Universität Bonn

The Digital Science Center

DiCe projects and milestones 

DiCe projects are identified, prioritized and executed with the help of all players to turn vision into reality—in a spirit of innovation. DiCe projects involve one or more actors, each of whom is responsible for implementation within their respective area of business. The DiCe Coordination Desk performs coordination in projects involving more than one actor. DiCe projects ongoing and completed are publicized within the DiCe Forum to heighten transparency regarding the digitalization process at the University.

4 Years

active project work

21

current DiCe projects

4 M

acquired grants in €

Selected DiCe projects

Klick onto the project info tiles to read the detailed descriptions of the DiCe projects.

Virtual Collaboration (third-party funded project)

Before we can start collaborating in a given area, the first step is to come up with a class room. So what virtual rooms can we find to make real collaboration work?

Use of Atlassian collaboration tools

What opportunities for collaboration in research and administration are afforded by the collaboration tools Confluence, Jira and Bitbucket?

New HPC cluster

Cutting-edge research demands cutting-edge hardware. What kind of innovation will our second high-performance computer Marvin enable through its potential in simulation and analytical function?

Identity- and Accessmanagement

A uniform Uni-ID already provides access to the various IT services. How could the service interoperability be made even more user-friendly and secure?

Transdisciplinary teaching with AI (third-party funded project) 

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science. These have been hot topics in science and research of all kinds for quite some time now. What courses can we offer to lay important foundations for students in these areas?

Roll-out of Campus-App.NRW

What if you could fit the whole University into your hip pocket? Student transit pass, library card… What all could possibly fit into one single app?

Projects, Visions, Strategy 2019 - 2023



12/2023

The DiCe009 project pilots the successful and popular “Foundations of Machine Learning in Python” block course for principal investigators (PIs) as its target group.


11/2023

The beta version of the app is published as part of the DiCe011 project.


The GitLab designed for teaching contexts as part of DiCe008 goes online.


10/2023

The DiCe007 project involves making a course available on a trial basis as part of a project for schoolchildren.


The DiCe012 project gets a new management team and enters its critical phase.


The hardware tokens required for two-factor authentication are purchased as part of the DiCe006 project.


Marvin has arrived! The new high-performance computing (HPC) system (see the DiCe013 project) is set up and tested by power users. The University inaugurates the computer in a formal ceremony.


The second admin position is filled as part of the DiCe014 project.


The DiCe008 project stages an exhibition in the Haus der Geschichte to mark the Tag des offenen Denkmals (“Monuments’ Open Day”).


09/2023

The successful and popular “Foundations of Machine Learning in Python” block course is held yet again as part of the DiCe009 project.


08/2023

The DiCe005 project sees the launch of bonndata, the University of Bonn’s new online institutional interdisciplinary repository of research data.


The DiCe's Board of Management initiates a number of projects at its 17th meeting:
• Securing VPN (DiCe016)
• Anti-plagiarism checks (DiCe017)
• Video platform (DiCe018)


The project management team is appointed as part of the DiCe010 project.


07/2023

The first admin position in the DiCe014 project is filled.


The new topics for the interdisciplinary study projects in the new semester are presented as part of DiCe009.


06/2023

The terms of use and privacy policy for PreCampus are updated in the DiCe007 project.


The DiCe006 project successfully fills one vacancy for implementing two-factor authentication.


The DiCe's Board of Management launches the Data Literacy Education (DiCe015) project at its 16th meeting. It signs off the draft outline for the cloud strategy in the DiCe004 project.



04/2023

The alpha version of the app is published as part of the DiCe011 project.


The new topics for the interdisciplinary study projects in the new semester are presented as part of DiCe009.


03/2023

The successful and popular “Foundations of Machine Learning in Python” block course is held yet again as part of the DiCe009 project.


The JupyterHub designed for teaching contexts as part of DiCe008 goes online.


At its 15th meeting, the DiCe's Board of Management brings the successful project DiCe003 to a conclusion: ZoomX has been identified as a videoconferencing solution that is recognized across the University and that meets privacy and data protection requirements and has been rolled out accordingly. A key management decision is made in the DiCe006 project: Uni-IDs and Shibboleth are to be prioritized when implementing two-factor authentication. An extra job post is added to the DiCe010 project to map the structural organization in the research information system. The DiCe004 project sees the outline of the cloud strategy finalized.


02/2023

The project management team is appointed successfully as part of the DiCe004 project.


The workshop conference forming part of the DiCe008 project is held successfully together with the University of Vechta


01/2023
The “Foundations of Machine Learning in Python” block course, which proved extremely successful and popular on its debut, is held for the second time as part of the DiCe009 project.


