Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek expects "impetus for structural change in eastern Germany".

And we are part of it!

With the "Lusatia - Life and Technology" alliance, a network of top-class partners from Upper Lusatia has taken part in the BMBF competition. Under the leadership of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and together with the strategic players from the district of Görlitz, the Fraunhofer Plastics Center Oberlausitz, ULT AG Kittlitz and the city of Zittau, ideas were developed with the involvement of many interested parties on how we can make our region - the three-country region - even more interesting, stronger and more sovereign.

The process with many events and sometimes very controversial discussions was exciting - and the resulting strategy paper convinced the selection jury.
The stakeholders are not only interested in technological innovations to strengthen economic power. It is just as important to develop modern educational formats and methods for people of all generations.

Additive manufacturing and flexible energy systems are the areas in which the alliance will invest more in the development of new products and technologies. Novel models of cooperation in the form of shared infrastructure, in which industry, research and education benefit from joint plant technology, will be tested as examples. Urgently needed storage options for renewable energies are also being researched and implemented in regional productions - Made in Upper Lusatia.

Spaces are being created

In our region, education always means language skills. Non-formal and non-formal education facilities are supported, which start there and provide appropriate offers from an early age. Always in focus: How can we make it even better? Right now, as there is a significant shortage of technically trained people, tools are being offered in the STEM field (STEM = mathematics, IT, natural sciences, technology), preferably across generations.

Spaces are created where people can try things out and discover new things. A central WORKSHOP will be set up in Zittau with the aim of achieving a wide reach throughout the entire Euroregion.

More than 30 partners from business, society, associations and administrative institutions have already signaled their willingness to help shape the project.

The plans will be fleshed out over the next few weeks - and then things will really get going! From April 1, 2019, 20 eastern German alliances will be using innovative approaches to drive structural change in their regions.