Structural change in Lusatia Projects and initiatives at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

In the heart of Lusatia, the BTU makes a significant contribution to shaping structural change in Lusatia through a combination of basic and application-oriented research. it sees itself as an engine of innovation in the region and, through transfer of knowledge and technology, contributes to meeting the demands of the economy and society in a future-oriented and sustainable manner.
Projects in the federal programme WIR! change through innovation in the region
With the programme "WIR! - Wandel durch Innovationen in der Region" (WE! - Change through Innovation in the Region) launched in 2017, the Federal Government is providing a total of 200 million euros to support broad-based regional alliances in eastern Germany that are jointly developing strategies to identify potential and thus strengthen the innovative strength of their region. The following BTU projects were awarded the contract:
LiL Land-Innovation-LausitzProject lead: Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. (NMU,UA) Michael Schmidt
The aim is to develop Lusatia into a model region for the adaptation of land use to climate change, for example through innovative soil amelioration, sustainable cultivation systems and biomaterials such as agricultural films with new functionality (duration until the end of 2021, thereafter interim evaluation)
WI+R Digital Repair FactoryProject lead: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil Markus Bambach
In a broad network with partners from the region, work is being done on digital solutions in maintenance, repair and overhaul in order to network and profile the project region across sectors (duration until the end of 2021, thereafter interim evaluation)
BTU structural change projects
The Federal Government is supporting the structural change in the regions affected by the coal phase-out together with the Länder until 2038. To this end, an emergency programme for the lignite regions has been set up for the years 2019 to 2021. 240 million euros have been made available for this purpose in the short term within the framework of existing Federal programmes, including 80 million euros for Brandenburg. The Federal Government is involved in the following projects:
Multidisciplinary optimization of a hybrid microturbine SOFC systemProject lead: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinz Peter Berg
An "energy converter of the future" - a combination of gas turbine & high temperature fuel cell is developed and a prototype is produced
BMWi funding measure: Application-oriented non-nuclear research and development in the Federal Government's 7th Energy Research Programme
Innovation Campus Electronics and Microsensor Technology Cottbus - iCampusProject lead: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Harald Schenk
Competences for new miniaturized sensor solutions are bundled and applied in the regional economy (duration until December 31, 2021)
BMBF Framework Programme of the Federal Government for Research and Innovation 2016-2020 "Microelectronics from Germany - Innovation Drivers of Digitization"
Startup Revier EAST | Entrepreneurs and Academics, Skills and Technologies Project lead: Katrin Erb
Subproject: Creative Open Lab (COLab): A wide range of competences and technologies are available to interested parties in the region to develop business ideas and prototypes
BTU initiatives - planned innovation centres
- Lusatian Centre for Artificial Intelligence
Researching AI and bringing it to industrial application
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wolff, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ingo Schmitt
- Digitally networked multi-energy systems - Energy Innovation Center
Developing the Lusatian mining district into a sustainable energy region
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schiffer, Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Felix Müsgens
- SpreeTecNext
Development, production and marketing of new technologies for components and systems of (decentralised) energy technology
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Vesselin Michailov
- BioH Lausitz - Biotech-Health Campus Lausitz
Leading projects in biotechnology, integration of biological functionalities in materials, bioanalytics/multiplex diagnostics, drug development, medical technology and the production and exploitation of microalgae
Prof. Dr. Jan Heiner Küpper
- 4C - Cottbus Center for Climate Change and Cultural Heritage
Research on cultural heritage in the context of global climate change
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Rheidt
- Centre for Structural Change and Regional Development
Accompaniment of structural change through various social science perspectives
Prof. Dr. oec. habil. Jan Schnellenbach
- Sustainable development of a multifunctional landscape
Sustainable management of land and water
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Christoph Hinz
- Lausitz Academy
Increasing the attractiveness of Lusatia as a science location
Robert Rode