The contract for the new central high-performance computing (HPC) system is awarded in the DiCe013 project. The new computer will be called “Marvin.”


12/2022

Interim results from the DiCe002 project are accepted and a scientific advisory board for high-performance computing is set up in the 13th DiCe board of management meeting.


In the DiCe013 project, the Vertriv racks are installed to set up the HPC cluster Marvin.


11/2022
Project Group 1 of DiCe008 decides for a technical basis.


11/2022
The first staffing expansion phase of DiCe014 is decided.


10/2022
The two open positions in the DiCe011 project are filled.


In the DiCe013 project, the procurement order for the new HPC cluster is placed. The cluster name is to be Marvin (formerly Bonna 2).


09/2022
In the DiCe009 project, the block course “Foundations of Machine Learning in Python,” designed for scientists of all disciplines, is successfully concluded.
The planned system upgrade in the DiCe007 project is successfully conducted.


In the twelfth DiCe board of management meeting, the DiCe002 project is expanded, adding another pilot faculty.


A scientific advisory board is formed with the mission of strategically developing research data management.


08/2022
Work commences in the DiCe006 project on a test scenario for multi-factor authentication using an external service provider, with scientific support from the Institute for Computer Science.


The open specialist position in Project Group 1 is filled.


07/2022
The topics are presented for the next round of interdisciplinary AI project groups.


06/2022
A new start page makes it easier for new Atlassian users to get going in the DiCe002 project.


The DiCe008 project organizes supra-regional networking.


The DiCe board of management starts the projects in its eleventh meeting "Procurement and commissioning HPC cluster Bonna 2 (DiCe013)" and "Supervision of the Hertz professorships by the HRZ (DiCe014)"


05/2022
In the DiCe007 project, the range of platform functionalities is expanded to meet current needs.


An invitation to tender is conducted for procurement of the new HPC cluster in planning (see above DiCe013, procurement and startup, HPC cluster Bonna 2).


03/2022
Project group 3 of the DiCe008 project commences work.


The Zoom license will be renewed for the interim until a long-term video conferencing solution is found as the outcome of the DiCe003 project. It will be contractually agreed that a large part of the data processed in this context will remain within the EU.


The project homepage goes live right on time for the kick-off of the DiCe009 project.


Procurement of the Vertiv racks for installation of the new HPC cluster in planning was tendered (see above DiCe013, procurement and startup, HPC cluster Bonna 2).


As part of the DiCe005 project, ORCID profiles can now be embedded in the University website via an interface.


The DiCe board of management discusses the outcome of the roadmapping process for digitalizing administrative processes in its tenth meeting. The focus projects for 2022 were identified.


A sub-project for multi-factor authentication is started within the DiCe006 project.


02/2022
The Exam Administration Security project is started (DiCe012) in the ninth meeting of the DiCe board of management.


12/2021
The DiCe board of management meets for the eighth time. The projects Development of a Research Information System via CRIS.NRW (DiCe010) and Rollout of a Campus App for the NRW Network (DiCe011) are started.


A cluster for use of the video conferencing software BigBlueButton undergoes operational startup as planned within the DiCe003 project.


Project Group 1 of the DiCe008 project commences work. The open Specialist positions in Project Groups 2 and 3 are filled.


11/2021
Key positions are filled in the projects DiCe002 and DiCe008.


Project group 2 of the DiCe008 project commences work.


The new research data infrastructure (FDI) in the DiCe005 project goes live university-wide.


10/2021
The University is awarded funding from the “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education” call for proposals by the German Council of Science and the Humanities (GWK). The project BN_TraAINeE receives funding of 1.99 million euros.


Oversight of the third-party funded projects Virtual Collaboration (DiCe008) and Bonn Transdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence Education BN_TrAIneE (DiCe009) as DiCe projects commences in the seventh meeting of the DiCe board of management .


The ExU project funding line P5 Implementation of an Open Science Culture and Open Science Service Infrastructure at the University of Bonn is included within the DiCe project logic as DiCe project DiCe005.


The project DiCe005 for the first time offers low-threshold Open Science Coffee Lectures for interested scientists.


08/2021
Modern technical infrastructure for the central storage of research data is provided within the framework of the ExU program line P5.


07/2021
The electronic lab notebook RSpace goes online within the framework of ExU program line P5.


06/2021
The DiCe board of management meets for the sixth time. The projects Upgrading of University Identity and Access Management (IdA) (DiCe006) and PreCampus Redesign (DiCe007) are started.


