A multidimensional and far-reaching structural change is currently unfolding in the region Lusatia, closely interwoven with the energy transition in Germany, but also with further societal transformation processes. The resulting challenges are not unique: comparable situations can be found in peripheral regions around the world - be it in deindustrialised, 'left-behind' regions or in those that are or were closely linked to the value chains and production networks of fossil energy production.

ZeStuR aims at comprehensively understanding the associated economic and societal processes, and at translating research insights into actionable support. Hence, researchers from various faculties at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg collaborate within ZeStuR in an interdisciplinary project framework that applies perspectives from economics, spatial sciences, and social sciences. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space from November 2025 to October 2030, the involved departments are working in five thematic clusters. The centre combines basic research with transfer-oriented approaches and economic policy analyses to not only gain theoretical insights, but also to translate these into practical recommendations and support their application in political and administrative contexts.

From the Institute of Economics, the departments of Economics/Macroeconomics, Economics/Microeconomics and Management of Regional Energy Systems are involved in Cluster 1, "Vitalisation of Regional Innovation Systems in Peripheral Areas". The cluster's research team combines perspectives and methods from innovation economics, behavioural economics, regional economics, economic geography and interdisciplinary energy transition research, and applies both qualitative and quantitative methods.

The overarching research interest of the cluster is to better understand which economic dynamics unfold through structural change processes and how we can influence them. The cluster asks the following key questions, among others:

• What innovation-based new development paths (can) emerge, and what roles do the various players play in this?
• How are the spatial patterns of regional economies and their translocal interdependencies changing?

The team of Cluster 1 (still in the process of being formed):

• Prof. Dr Wolfram Berger
• Prof. Dr Bernd Hirschl
• Prof. Dr Jan Schnellenbach
• Dr Tim Rottleb
• Jakob Kripp
• Paul Strikker

Project Duration: 2025-2030

Funding Agency: Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

If you have any questions about the research cluster "Vitalisation of regional innovation systems in peripheral areas" or are interested in cooperation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please contact the cluster speaker Dr Tim Rottleb directly: tim.rottleb(at)b-tu.de

More information on the overall project can be found here: https: //www.b-tu.de/zestur