29. August 2023

Innovation in and for Lusatia

CircEcon research cluster sets standards for sustainable production and climate compatibility

Prof. Uwe Götze, Vice-Rector for Transfer and Continuing Education at Chemnitz University of Technology (l.), Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (2nd from left), Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden (center), Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (2nd from right) and CircEcon Managing Director Prof. Niels Modler, TU Dresden (r.), met. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (2nd from right) and CircEcon Managing Director Prof. Niels Modler, TU Dresden (right), met for the inaugural meeting of the CircEcon Steering Committee on August 16 at TU Dresden. They are standing in the garden in front of a gray building.
Photo: Bertram Lubiger Prof. Uwe Götze, Vice-Rector for Transfer and Continuing Education at Chemnitz University of Technology (l.), Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (2nd from left), Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden (center), Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (2nd from right) and CircEcon Managing Director Prof. Niels Modler, TU Dresden (r.), met. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (2nd from right) and CircEcon Managing Director Prof. Niels Modler, TU Dresden (right), met for the inaugural meeting of the CircEcon Steering Committee on August 16 at TU Dresden.

Research center of four universities for greenhouse gas-neutral recycling management
at the "Schwarze Pumpe" site

Saxony is a unique research and growth region in the field of materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling technology. This expertise will also benefit Lusatia with the help of funding measures for structural change. In the CircEcon - Green Circular Economy - research cluster, the four universities TU Dresden, TU Bergakademie Freiberg and TU Chemnitz as well as the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences will work together to develop pioneering solutions for the challenges of the circular economy and strengthen Lusatia's competitiveness. After all, the circular economy is considered a key topic for the sustainable transformation of industry and society.

With the constituent meeting of the steering committee for CircEcon, the rectorates of TU Dresden, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, TU Chemnitz and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences have now taken the decisive step towards providing a clear impetus for the sustainable development of the region with a joint scientific institution. The planned location of the research center is the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park. The federal and state governments are funding the project with 108 million euros.

Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden: "Pooling the expertise of the universities and colleges in Chemnitz, Dresden, Freiberg and Zittau/Görlitz in a joint institution will lead to an outstanding concentration of know-how and technology in order to develop pioneering solutions for the challenges of the circular economy and at the same time strengthen the region's competitiveness."

The HSZG, deeply rooted in the region and known as a central educational and research institution, sees it as its primary responsibility to create sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary expertise - from the efficient use of resources to waste reduction. CircEcon transforms university know-how into industrial innovations and thus directly promotes economic growth. From Lusatia for Lusatia - and far beyond. With this commitment, we are actively driving change and shaping the future of our home region and the global community.
Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences

Prof. Gerd Strohmeier, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology: "CircEcon is now our fourth branch office. A special feature is that it is a joint scientific institution with three other Saxon universities, with which we are addressing important issues for the future."

(Source: TU Dresden press release)

Photo: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch
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Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Alexander Kratzsch
rektor(at)hszg.de
Rectorate
02763 Zittau
Theodor-Körner-Allee 16
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+49 3583 612-3000