The new UBRA Meeting Point’s purpose is twofold: to strengthen the researchers’ sense of affiliation within the research network, while creating an inviting space for their interactions. “The Meeting Point symbolizes the connection between people and institutions in the U Bremen Research Alliance. It also serves the practical purpose of creating a place where two people can sit across from each other to exchange ideas, initiate new projects, and intensify cooperation across institutional boundaries,” says Derk Schönfeld, Managing Director of UBRA.

University President Jutta Günther emphasized the significance of the alliance for the academic region, stating, “The UBRA network is a platform that enables close and interdisciplinary cooperation. Our work is based on common values such as diversity and academic freedom. These values foster creativity, unconventional thinking, and synergies.”

In the coming weeks, each of the 13 member institutions will receive an identical copy of this Meeting Point. This location serves as both a physical and ideological representation of the alliance’s collaborative nature.

In addition, the Meeting Point also serves as a communication channel. A QR code leads researchers to a website that provides information about UBRA, its services, and benefits, thus increasing the academic visibility of the alliance.

UBRA Meeting Points consist of unmistakable red wooden benches that were made in the University of Bremen’s carpentry workshop.

UBRA unites the University of Bremen with twelve non-university research institutions from the four major German scientific organizations and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). To foster a collaborative and forward-thinking scientific community, the members are working together to establish a unified platform for innovation, infrastructure, and research.