the future of energy supply, with solutions for entire neighborhoods, while operations continue.

The zeemobase (zero emission energy and mobility base), a place where mobility and energy converge and are connected both physically and digitally, also has a view of the districts. Electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, stored locally and converted into mobility. In technical terms, the zeemobase is a micro smart grid that distributes energy as efficiently as possible. In practical terms, the zeemobase is an intermodal mobility station. Boris Benesch, Innovation Hub Manager at inno2grid, a joint venture between Schneider Electric and the DB E.C.O. Group, showed how this works.

The highlight, in the truest sense of the word, was the Sky Walk on the roof of the Gasometer, which offers a 360-degree view of Berlin.

Would you also like to become a partner and support the training of talent or find out more about the topic? Then please contact talent-campus@euref.de.