Leipzig Science Network meets to discuss proposed clusters
MAYOR JUNG: “UNIVERSITY’S PARTICIPATION IN THE EXCELLENCE STRATEGY OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR US”
On September 6th, 2023, around 20 representatives of the Leipzig Science Network (LSN) met with the Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, to discuss the Clusters of Excellence proposed by Leipzig University and its scientific partners in the current round of the German federal and state governments’ Excellence Strategy. More than three months after the three draft proposals were submitted to the German Research Foundation (DFG), the research projects, which address a wide range of social and environmental issues, continue to grow and draw attention to Leipzig as a centre of science and research, and to the wider region of Central Germany.
Meeting of the Leipzig Science Network: LSN Chairman and Rector of Leipzig University Professor Eva Inés Obergfell and Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung (right) underlined the importance of the University’s participation in the Excellence Strategy for the city of Leipzig. The spokespersons of the three proposed clusters, Professor Johannes Quaas (left), Professor Matthias Middell (centre) and Professor Michael Stumvoll (second from left), presented their proposed clusters. Photo: Swen Reichhold
In addition to the universities of the Halle-Jena-Leipzig Central German University Alliance, the proposed clusters – “New Global Dynamics: Worlds in Crisis?”, “Breathing Nature: Linking Biodiversity, Climate and Human Activity”, and the medical project on clinical metabolic research – involve thirteen non-university research institutions, including many members of the LSN, which is chaired by the Rector of Leipzig University, Professor Eva Inés Obergfell.
“Leipzig University has entered the competition with three proposed clusters in which its top researchers, together with numerous scientists from the Leipzig Science Network, the Universities of Halle and Jena and other research institutions, will cross disciplinary boundaries to gain groundbreaking, world-changing new insights,” said Rector Obergfell. Mayor Burkhard Jung added: “Thematically, the three draft proposals address highly topical and existential issues that affect the whole of humanity and that also shape my actions as Mayor of Leipzig: health, climate change and biodiversity, and the global multi-crisis.”
“We have a unique research landscape in Leipzig. Scientific institutions work closely together and we have highly effective networks. People are taking more and more notice of this, and we want to use this to our advantage to move forward together and attract even more attention. Success in the Excellence Strategy would raise Leipzig’s profile as a centre of science and research even further, both nationally and internationally – something that would ultimately benefit us all. I expect that the synergies created will also have a positive impact on non-scientific areas in the city and region, and in particular on local businesses,” said Rector Obergfell. Mayor Jung also emphasised: “Leipzig is a city of science. Science is a defining factor for any location. It is a key driver of urban development. That is why Leipzig University’s participation in the Excellence Strategy is also of great importance to us. The City of Leipzig fully supports the application. Let us all work together to make this application a success for Leipzig as a centre of science and research!”
With its proposals under the Excellence Strategy, Leipzig University is putting into practice the basic idea of the Leipzig Science Network, namely to intensify inter-institutional cooperation in Leipzig as a centre of science and thus to further raise its profile on the national and international stage. “We have worked hard together to develop innovative ideas that not only cross the boundaries of our disciplines, but also bridge the gap between the University and the city. Indeed, we firmly believe that true excellence can only be achieved by joining forces and acting together,” said Rector Obergfell.
On February 1st, 2024, it will be decided which proposed clusters will be invited to submit a full proposal. Until then, the draft proposals will be reviewed by the Joint Commission of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR).
Created by:Katrin Henneberg
Meeting of the Leipzig Science Network on September 6th, 2023 in the Botanical Garden at Leipzig University. Photo: Swen Reichhold
Rector Professor Eva Inés Obergfell with the Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung (centre), and the Director of the Botanical Garden, Professor Christian Wirth. Photo: Swen Reichhold
A specialist committee has selected two draft proposals involving researchers from LSN-institutions for the next stage of a competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) together with the Free State of Saxony. Entitled “Wissen schafft Perspektiven für die Region!”, the competition aims to establish a large-scale research centre in the Central German mining district. Over the next six months, each draft proposal will have to be translated into a viable concept. Chair of the Board of the Leipzig Science Network and Rector Professor Beate Schücking emphasised the value of these projects for local people and the region as well as for Leipzig University.
On Thursday, the distinguished committee selected the six most convincing proposals from the more than 100 submissions, and recommended them to the BMBF for the initial funding phase. In the coming six months, the concepts need to be developed to the point where they are ready for implementation. After that, the concepts will be reviewed again before the actual construction of two centres in the former coal regions begins. In Lusatia in Saxony and in the Central German mining district, the establishment of two institutionally funded large-scale research centres is planned on the basis of federal legislation introduced to offer structural assistance to regions that have traditionally depended on the mining industry.