05/2021
The University is awarded funding from the call for proposals entitled Strengthening University Teaching through Digitalization conducted by the Foundation for Innovative Teaching in Higher Education. The Virtual Collaboration project receives funding of 2.15 million euros.


04/2021
The project Development of a Cloud Strategy for the University of Bonn (DiCe004) is started at the fifth meeting of the DiCe board of management.


The assignment of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) is enabled within the framework of ExU project funding line P5 with the aim of rendering research data referenceable and citable over the long term.


02/2021
The licensing model for Atlassian collaboration tools is switched over to one affording long-term availability in the DiCe002 project.


12/2020
The DiCe board of management meets for the third time. The DiCe projects Confluence in Project Management and Strategic Use of Atlassian Collaboration Tools (DiCe002) and Long-term Use of Video Conferencing Software (DiCe003) are launched.


A call for proposals is launched for the internal grant program entitled Diverse, Sustainable, Digital within the ZSL program line entitled Cutting-edge Teaching for the inclusion of digital competencies skills in curricula.


The DiCe project Consolidation of MATLAB Licenses (DiCe001) is successfully completed through conclusion of a campus license agreement.


11/2020
The DiCe board of management meets for second time. The first DiCe project is launched: Consolidation of MATLAB Licenses (DiCe001).


09/2020
The DiCe board of management meets for the first time.


The Rectorate instructs the HPC/A-Lab to build the central bonna computing cluster up to Tier 3 level as rapidly as possible.


08/2020
Test operation of the bonna computing cluster is analyzed and regular operation is implemented.


03-07/2020
The DiCe plays a key role in enabling “Digital Summer Semester 2020”.


2/2020
The Excellence Strategy project Implementation of an Open Science Culture and Open Science Service Infrastructure at the University of Bonn starts.


11/2019
A software solution is provided to support the creation of data management plans within the framework of ExU program line P5.


06/2019
The RADAR repository for the publication and archiving of research data goes online, within the framework of ExU program line P5.


02/2019
Central computing cluster bonna goes online.



03/2023

The participatory strategy process to develop a Digital Strategy comes to a successful conclusion. The outcome is the final version coordinated with all the deans, which is passed on to the Rectorate.


01/2023

An initial version of the new Digital Strategy including all the main content is completed. It contains:
• A vision comprising seven sets of objectives from the vision-setting process
• An ongoing strategy process (quality assurance system) for to be implemented and fine-tuned
The DiCe Board of Management signs off this version at its 14th meeting, prompting a process of communication with the faculties and other relevant key players.


11/2022
Efforts commence to crystallize measures and a suitable quality assurance system out of the findings from the Vision process.


09/2022
Central visions are defined alongside the defined cross-faculty visions.


07/2022
The cross-faculty visions are studied to identify potential synergy effects with regard to the non-faculty-specific issues of equal opportunity, international orientation and sustainability.


06/2022
The over 700 envisionments or “visions” developed by seven faculties in the course of nine workshops are aggregated into overarching “cross-faculty visions”, drawing upon qualitative social research methods.


03/2022
The Department of Economics develops its visions for digitalization of the Department.


The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences develops its visions for digitalization of the faculty on the basis of feedback received from its constituent departments.


07/2021
The Faculty of Arts outlines its visions for digitalization of the faculty in a second workshop.


04/2021
The Faculty of Medicine outlines its visions for digitalization of the faculty.


03/2021
The Faculty of Agriculture outlines its visions of the faculty in a workshop.


The Faculty of Arts outlines its visions for digitalization of the faculty in an initial workshop.


01/2021
The Faculty of Protestant Theology outlines its visions for digitalization of the faculty in a workshop.


12/2020
The Faculty of Catholic Theology outlines its visions for digitalization of the faculty in a workshop.


08-12/2020
The bilateral talks are held. The Digitalization Manager positions are defined. It is agreed that the visions/personas will be developed within one workshop per faculty.



11/2023

Services & Infrastructure meets for the fourth time.


The Academic Advisory Board on HPC discusses issues including access and allotting computing time at its second meeting.


At its 18th meeting, the DiCe's Board of Management submits the draft of a policy on handling research data to the Rectorate for sign-off.


The Academic Advisory Board on Research Data passes the revised draft of a policy on handling research data to the DiCe's Board of Management at its fourth meeting.


09/2023
The digitalization management in the faculties and Services & Infrastructure finalize the documents for the “Requirements management” core process in another joint workshop.


08/2023
Services & Infrastructure meets for the third time.


