"Focus on structural change": Fraunhofer President Prof. Reimund Neugebauer visits BTU

The economic and infrastructural changes in the context of structural change are the topic of Fraunhofer President Prof. Reimund Neugebauer's "structural change journey" in Cottbus. Together with partners such as the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), he spoke on November 1, 2022 about the current energy crisis, how it can be overcome sustainably and how climate protection goals can still be achieved.

On the occasion of the official foundation of the Fraunhofer IEG, Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, Brandenburg's Minister President Dr. Dietmar Woidke discussed with IEG Director Prof. Mario Ragwitz and BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande, among others, research into innovative production processes, a_CO2-neutral as well as internationally competitive industrial structure, and the sustainable transfer of scientific findings and developments to industry and society.

During the visit to Cottbus, Prof. Reimund Neugebauer also learned about current lightweight construction technologies and toured the laboratory hall of the BTU's Department of Polymer-Based Lightweight Construction and the PYCO Polymer Materials and Composites Research Unit of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. The main objective of the cooperation is to involve companies in the region at an early stage in innovative developments in the field of lightweight construction and thus to transfer the results and technologies directly to the companies.

About the Fraunhofer IEG

Fraunhofer IEG supports the transformation of infrastructures towards climate-neutral energy systems and the introduction of a hydrogen economy. The projects of the Fraunhofer institution show how concrete sector coupling, green heat grids, geothermal energy supply or hydrogen infrastructures are implemented. These nuclei are intended to lead to new business models in regions undergoing structural change and to retain and attract highly qualified specialists. Shortly after the coal commission's suggestion in 2019, Fraunhofer IEG started its work and meanwhile almost 200 employees at seven locations are actively contributing to the energy transition and to a successful structural change in coal regions with their application-oriented research. For the upcoming construction measures and initial equipment of the laboratories of Fraunhofer IEG in Lusatia, which are still to be set up, the host states and the federal government have earmarked around 43.5 million euros from the coal phase-out funds, of which around 33.5 million euros in Cottbus and around 10 million euros in Zittau. Based on these funds, the IEG will also be involved as an active partner in the Lusatia Science Park. To honor the successful scientific start-up phase, Fraunhofer IEG now celebrated the official foundation (corona-delayed) with the participation of politics, science and industry.

"Focus Journey Structural Change" of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

During the five-day "Focus Journey Structural Change", Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, will visit the regionally anchored institutes from November 1 to 7, 2022. Together with partners from industry and science as well as high-ranking political representatives, the topics of security of supply, energy and hydrogen economy as well as sustainable agriculture will be discussed and future technology paths will be explored.