LausitzLabs officially opened – the chair takes part in the ‘Night of Creative Minds’

On 10 October 2026, the LausitzLabs were officially opened as part of the ‘Night of Creative Minds’ in Cottbus. At the event, which attracted over 3,000 guests, visitors were able to experience first-hand how future technologies can be explored in practice within open learning spaces. Dr Maximilian Müller-Härlin (BMBFSFJ), Doreen Mohaupt (City of Cottbus), Brandenburg’s Minister for Education Gordon Hoffmann (MBJS), Dr Florian Kerkau (lmb) and Prof. Dr Gesine Grande (BTU) officially opened the LausitzLabs with a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The LausitzLabs create spaces where people can not only learn about new technologies, but also try them out and shape them themselves. The sheer variety of what’s on offer was evident from the numerous hands-on stations: families, children and young people were able to bring their own designs to life using 3D printers and laser cutters, get creative at a sewing station, experiment with an AI machine or build their own energy-efficient model house.

“With the LausitzLabs, we are creating new opportunities and solutions. They are places where people can develop their own ideas, try things out and discover that they themselves can make a difference,” emphasised Brandenburg’s Minister for Education, Gordon Hoffmann, at the opening.

Our chair was also present at the “Night of Creative Minds” and supported the event as part of the accompanying scientific research for the LausitzLabs project. The impressions and findings from the evening form a small building block in the longer-term examination of the development and use of these new learning spaces.