Kategorie: ‘Projects & Cooperations’
Green HPC: Sustainability in the Data Centers of Tomorrow

Recooler with optional “adiabatic” pre-cooling. The visible filter mats are moistened with water if required.
Digital technologies have become an integral part of science and industry – but data centers are among the biggest energy consumers in the IT sector. High-performance computers in particular are essential for complex calculations in research, but at the same time cause high electricity costs and CO2 emissions. To meet these challenges, RWTH Aachen University is focusing on innovative solutions for energy efficiency and sustainable resource utilisation.
Microsoft Office at RWTH: An Overview

Source: Unsplash
Progressive digitalisation and flexible adaptation to new circumstances have significantly changed everyday working life, studies and research at RWTH Aachen University since spring 2020. Without the right tools, communication and collaboration between members of RWTH would have been much more limited in times of home office and distance learning.
New Certification Authority: From Sectigo to Harica

Source: Own illustration
The time has come! Since April 1, 2025, user certificates (S/MIME) can again be requested in the RA-Portal. After our previous certificate provider, Sectigo, terminated its contract on January 10, 2025, we now have a new provider. The German Research Network (DFN) and GÉANT have contracted a new provider for public-key certificates. The choice fell on the Greek trusted provider HARICA (Hellenic Academic & Research Institutions Certification Authority). HARICA is a certification authority of the Greek university network GUnet, is specially optimized for research institutions and meets the highest security standards.
DataStorage.nrw – How Do You Find out When Your Research Data Will Be Migrated?

Source: DataStorage.nrw
Preparations for the DataStorage.nrw connection are currently in full swing. Until the wait is over, we would like to prepare you for what the migration will look like for you on the Coscine platform. This way you can see at a glance whether your research data is currently being migrated.
Upgrade for Writing Back Exams: In-House Development “MosesInt” Helps

Source: Own Illustration
Do you know how exam dates are organized at RWTH? Every semester, a large number of dates are planned centrally using the “carpe diem!” software and then transferred to RWTHonline – a process known as “exam re-registration”.
Until now, the complex merging of data from both systems has posed a particular challenge. As the software providers were not yet able to provide an automated solution for the process, the IT Center and the departments involved had to resort to manual workarounds.
Thanks to the “MosesInt” project, this is now a thing of the past! Read more about the new local app “Exam planning and write-back”, which has now been made available, in the article.
WestAI: Access to AI for Business and Science

Source: Own illustration
The launch of the WestAI AI service centre will revolutionise access to artificial intelligence for companies and scientists in Germany. Under the leadership of the University of Bonn and with the support of leading research institutions from North Rhine-Westphalia, WestAI offers innovative AI services and state-of-the-art computing infrastructure that can be used immediately – and currently even free of charge. The IT Center of RWTH Aachen University offers part of this infrastructure.
IT Center Annual Review 2024

Source: Freepik
The year 2024 is drawing to a close – a year full of exciting projects, successful collaborations and unforgettable moments at the IT Centre. From innovative events and new partnerships to internal team celebrations and significant changes and new ones, the year was characterised by growth, collaboration and joint development. In our annual review, we take a look at the highlights, changes and successes that made our year so special.
From Research Data Storage (RDS) to DataStorage.nrw
Coscine gives you the opportunity to store your research data using various resources. From next year, there will be a fundamental change: The new DataStorage.nrw will replace the previous Research Data Storage (RDS).
In this blog series, we would like to introduce you to the advantages of the new storage system, explain the process of applying for storage space and go into the details of the migration from the old to the new system.
The Digital Submission of Theses Is Here!

Source: Freepik
After reporting on the pilot of “Submission of Final Theses” (DivA) in May last year, we can now announce that the application is now available at RWTH Aachen. After extensive testing and many improvements in the extended pilot phase, we can now ensure that everything runs smoothly at the end of the degree programme.
Advent Door #2: Mysterious Christmas

Source: Freepik
In the second part of our Advent series, we take you into the world of Christmas puzzles with a touch of technology. In the midst of mulled wine, biscuits and candlelight, we invite you to put your grey matter to the test. Our collection of tricky questions combines festive cheer with exciting IT topics – perfect for enjoying the festive season with a playful twist. Why don’t you go back to our first Advent post and try out our recipes while you think about how to solve these puzzles?