The Ruhr University Bochum, the Technical University of Dortmund and the University of Duisburg-Essen have been cooperating strategically and successfully in the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) since 2007. With over 120,000 students and around 1,300 professors, the UA Ruhr is one of the largest and most productive scientific locations in Germany.

To strengthen international cooperation, the UA Ruhr maintains three liaison offices: the Liaison Office Eastern Europe/Central Asia (EECA) is responsible for cooperation in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the Liaison Office New York is responsible for North America, and the Liaison Office São Paulo represents the UA Ruhr in Latin America.

The Liaison Office EECA represents the three partner universities of the UA Ruhr in its target region, increases the visibility of the Ruhr area as an innovative research and science location, and promotes sustainable academic exchange between East and West.