On 11 July 2025, the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) welcomed representatives from politics, the media, the industry and civil society to the campus of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz for a science breakfast. Twelve stakeholders from the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region participated in the event organized by the strategic alliance of the Rhine-Main Universities Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt – among them Clemens Hoch, State Minister for Science and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate, Christoph Degen, State Secretary for Science and Research, Arts and Culture in Hesse, as well as the mayors of Frankfurt, Darmstadt and Mainz. The representatives from politics, the industry, media and civil society met with members of the university boards and young RMU scientists to discuss current challenges faced by science.

After a welcome address by State Minister Clemens Hoch and State Secretary Christoph Degen, the participants discussed how the current global political situation affects science and developed joined perspectives as to what science can achieve for the world. The presidents of the three universities, Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff (Goethe University), Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl (TU Darmstadt) and Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) then spoke of the responsibility and strength of their university alliance. The universities are currently preparing their proposal as a university consortium of excellence in the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. The presidents emphasized that the RMU’s scientific endeavors and contributions address challenges that always require more than one answer. The aim is to find answers and solutions to the problems of our times through top-level research. Naturally, this requires interaction between science, politics and society. The RMU wants to be play an active part in the dialogue to shape upcoming transformation. This would be facilitated by a potential success in the Excellence Strategy, which would also strengthen the Rhine-Main science location and make its strength visible.

The particular importance of interaction between science and the world was further illustrated in two presentations on the following topics: exchange through science communication, which is a top priority of the RMU and which it will continue to promote, and the Launch Rhein-Main startup incubator, consisting of the student entrepreneurship initiatives of the RMU and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management to foster entrepreneurship among students. Universities that are strong in research and teaching have a decisive influence on the momentum and innovation strength of the region. The recent success of the Futury Startup Factory, of which the RMU is a partner, in the EXIST lighthouse competition of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy also is clear proof of this.

Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt and current RMU spokesperson, says: “Frankfurt Rhine-Main is one of the strongest economic and scientific regions in Germany. We as the Rhine-Main Universities find inspiration in our region’s unique character and actively promote cooperation – not only among us, but also with politics, the media, economy and society. This is why I am particularly delighted that so many renowned regional stakeholders have participated in an active and intensive exchange at our RMU science breakfast. We all benefit from a close cooperation between the economy, society, politics, science and the ministries. The backing from the three mayors and the competent ministries is a great support for us.”

Clemens Hoch, State Minister for Science and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasizes: “As the states where the three universities have their seats, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse are jointly building bridges for science, because we have long since realized that excellent scientific work is done on both sides of the Rhine river. The science region Frankfurt Rhein-Main has been established practice for many years, now it is made visible under the umbrella of the RMU.”

 Christoph Degen, State Secretary for Science and Research, Arts and Culture in Hesse, adds: “Frankfurt Rhine-Main is a science region across state borders – a particular feature that makes us stand out, of which we are proud and which we are happy to continue to actively support. Both federal states profit from the intensive cooperation between its strong universities in research, teaching, transfer and administration.”