Research for the future of Lusatia

In addition to climate policy aspects, the social debate on the coal phase-out is primarily focused on securing jobs and strengthening the economic basis and fiscal power of the coal regions. However, the coal phase-out and the energy transition should also become central starting points for a socio-economic change that leads to new ways of living and production in the regions, secures quality of life and contributes to more sustainable development.

To what extent does the coal phase-out offer an impetus or acceleration for a transformation process towards greater sustainability without the local population feeling overwhelmed or overplanned?

What role do model processes or governance play in the sustainability transformation?

1. The second networking meeting for social/social science research aims to bring together the region's stakeholders researching structural change (BTU, SI, HSZG, IASS, IÖR, etc.) and - building on the first network meeting - discuss the status of activities and the current and future role of social science research in the structural change process.
   It invites all researchers to get actively involved and aims to strengthen the exchange through interactive and open formats.
2. The kick-off event for the Lusatia Science Region aims to highlight the approaches of social science research to regional structural change. At the same time, it aims to highlight the diversity and quality of social science research approaches in Lusatia. For it is these approaches that promote networking between science and society and enable a differentiated interdisciplinary discussion of the challenges of structural change in Lusatia.
3. The specialist colloquium will focus on social science research approaches and their role in the structural change process with a focus on sustainability transformation. They are at the heart of the project "Scientific support and monitoring of the transformation in Lusatia" (BMBF).
   The examination of processes and models of structural change in the coal regions includes the following aspects:
   • Reflection on value systems and concepts: to what extent do the debates and mission statement processes on the coal phase-out accelerate a reassessment of economic and lifestyle models, or help to critically question and redefine terms such as development, prosperity and services of general interest?
   • Endogenous development potential: What creative potential and development options are perceived by stakeholders in the region and what are the causes of barriers and resistance to structural change in the regions? How are potentials and resistance incorporated into model processes?
   • Governance approaches: Which governance approaches are used to activate endogenous potentials for sustainable structural change in the economy and civil society?