Brandenburg

Research policy prioritises assuring the quality of research in Brandenburg in national and international competition, raising profiles to reinforce basic and applied research and to strengthen knowledge and technology transfer, and strategically expanding research alliances between universities, non-university research institutions and industry. The aim of this is to design the ideal environment for promoting excellent research, fostering the creativity of early-career researchers and integrating science into society.

Scientific excellence is the basis for translating research results into innovations and thus for the success of the structural change process in the region of Lusatia. In order to raise the potential of universities and research institutions for social, economic and demographic development, the 2020s have been dedicated to expanding university locations according to need, strengthening research, and establishing translational knowledge and transfer infrastructures in Lusatia.

The portfolio-specific Lusatia strategy is focused on expanding the university locations to include degree programmes that complement the universities’ academic profiles, as well as establishing a technology and innovation park and a government university medical centre in Cottbus. In addition, innovative research projects in Lausatia, particularly in cooperation with non-university research institutions, are to be used, consolidated and strengthened for joint research and development work. In addition, knowledge and technology transfer for structural change in Lusatia will be expanded. All of this is taking place in the Lausitz Science Park. In the coming years, under the leadership of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTUCS), an innovation landscape with a strong international profile will be established in Cottbus, one which combines excellent basic and applied research with innovative spin-offs. A key project in this context is the establishment of the Innovation Centre for University Medicine in Cottbus (IUC), consisting of an independent medical university and a digitally supported research, teaching and healthcare network in the model health region of Lusatia.

The translational strategy adopted in 2017 succeeded in creating the environment for sustainably reinforcing knowledge and technology transfer within the collaborative efforts of science, business, politics and society. Apart from providing targeted support for companies, reinforcing collaborative partnerships is a key concern of the Joint Innovation Strategy of the Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg (innoBB 2025), and of the Regional Innovation Strategy (innoBB 2025 plus), which explicitly takes account of the particular economic structural features of Brandenburg as a non-city state (Flächenland). The aim is to support the different regions of the state in developing their economic and scientific potential. With this in mind, Brandenburg has formulated its own strategic approach to the structural change process in Lusatia.

Other key concerns are the recruitment and active promotion of outstanding scientists and researchers, both during and after their doctoral studies, the expansion of family-friendly structures at universities and research institutions in the state, and the promotion of diversity and equitable participation in science and research.