The Free State of Saxony and the state universities sign a grant agreement for the years 2025 to 2032.
With the signatures of Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow, Finance Minister Hartmut Vorjohann and the rectors of the 14 state universities in Saxony, the next long-term subsidy agreement was concluded in Dresden on May 15, 2024.
It essentially regulates the basic financial resources of all universities for the years 2025 to 2032. Taking into account the increase in fixed and expected wage and salary increases, a total of around seven billion euros will flow over these eight years.
The new grant agreement will maintain the long-term funding of Saxony's universities at a high level. In addition to the wage and salary increases, the universities will be provided with further funds for special tasks, which will continue to grow over the term of the grant agreement:
The additional funds are intended to put universities in an even better position to tackle higher education policy challenges such as the fight against the shortage of skilled workers, digitalization in teaching and administration, sustainable campus development and technology transfer. Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphasized:
The Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, emphasizes how important the grant agreement is for the planned continuous development of our university as part of the "University for Future" process. In a video message, he summarizes the key points of the agreement from the perspective of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. He also expresses his gratitude that the Free State of Saxony is the only federal state to grant its universities such long-term security of action.
The first grant agreement between the universities and the Free State of Saxony was concluded for the years 2014 to 2016. The second grant agreement was valid for the first time for a period of eight years between 2017 and 2024. This mechanism will be continued with the agreement for the years 2025 to 2032. This makes the Free State of Saxony the only federal state to guarantee financial security over such a long-term planning horizon for its state universities, regardless of the double budgets to be adopted.