The DiCe's Board of Management begins quarterly planning for strategy implementation at its 17th meeting.


06/2023
The DiCe005 project sees the formation of the “Open Access” working group. Made up of representatives of the Rectorate, the faculties and the USL, it will meet regularly to tackle the changes to the academic publication landscape brought about by open access from a strategic perspective.


The agenda for the Academic Advisory Board on Research Data’s third meeting includes discussing the latest draft of a policy on handling research data.



05/2023
A joint workshop is held to start scoping out the “Requirements management” core process from the Digital Strategy.


The digitalization management in the faculties and the members of Services & Infrastructure meet to get to know one another.


The website www.digital.uni-bonn.en goes online, complete with a public presentation of the new Digital Strategy.


04/2023
Services & Infrastructure convenes for its second meeting and a further workshop.


The Academic Advisory Board on Research Data consults the findings from the TeRAbytes workshop at its second meeting. In a first step, it commissions a DiCe project designed to facilitate cooperation with external research coordination partners.


The Rectorate implements the University’s Digital Strategy, which was developed together with the faculties in a participatory process.


03/2023
The participatory development process comes to a successful conclusion. The outcome is the final version coordinated with all the deans, which is passed on to the Rectorate.


The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences appoints its digitalization management representative, thus completing the ranks of digitalization management in the faculties.


The Academic Advisory Board on HPC elects its chair and deputy chair at its inaugural meeting.


The Academic Advisory Board on Research Data gains two additional members.


Services & Infrastructure meets for the first time as a University body as part of the Digital Strategy. From now on, its meetings will always alternate with those of the DiCe's Board of Management.


02/2023
A meeting of the Services & Infrastructure group is held.


01/2023
An initial version of the new Digital Strategy including all the main content is completed. It contains:
• A vision comprising seven sets of objectives from the vision-setting process
• An ongoing strategy process (quality assurance system) for to be implemented and fine-tuned
The DiCe's Board of Management signs off this version at its 14th meeting, prompting a process of communication with the faculties and other relevant key players.


The Modelling, Matter and Life and Health Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs) hold a workshop entitled “TeRAbytes—Strategies for Data Science and Data Management,” which is attended by over 100 researchers and given ample support by the Research Data Service Center. The findings from the workshop will be fed back to the Academic Advisory Board on Research Data.


Provost Holger Gottschalk is elected Deputy Speaker of the DiCe for a further term of office.


11/2022
Efforts commence to crystallize measures and a suitable quality assurance system out of the findings from the Vision process.


08/2022
The Department of Law fills its Digitalization Manager position.


05/2022
The Faculty of Agriculture Law fills its Digitalization Manager position.


03/2022
The DiCe board of management discusses the outcome of the roadmapping process for digitalizing administrative processes in its tenth meeting. The focus projects for 2022 were identified.


A sub-project for multi-factor authentication is started within the DiCe006 project.


01/2022
The Faculties of Protestant and Catholic Theology jointly fill their position of Joint Digitalization Manager.


09/2020
A second Coordinator is hired for the DiCe.


09/2020
The DiCe board of management meets for the first time.


08-12/2020
The bilateral talks are held. The Digitalization Manager positions are defined. It is agreed that the visions/personas will be developed within one workshop per faculty.


07/2020
A digital platform for dialogue on the ongoing Strategy Development process is launched within the framework of the DiCe Forum. The platform is updated daily, keeping University staff and students informed on all the latest DiCe activities.


The Rectorate conducts a strategy workshop together with the deans of all faculties entitled The Faculties’ Perspective on Development of a Digitalization/IT Strategy. The concept From Vision to Project to Strategy is defined and adopted. Bilateral talks between DiCe and the faculties are agreed. The decision is made that each faculty is to create a Digitalization Manager position.


05/2020
The HPC/A-Lab hires another employee.


04/2020
The HPC/A-Lab hires an employee.


03/2020
A coordinator for is hired for the DiCe.


03/2020
The DiCe website goes online.


01/2020
The Rectorate holds a strategy workshop with representatives of academic staff and of University operating units. The DiCe mission is defined:
“DiCe is a central organizational unit of the University of Bonn tasked with the development, ongoing adaptation and execution of the IT/Digitalization Strategy [...]. The role of the DiCe is to ensure that digital activities are conducted in accordance with coherent planning.”
The Digitalization Strategy for University administration is defined thus: “The explicit goal is to have all processes fully digitalized by the year 2025, where possible.”


10/2019
Prof. Dr. Petra Mutzel is appointed holder of Chair for Computational Analytics. The HPC/A Lab is established.

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