East German Commissioner Carsten Schneider visits BTU with journalists

Together with the Lusatia Representative of the State of Brandenburg, Dr. Klaus Freytag, and the Lord Mayor of the City of Cottbus, Tobias Schick, BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande welcomed the Minister of State and nearly 40 media representatives of the federal political reporting at the IKMZ of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU).

"Already in the founding charter it says: The BTU is to save Lusatia," said Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, explaining the role of Brandenburg's only university of technology in the region's structural transformation. "We are one of the most dynamic science locations in Germany and are shaping the major future issues and transformation processes worldwide. In this way, we assume responsibility for progressive and sustainable development in the region." He added that the BTU has unleashed growth potential with its numerous major structural transformation projects and - contrary to the nationwide trend - is enjoying steadily growing numbers of first-year students*. With the founding of the Lusatia Science Network by the BTU and scientific partner institutions (federal institutes and non-university research institutions), an association has been established that forms the scientific backbone of the Lusatia Science Park, which is currently being developed. Under the motto "Shaping the future with energy", the knowledge and technology park in Cottbus will be an inspiring free space for talents from research and companies working on solutions for sustainable change.

Tobias Schick, mayor of the city of Cottbus, is optimistic about the future, saying the region needs numerous skilled workers and offers well-paid jobs. "The people of Cottbus may be skeptical - but they also see: something is moving here," he said, also referring to the new companies that have settled in the city and region, such as Deutsche Bahn, which has made a statement with its new rail plant.

Lusatia Commissioner Dr. Klaus Freytag also considers concerns about job losses and unemployment to be unfounded and confirmed: "We have a shortage of workers. Registrations for 4,000 new jobs have been registered in Lusatia."

Minister of State Schneider sees good progress in the structural transformation of Lusatia's economy, which used to focus on coal and energy production. "This is a good blueprint for the changes ahead in this country as a whole." The BTU forms the nucleus for research and research companies, new settlements and dynamic developments, he said.