The Rhineland-Palatinate University of Technology Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) and Koblenz University of Applied Sciences (HS KO) are conducting joint research in the research college ReTra in the field of 'Resilient Transformation Spaces' in order to provide generalizable findings and innovative strategies for sustainable and crisis-proof spatial development in rural low mountain regions.

The research college will be jointly implemented over a period of three years by Koblenz University of Applied Sciences and RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau. It is based on six cooperative doctoral projects. These deal with various aspects of spatial development, including planning cultures, organizational management (governance), inter-municipal processes, sustainability and climate adaptation in the field of water management and the further development of club sports facilities.

The existing informal collaboration will be bundled by this research college, transformed into a multidisciplinary academic network and will be consolidated with joint research activities beyond the funding period. A dedicated team of professors from various disciplines will supervise the various doctoral projects, supported by a team of top-class mentors from academia and practice as well as an advisory committee.