A Brief History and Overview of the Chair of Process and Data Science (PADS)

This paper documents the foundation and subsequent growth of the Chair of Process and Data Science (PADS) at RWTH Aachen University, reflecting on the milestones that shaped its trajectory between 2018 and 2025 from the perspectives of its current and former members. We describe the conditions that enabled the establishment of the research group, the strategy used to assemble and manage a diverse team, and how the chair pursued its mission of research and knowledge transfer through numerous initiatives. The paper is written as a small case study that celebrates the chair’s achievements while also reflecting on the lessons learned during these eight years.