Preamble

Software has now permeated all areas of society and daily life, thereby assuming a key role in academic, commercial and private settings alike. The fundamental role of software in an increasingly digitalised and networked society calls for interdisciplinary and cross-organisational research into software- and data-driven innovations.

To this end, Paderborn University and its partners are pooling their expertise, both subject-specific and organisational, within the Software Innovation Campus Paderborn (SICP for short). The SICP is a strategic cooperation model for research into software- and data-driven innovations. It is driven by the particular significance of software, digitalisation, comprehensive and intelligent information processing, and networking in the information society. To overcome the technical challenges and achieve the academic objectives, the SICP is developing a new cooperation model for research and innovation that builds on the existing strengths and expertise of the participating partners and puts the idea of a research campus into practice.

The SICP is structured as a research and innovation network comprising Paderborn University and its partners. For its part, Paderborn University has established the Software Innovation Lab as its organisational core – an interdisciplinary, central academic institution. Access to transdisciplinary and transorganisational research and innovation is an indispensable competitive factor. The Software Innovation Lab will therefore play a central role in research and innovation projects with the SICP’s partners from industry and academia.

The aim of the SICP is to conduct transdisciplinary research into software- and data-driven innovations and to drive forward the development of highly networked, software- and data-intensive systems. The focus is on cross-sector innovations that shape the economy and society, which are made possible only through software and modern information and communication technologies (ICT). Research and development at the SICP therefore aims at the continuous generation of innovations through software in services or products, as well as at new process-engineering solutions in the development or analysis of highly networked, software- and data-intensive systems.

The SICP’s remit comprises transdisciplinary and transorganisational research and development, information gathering and knowledge building, knowledge and technology transfer, the networking of stakeholders from business, science and society, scientific, in-company and inter-company continuing/further education, professional development [je nach Kontext], as well as the training of early-career researchers and the integration of research findings into university teaching in the field of software- and data-driven innovations and networked, software- and data-intensive systems.

De­scrip­tion of the SICP

The Software Innovation Campus Paderborn (SICP) is a research and innovation network comprising Paderborn University and other partners, in particular companies and research organisations, which participate as members of the SICP. The SICP establishes a cooperation model for research and innovation that builds on the existing strengths and expertise of Paderborn University and the other members, and puts the concept of a research campus into practice. Within the SICP, expertise is pooled both academically and organisationally to collaboratively research and develop innovative and practice-oriented solutions.

The aim of the SICP is to conduct transdisciplinary and cross-organisational research into software- and data-driven innovations and to drive forward the development of highly networked, software- and data-intensive systems. The focus is on cross-sector innovations that shape the economy and society, which are only made possible by software and modern information and communication technologies (ICT). Research and development at the SICP therefore aims at the continuous creation of innovations through software in services or products, as well as at new process-engineering solutions in the development or analysis of highly networked, software- and data-intensive systems.

The SICP provides its members with active access to transdisciplinary and transorganisational research and innovation in the fields of software, digitalisation, comprehensive and intelligent information processing, and networking. Members can benefit from the latest research findings and knowledge transfer, and help shape the SICP’s professional and organisational development. Participation in the SICP helps to strengthen competitiveness, research and innovation capacity, stimulates and catalyses the development of innovative and business ideas, and facilitates contact with other SICP members. The aim of the SICP is to create a research and innovation ecosystem that enhances the value generated by software- and data-driven innovations, improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the associated processes, and enhances the quality of the resulting products and services.

Paderborn University benefits from the strengthening of interdisciplinary, application-oriented and applied research, the opening up of additional opportunities for collaboration, increased visibility within industry, academia and society, and networking with companies and research organisations.

The SICP’s re­spons­ib­il­it­ies

The SICP’s remit comprises cross-organisational and interdisciplinary research and development, information gathering and knowledge building, knowledge and technology transfer, the networking of stakeholders from industry, academia and society, scientific, in-company and inter-company continuing/further education, professional development [je nach Kontext] for early-career researchers, and the integration of research findings into university teaching in the field of software- and data-driven innovations and networked, software- and data-intensive systems. The tasks of the SICP and its members include, in particular:

  • the establishment and continuous expansion, as well as the strategic, technical and organisational development of the SICP,
  • the definition and continuous refinement of its thematic and scientific profile,
  • strengthening transdisciplinary and transorganisational research and development into software- and data-driven innovations across various scientific and applied fields,
  • the implementation of the ‘campus’ concept to provide a shared research and innovation infrastructure for cooperation and ongoing exchange,
  • the identification and investigation of research questions which, on the one hand, are highly relevant to development and practical application and, on the other hand, require scientific investigation,
  • the identification of cross-cutting and pre-competitive research and innovation topics for joint investigation (open innovation),
  • the development of innovative, information- and technology-oriented business ideas,
  • the formation of new innovation and value-creation networks with other partners,
  • researching, developing and improving solutions in the field of software- and data-driven innovations, as well as highly networked, software- and data-intensive systems,
  • the definition, as well as the technical and organisational planning and implementation of research and innovation projects, in the form of commissioned and collaborative research projects and publicly funded projects,
  • the transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise between academia and industry,
  • the promotion of the exchange of information and experience amongst SICP members,
  • the organisation of topic-specific, cross-membership working groups,
  • the establishment of cross-membership, cross-organisational networks, expertise and project teams (consortium formation),
  • organising and running events (lectures, congresses, conferences, workshops, etc.) within the SICP’s sphere of activity,
  • initiating and carrying out networking activities and projects,
  • the implementation of small-scale projects (e.g. in the form of creativity and digitalisation workshops, user consultancy, quality assurance, process management, system optimisation, architecture and usability assessments, etc.),
  • trend scouting and the preparation of technology and market studies,
  • the development of professional education programmes (continuing professional development), e.g. training courses, workshops, seminars, lectures,
  • the publication of research findings in academic, popular science and application-oriented publications,
  • joint marketing campaigns (e.g. trade fairs, press and public relations).

Re­spons­ib­il­it­ies of the oth­er mem­bers

The responsibilities of the other members also include:

  • the promotion or supervision of doctoral research projects, particularly in application-oriented and applied research,
  • supporting university teaching, in particular by contributing work and research findings, problem statements and challenges, as well as practical and real-world examples,
  • supervising students’ final-year projects, such as Bachelor’s and Master’s theses.

Work­ing groups

To facilitate cross-organisational collaboration within the SICP, topic-specific working groups may be set up in addition to projects. The working groups are designed to facilitate ongoing collaboration with a defined objective.

Participation in working groups is open to all members of the SICP.

The working groups are self-organising. They report regularly to the steering group on their progress and the results achieved.

Pro­jects

Projects are the main means by which SICP members collaborate. Projects may be carried out with the participation of any number of SICP members. The relevant project consortium decides on an appropriate composition of the project partners involved. Projects may be financed using the members’ and other project partners’ own funds as well as, where the purpose of the grant permits, third-party funds, in particular public funding.

Collaboration on projects with third parties who are not members of the SICP is possible.