Science Location East Germany

Scientists from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg spoke with Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Hans Peter Hiepe, BMBF, about the science and research landscape, which is competitive not only nationally but also internationally with its outstanding innovations, excellent cutting-edge research and renowned institutions.

BTU scientists Prof. Holger Seidlitz, Chair of Polymer-based Lightweight Construction, Prof. Peter Schierack, Chair of Multiparameter Diagnostics and Honorary Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dirk Roggenbuck, Chair of Molecular Diagnostics and Quality Management, took part in a panel discussion on the success story of eastern Germany as a science location. Invited were best practice initiatives from research that have advanced their scientific careers in cooperation with regional companies through the "InnoProfile-Transfer" program. The BTU scientists were able to build up their research in the fields of lightweight construction and molecular diagnostics within the framework of junior and endowed professorships, joint projects and junior research groups. Close collaborations with companies and non-university research institutions, new research centers and innovative projects have emerged.

The "InnoProfile-Transfer" funding program was part of the BMBF's "Enterprise Region" innovation initiative in the New Länder and financed technology- and industry-specific collaboration between young scientists and regional industry with around 140 million euros for a total of 51 projects until 2020. It is based on the open-topic predecessor program "InnoProfile," which targeted junior research groups at publicly funded research institutions. To this end, the junior research groups focused on those companies that shaped the economic competence profile of their region, whose market and technology development showed particular potential and which were or could become an essential component of value creation in the region. At the same time, the funding was intended to attract the skilled workers from science and industry who would help shape the region's economic and technological processes in the future. With these and other programs under the umbrella brand Unternehmen Region, which address different points in the innovation process, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funds the technological, scientific and economic competencies in the new states.

Hans-Peter Hiepe (2nd from left), head of the "Regional Innovation Initiatives; New Länder" department at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research was instrumental in creating the two funding programs.
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