The Rhenish mining area—Europe’s largest lignite mining region—is currently undergoing a complex structural change process due to the coal phase-out that is being enacted in Germany. Researchers from RWTH Aachen University—an institution of education and research that is an integral part of the surrounding region—have founded the transformation platform “REVIERa”. Their objective is to create a forum around the lignite phase-out and to link up knowledge and activities, both inside the University and with regional partners and residents. With regard to the Aachen Transformation Model, this article reflects on the platform’s contribution to researching, shaping, and enabling the transformation process in the Rhenish mining area. We discuss the value added by the platform as well as the related challenges, limitations, interdependencies, and appropriate methods. In this respect, REVIERa can have an integrative function; however, some open questions regarding further research potential and the nature of transformation processes, institutional roles, and structures remain.