Cottbus, September 1, 2022 - Politics meets reality, listens to people and incorporates much of this into its decisions - this was the spirit of the 18th Lusatia Conference of the German Trade Union Confederation in Cottbus on September 1, 2022. Lectures and specialist forums on the topic of "Revierwende - new perspectives for Lusatia" attracted over 300 interested parties from politics, business, research and trade unions. The HSZG was strongly represented at the Market of Opportunities with a specialist lecture by Dr. Julia Gabler on the podium on the topic "Change is female" and the transfer projects Lusatia - Life & Technology and Enterprise Europe Network with a stand.

In her contribution on gender equality in the structural change of Lusatia, Julia Gabler shows the important role of women in the context of sustainability: they establish decentralized structures, regional circular economy, participatory organizations and convey models of balancing care and gainful employment in Lusatia. With reference to the conference program, Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Communications, emphasized the need to strengthen and involve stakeholders within the structural change process in order to achieve the goals of the DGB (see position paper) and the panel participants. "This perspective is often neglected and is so important."

Leonie Liemich, Project Coordinator of the Lusatia Alliance - Life & Technology (L& T ) presented innovative F&E projects from (Upper) Lusatia. Interested conference participants were not only able to learn about ways to save energy through more efficient waste heat utilization concepts, but also about non-formal training concepts for employees in the region.

Tobias Schlüter, a project member of the Enterprise Europe Network, which is affiliated to the HSZG, provided information on the current work and transfer between industry and research institutions as well as their potential in the area of international networking.

In a policy paper the trade unions took a stand for Lusatia and the energy transition. The paper states that the Coal Phase-out Act and the Structural Strengthening Act provide a good basis for structural change in the interests of employees, even in these times of change. "Structural change can only succeed with reliable framework conditions for the economy and opportunities for employees to participate," says the DGB. What is needed now is sustainable and rapid relief for the population in the face of galloping inflation and energy costs. The DGB trade unions' position is that, among other things, crisis profiteers should be asked to pay, commuters should be supported, energy prices for basic consumption should be capped and municipal companies and public utilities should be stabilized.

As guests, the conference participants welcomed Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Communications, Michael Kellner, Saxony's Deputy Minister-President and State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport, Martin Dulig, Brandenburg's Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy, Jörg Steinbach and Stefan Körzell from the Executive Board of the DGB.

Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Communications: "Lusatia is and will remain an energy region. The highly qualified specialists we need for the energy transition live here. We want to phase out coal by 2030 and quickly enter the hydrogen industry. The importance of battery technology will also continue to increase with the ramp-up of renewable energies. With new forms of energy, we are offering the people of Lusatia planning security and long-term prospects for a region worth living in."

Martin Dulig, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport in Saxony: " Successfully shaping the energy and climate transition is a major challenge for everyone involved. We must now carefully examine which concepts work, both in terms of security of supply and the affordability of energy. The burden must be distributed fairly. At the same time, innovative technologies need to be established. Green hydrogen in particular can untie the Gordian knot of the energy transition and create secure, sustainable jobs. We want to make further progress here. Lusatia is an energy region and should remain so."

Brandenburg's Minister for Economy, Labor and Energy, Jörg Steinbach:  "Strong employee associations are an important factor for social and economic development in Brandenburg and, of course, in Lusatia. The common goal of employees and the state government is and remains to ensure 'good work'. Structural change offers a great opportunity to develop a low-emission, future-proof energy region in Lusatia, in which, among other things, a competitive regional hydrogen economy is created. The balance sheet is also very good in other fields of action - the expansion of the ICE maintenance plant in Cottbus and cathode production in Schwarzheide stand for the creation of new and well-paid industrial jobs. And the establishment of new institutes and scientific facilities in the future Lausitz Science Park gives us the opportunity to develop innovation potential and establish new value chains together with existing commercial enterprises."

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