When robots become colleagues: How Lusatia is testing the future of work

This has been made possible by a research project which, since 2021, has been addressing the question that is preoccupying an entire region: what will work look like here once the last of the coal has been converted into electricity?

A region in transition – and on the cusp of a new era

Lusatia is in the midst of structural change. The phase-out of coal-fired power generation presents companies with the challenge of reinventing themselves whilst retaining skilled workers who are in demand elsewhere. This is precisely where the PerspektiveArbeit Lausitz (PAL) project comes in. Ergonomics experts from five universities in Saxony and Brandenburg, including the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), have joined forces with around two dozen companies and associations to develop and test data-driven support systems directly in real-world workplace settings. The stated aim: to make work in the region more efficient, healthier and more attractive, without losing sight of the people who do this work.

For five years, industry practitioners and researchers have worked side by side on twelve practical projects – not on the drawing board, but directly in the production halls and at the workstations of the participating companies. This has resulted in very concrete solutions: dashboards that make production data tangible for decision-making, systems that capture the experiential knowledge of experienced Staff Members before it is lost when they retire, and assistive technology that alleviates the physical strain of demanding jobs.

The digital transformation is taking shape 

After almost five years of project work, PAL is now taking stock and invites you to join us in person. On Wednesday 26 August 2026, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg will open its doors in the Central Lecture Theatre Building for the knowledge transfer event ‘Intelligent Assistance in the Workplace of the Future’. From 10 am to 4 pm, industry, research and policy will come together there for a programme that goes far beyond traditional specialist presentations.

The event kicks off with a first-hand account from the field: Jane Ludwig from Grötschel GmbH, a Cottbus-based specialist company in the field of Mechanical Engineering, will report on what collaboration between industry and research in the real-world laboratory is actually like, including all the opportunities and friction points that such a transformation entails. This will be followed by an interactive panel discussion, moderated by Katrin Meusinger (Silicon Saxony e. V.), bringing together voices from business, trade unions and academia: participants include Matthias Loehr from the DGB, Prof. Julia Zähr from Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, and representatives from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and uesa GmbH. The focus will be on the question of which initiatives from PAL are truly viable for the world of work in the Net Zero Valley Lausitz.

Hands-on rather than just listening: the exhibition in the real-world laboratory

The real highlight of the event lies in the afternoon programme. From 12 noon to 2.30 pm, the lecture theatre building will be transformed into a live exhibition where visitors can not only watch but also experience specific use cases first-hand. At the stands, companies such as HQM Tubes, voestalpine Wire Germany, Trumpf Sachsen and the Cottbus-based firm caleg Schrank und Gehäusebau will demonstrate how abstract concepts such as ‘assistance systems’ or ‘cobots’ can be transformed into practical tools for everyday operations. The topics range from automated data provision in dashboards and the digital preservation of experiential knowledge to ergonomic, employee-friendly workplace design and Systems for the intuitive handling of collaborative robots in manufacturing. Meanwhile, a food truck will be providing refreshments. Networking is explicitly encouraged to take place in an informal setting.

To round off the day, PAL looks ahead: Prof. Leif Goldhahn (Mittweida University of Applied Sciences) and Sylvia Franke-Jordan (Dresden University of Technology) will outline the next steps, including the newly founded PAL Association, which is intended to sustain the network and the developed solutions beyond the funding period.

Why the trip to Cottbus is worthwhile

For small and medium-sized enterprises in the region, the event is more than just a glimpse into the future. It is a rare opportunity to engage directly with companies that have already completed their digital transformation or are currently in the midst of it. Anyone considering introducing ergonomic assistance systems, cobots or dashboards will meet practitioners here who have already followed precisely this path.

Date: Wednesday, 26
August 2026 Time: 10.00–16.00
Venue: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Central Lecture Theatre Building, Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 03046 Cottbus
Registration and information: pal-lausitz.de/events/pal-abschlussveranstaltung-intelligente-assistenz-am-arbeitsplatz-der-zukunft

Participation is free of charge.