Structural development of Lusatia with research and innovation: Memorandum of Understanding signed for Lusatia Science Park - Woidke: "Leading project with foresight".

This combines excellent basic and applied research with innovative spin-offs and numerous companies. To this end, the BTU, together with the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, has sought strong partners: local politicians, non-university scientific institutions such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Leibniz Association, as well as economically strong companies such as LEAG, BASF Schwarzheide, Deutsche Bahn and Rolls-Royce. Together, they presented a declaration of intent to establish and support the Lusatia Science Park to Minister President Dr. Dietmar Woidke during a ceremony at the BTU today. Also present were Brandenburg's Minister of Science Dr. Manja Schüle and Minister of Economics Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach.

"I am delighted that today, after months of planning, we are laying the conceptual foundation stone for the Lusatia Science Park. At the BTU, we have one of the strongest growing science landscapes in all of Germany. That is why we are establishing a new technology and innovation park here in Cottbus together with our partners as part of the structural change in Lusatia," said Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, President of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. She thanked those involved, above all Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle, and supporters for their great commitment. "With the Lusatia Science Park, we want to bundle scientific and technological excellence under one roof, create synergy effects and, last but not least, attract international talent, start-ups and companies to Cottbus." The goal, he said, is to develop Lusatia into a real laboratory for Lusatia and other regions of the world through the BTU's scientific profile and outstanding network. "Together, we will find solutions to the major challenges of the future," Gesine Grande emphasized.

Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the State of Brandenburg "The Lusatia Science Park will give Lusatia supraregional appeal and visibility as a science and business location. Today, we are committing ourselves to an ambitious cooperation of research, science and business, which will bring many well-paid jobs. Among other things, a hotspot for electromobility with a focus on hybrid-electric drive research is being created here. This will be an important link in our value chain of future-proof electromobility with companies such as Tesla, Microvast, BASF and Rock Tech Lithium. With the Memorandum of Understanding, science, industry and local authorities are today committing themselves to cutting-edge research and innovation transfer. I would like to thank all those involved for this joint commitment. This is how the structural change in Lusatia will succeed. The project makes it clear that our Lusatia remains an energy region - but is changing its image. A model region for modern mobility and energy supply is being created here. Lusatia is becoming an industrial center for climate-neutral business. This is in line with the state government's strategy of harmonizing environmental and climate protection with innovative economic development in order to lead Brandenburg into an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable future."

Dr. Manja Schüle, Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg "Lusatia is a successful energy and industrial region that is constantly reinventing itself. But: never before has so much innovative power been in demand as it is today. That is why I am very pleased that science and industry are joining forces in the Lusatia Science Park to form an innovation and technology booster. The engine: a dynamic network with the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the non-university research institutions on site and many strong partners from business and society. The new science and technology park will be a competence center: interdisciplinary, international, innovative - and, according to its DNA, always open for new impulses. It is precisely this kind of scientific location with charisma that we need today more than ever. I am convinced that the Lusatia Science Park will make the region attractive and shape it for decades to come. This is what successful structural change 'Made by future' looks like."

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy of the State of Brandenburg "The Lusatia Science Park will create an attractive innovation hub with high charisma. There is only an innovative economy with a strong science - and this interaction will be lived here. Innovative technologies offer great industrial policy opportunities for Brandenburg, provide additional regional value creation and employment - in other words, exactly what we need for successful structural development in Lusatia. I am convinced: the Lusatia Science Park will make an important contribution to the structural development of Lusatia and help the region remain what it is - a strong industrial region."

Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the Management Board of BASF Schwarzheide GmbH
"Our world is changing ever faster. The spirit of research and innovative strength are therefore elementary for the positive development of our region. The Lusatia Science Park represents a great opportunity for everyone involved, but especially for our young talent. As an industrial company and major employer in the region, BASF supports this development."

Dr. Dirk Geisinger, CEO Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG "With its focus on science and research, the Lusatia Science Park offers an excellent basis for sustainably driving forward structural change in Lusatia. We will play our part by establishing a globally unique ecosystem for low-emission, hybrid-electric aviation propulsion systems here in Brandenburg with our partners. An innovative partner network between Berlin and Lusatia will provide important impetus and give the region the boost it needs for the future."

Alexander Kaczmarek, Deutsche Bahn AG Group Representative for the State of Berlin "Deutsche Bahn is already actively supporting structural change in Lusatia: we are building our most modern maintenance plant in Cottbus with 1,200 new and qualified jobs. Here we will maintain part of our growing ICE fleet. With the partners of the Lausitz Science Park, we have the opportunity to expand the Cottbus site into a development and testing center for digital maintenance. Together, we can drive forward innovative technologies for the railroads."

Holger Kelch, Lord Mayor of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz "In these troubled times, it is evident that it is important to become thoroughly aware of our own strengths again, in addition to international cooperation. Therefore, every location development here in Cottbus/Chóśebuz is to be welcomed, be it the new railroad plant, the future university medical training or the clear profiling of the science location around the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with the Lausitz Science Park. The city of Cottbus/Chóśebuz will play its part in the success of these projects."

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kleiner, President of the Leibniz Association "The Lusatia Science Park is a very pleasing signal for the future of the region as well as for our innovation system, because this is where knowledge-driven research and practical application come together in a cooperative, partnership-based manner. Such targeted effectiveness of research results with broad societal benefits has always been a central concern for the Leibniz Association - and all the more so in the light of tackling major common challenges such as the energy transition."

