It all begins with an observation. At some point, Dr Denis Newiak, a researcher at the BTU, noticed something that sounds trivial yet is far-reaching: television series strikingly often tell stories about people who are lonely – not on the fringes of the story, but at its very heart.

A cultural project run by BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg brings Ukrainian refugees together – with needle and thread and a centuries-old tradition that serves as an anchor in a foreign land.

A factory hall in Lusatia. A worker is working at a workbench alongside a cobot – short for collaborative robot. A screen shows the production process as it unfolds in real time. What sounds like a vision of the future has long been part of everyday life in some factories in Lusatia.

What began as a research question at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) is now taking shape in Kolkwitz: At the Sportverein 1896 e.V. on Jahnstraße, the shell of a multi-purpose building stands, constructed almost entirely from dismantled concrete slabs from old GDR residential blocks. Today, a topping-out ceremony is being held to mark the occasion.

A BTU study shows that decentralised accommodation for refugees in Brandenburg is feasible and has been shown to offer them advantages over living in collective accommodation. Nevertheless, the state continues to house refugees predominantly in collective accommodation. This is shown by the final report on the VASiB collaborative project carried out by BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

In the BTU’s laboratories, an organism is growing in green culture flasks that is more commonly found in smoothies and is often referred to as a microalgae: spirulina. Whilst it is widely used as a dietary supplement, its potential as an anti-cancer agent remains largely unexplored.

When three basketball teams face each other on a match day, there is more Mathematics involved than one might initially think. A scientist demonstrates how mathematical research from the university can bring direct benefits to amateur sport in the region.

It’s a real treat for little foodies: pupils aged 8 have the chance to visit Schokoladenland Felicitas in Spremberg-Hornow during the summer holidays. There are still a few places left for the event on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. It’s free of charge. You’ll need to make your own way there. Complete registration now!

A BTU dissertation shows how smallholder farmers can use three smartphone photos to reliably estimate the yield of their coffee harvest: a cost-effective approach with potential for agriculture worldwide.

BMFTR to continue to fund the Transfer Initiative until 2030: successful interim review paves the way for the expansion of regional innovation structures