Public launch of the Alterperimentale transfer initiative

Alter - Peripherie - Experiment, or Alterperimentale for short, is a transfer initiative that focuses on ageing well in rural areas along the German-Polish border in the districts of Oder-Spree, Spree-Neiße, Görlitz and the independent city of Cottbus. The aim of the project is to work with local stakeholders to develop socio-ecological and socio-technical innovations that support a self-determined life in old age. To this end, practical research centers are being set up in Görlitz and Cottbus that are geared towards people's specific needs. The existing practical research center in Heinersdorf will be further developed. The experience gained here will be incorporated into the local participation process.

The event offers the opportunity to get to know the concept of the practical research centers and to find out how people from the region can help shape the initiative. The aim of the afternoon is to discuss regional challenges and concrete solutions, using examples such as social farming, communal living and German-Polish cooperation in the healthcare sector.

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Burtscher, Vice President for Research, Transfer and Continuing Education at the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences in Berlin and Prof. Dr. Michael Hübner, Vice President for Research and Transfer at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (video message) will give the welcoming addresses. Guests at the panel discussion "Conditions for ageing well in Lusatia" will include Dr. Klaus Freytag, Lusatia Representative of the Minister President of Brandenburg, and the State Senior Citizens' Representatives Christiane Schifferdecker for Saxony and Norman Asmus for Brandenburg.

Kick-off event "Alterperimentale"
Thursday, April 25, 2024, 13:00
Socio-Cultural Center Telux, Straße der Einheit 20, 02943 Weißwasser
Registration
Program for the event

About the project

The Alterperimentale initiative initiative is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF ) as part of the T!Raum - TransferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen funding line with 5.9 million euros until summer 2026, with the prospect of extending the project duration to a total of nine years. During this time, the practical research center in Heinersdorf will be further developed and two new practical research centers will be established in Cottbus and Görlitz in close cooperation between science and civil society. The practical research centers are spaces for innovation and experimentation to improve the living and working conditions of ageing people in rural areas. The project's target groups are administrations, companies and civil society from the fields of social economy, rural regional development and services of general interest.

Alterperimentale is a cooperation between the Chair of Social Services for Structurally Weak Regions and the Chair of Regional Planning at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences Berlin (KHSB) and the Heinersdorf Practice Research Center (supported by the KHSB).