Prof. Dr. Mario Ragwitz, Director of the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy "Lusatia is a region of energy and a region with energy. Based on this strength, we as Fraunhofer IEG want to develop and deploy the climate-neutral energy systems of the future here. In the Lusatia Science Park, we realize this with strong partners from research and innovation in a strong region. In this way, we can shape change and seize the opportunities it presents for people."

Prof. Dr. Uwe Riedel, Director of the Institute for Low CO2 Industrial Processes of the German Aerospace Center e.V. "With its two institutes in the fields of energy and aeronautics research, DLR will make a contribution to developing Lusatia into an innovation location. The interdisciplinary approach of the cooperations is important here. The cooperation of research institutions and universities as well as industry and administration will have a positive impact on economic development. The focus here is on the sustainability of structural change. It can succeed in developing Lusatia into a model region."

ABOUT THE LAUSITZ SCIENCE PARK The Lausitz Science Park, which will cover 420 hectares when completed, will be built on the site of the former technology and industrial park, the so-called TIP site, on the northwestern outskirts of Cottbus in the immediate vicinity of the BTU's main campus. The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg aims to sustainably bundle top-level research and transfer at an international level and thus develop an interdisciplinary innovation network as well as an excellent science and technology location. In doing so, the BTU is focusing on four profile lines generated from the history of the university and its predecessor institutions: "Energy Transition and Decarbonization," "Health and Life Science," "Global Change and Transformation Processes," and "Artificial Intelligence and Sensor Technology." These large, interdisciplinary research topic areas link university and non-university science with the needs of business and society in structural change.

According to estimates, the Lusatia Science Park holds a potential of at least 10,000 jobs - from academics to skilled workers, from educators to managers. It offers space for 200 small and medium-sized companies, which will find attractive working conditions, a high-quality research environment and the best framework conditions for science and research, innovation and transfer here in the future. This will move excellently educated people to the region, but also help retain skilled workers in Lusatia. Apartments, daycare centers and restaurants will also be built on the site.

The Lusatia Science Park will be developed and established in two phases and supported by two pillars: a science network and an operating company responsible for site management. For this purpose, the BTU has gained an experienced consultant in WISTA Management GmbH - developer and operator of the Adlershof Science and Technology Park in southeast Berlin.

SIGNATORIES TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

• Prof. Dr. Alexander Böker Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research
• Dr. Markus Eltges Director of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development, Competence Center Regional Development in Cottbus
• Dr. Eva Ehrentreich-Förster Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses
• Andreas Fredrich Mayor of the City of Senftenberg
• Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the Management Board of BASF Schwarzheide GmbH
• Prof. Dr. p.h. habil. Gesine Grande President of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
• Alexander Kaczmarek Group Representative of Deutsche Bahn AG for the State of Brandenburg - representing the Board Member for Digitalization & Technology of Deutsche Bahn AG
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Kahmen Scientific and Technical Director of the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics
• Holger Kelch Lord Mayor of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz
• Thorsten Kramer Chairman of the Executive Board of Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
• Jens Leberwurst Commercial Director and Head of Network Management/Regulation Management Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Gas GmbH and Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Strom mbH
• Dr. Harry Lehmann Head of the PtX Lab Lausitz - Practical Laboratory for Fuels and
• Basic materials from green hydrogen- Walter Leibl Managing Director of WISTA Plan GmbH
• René Markgraf Managing Director of IBAR Systemtechnik GmbH
• Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Alexander Michaelis Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems
• Andreas Peter Head of Eastern Locations of the German Aerospace Center e.V.
• Prof. Dr. Mario Ragwitz Head of the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy - representing the President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
• Prof. Dr. Uwe Riedel Director of the Institute for Low CO2 Industrial Processes of the German Aerospace Center e.V.
• - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Harald Schenk Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems
• Sebastian Scholl Director of Finance, IT/Digitalization of Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus gGmbH
• Roland Sillmann Managing Director of WISTA Management GmbH
• Andrea Stewig-Nitschke Nursing Director of Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus gGmbH
• Prof. Dr. Ralph Watzel President of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
• Dr.-Ing. Bernd Wenzel Head of the Competence Center Climate Protection in Energy Intensive Industries

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAUSITZ SCIENCE PARK

" www.b-tu.de/lausitz-science-park

"Program of the ceremonial act

"Livestream of the ceremonial act (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

CONTACT Ilka Seer Press Officer of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg T +49 (0)355 69 3612 E ilka.seer(at)b-tu.de

*Additionto the caption:

Pictured in the group photo are (from left to right):

Dr. Dirk Geisinger, Managing Director Rolls-Royce Germany, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Kahmen, Scientific-Technical Director of the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics, Jürgen Fuchs, Managing Director BASF Schwarzheide, Adam Kaczmarek, Group Representative of Deutsche Bahn for the State of Berlin, Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, President of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Prof. Dr. Mario Ragwitz, Head of Fraunhofer Institute Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy (IEG); representing the President of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the State of Brandenburg, Andreas Peter, Head of Eastern Locations of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Holger Kelch, Lord Mayor of the City of Cottbus, Prof. Dr. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Andreas Fredrich, Mayor of the City of Senftenberg, Prof. Dr. Uwe Riedel, Director of the Institute for Low CO2 Industrial Processes of the German Aerospace Center ( DLR), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kleiner, President of the Leibniz Association.