Prof. Beate Schücking: “For Leipzig University, this decision will mean fascinating opportunities for academic exchange within the University and with other higher education institutions and institutes. The excellent ideas for the large-scale research centre in the Central German mining district will facilitate the structural development of the former lignite regions in the long term. I would like to thank the scientists for this contribution to Leipzig as a centre of academia and research, and wish them all every success for the next phase. The projects that did not make it to the final round are still extremely important. We will continue to keep them in mind and use them for future applications by Leipzig University for Clusters of Excellence.”
Contributors from Leipzig University also shared their initial response to the decision on the final round of the competition for the large-scale research centre in the Central German mining district.
Center for Medicine Innovation (CMI)
Professor Jens Meiler, one of the scientists involved in the CMI project, is delighted: “For us, this is the first success on the way to using our research to make accessible, personalised, affordable and equitable medicine a possibility for all people. It is one of the greatest social challenges of the 21st century.”
The aim of the CMI is to use flexible structures to develop innovative digital value chains and technologies for effective personalised therapies “with the people, for the people”, and thus to drive forward the transformation of the Central German lignite mining district into a high-tech region for health research. The core technologies of the CMI (artificial intelligence and big data, software-based drug modelling, cell and gene therapies, and intelligent networked medical technology systems) are ushering in a fundamental transformation in healthcare. The CMI will create an efficient structure for smooth translation and transfer from basic research to application.
Centre for Climate Action an Innovation – Research & Engeneering (Claire)
Professor Johannes Quaas sees the competition committee’s decision as confirmation of the work performed by the project team: “The topic of climate action – understanding and applying knowledge to combat climate change – is of paramount and ever-growing importance to us and our economy in the region, but also far beyond. In the future, few economic sectors will not be strongly affected by climate change. Extreme precipitation events have just shown us the importance of reliable forecasts, precautions and adaptation. We at Leipzig University are looking forward to supporting Georg Teutsch in implementing this forward-looking initiative in CLAIRE in our region. Leipzig University will be instrumental in training the new minds for climate innovation.”
Led by Professor Georg Teutsch, Scientific Managing Director of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), CLAIRE develops scientifically based system solutions for climate protection and climate adaptation that support regional transformation processes towards a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient society.
Prof. Dr. Georg Teutsch: "We are very pleased to be able to further develop our ideas for a centre for climate measures and innovations together with our partners in the conception phase that is now following. The recent dramatic flood events in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia have once again shown how urgent it is to develop and operationalise improved forecasting systems. CLAIRE will advance the development, testing, and practical implementation of climate protection and adaptation measures in agriculture and forestry, water and energy management, as well as in the areas of mobility, health, and urban spaces. The planned research centre aims to build up a continuous, digital data and decision space with high topicality and spatio-temporal resolution using novel digital twins of ecosystems. We need to transform our cities and municipalities with their infrastructures so that they are less vulnerable and future-proof. To do this, we need reliable data and process knowledge at the regional and local level to develop innovative nature- and technology-based solution options based on this. With real-world experimental laboratories operated jointly by sciencists, companies, specialised authorities, and civil society in the Central German Mining District and Lusatia, we want to support regional transformation processes towards a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient society and thus enable sustainable value creation in the post-mining regions."
In this project, the following of our members (Leipzig University, iDiv Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Fraunhofer IMW Leipzig, DBFZ Leipzig, TROPOS Leipzig) and other scientific institutions (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, TU Dresden, HHL Leipzig, IPK Gatersleben, IPB Halle, PIK Potsdam, ZALF Müncheberg, MPI-BGC Jena) pool their ideas and potentials to create attractive innovation clusters with sustainable value creation in the post-mining regions.
Science competition to create prospects for the region With the competition “Wissen schafft Perspektiven für die Region!”, the BMBF and the Free State of Saxony are supporting the establishment of two new large-scale research centres in Lusatia in Saxony and the Central German mining district. Founding these large-scale research centres will strengthen Germany as a location for science and innovation, and contribute to developing Lusatia in Saxony and the Central German mining district into attractive regions that are equipped for the future. The BMBF, the Free State of Saxony and the State of Saxony-Anhalt will provide up to 170 million euros per year and centre for this purpose. Up to 3000 new jobs should be created in the vicinity of the large-scale research centres. Following the decision by the competition committee on the three finalists in each case and a six-month funding phase, the Federal Government and the Free State will decide on two viable concepts per region. The research teams each have 500,000 euros at their disposal for the final application phase.
Two large-scale research centres will be established in Lusatia in Saxony and in the Central German mining district. Convinced that knowledge can create prospects for the region, the BMBF and the Free State of Saxony have launched a competition for the establishment of these centres.
On 14 August 2020, the Act on Structural Change in Coal Mining Areas (Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen, StStG) entered into force as a structural assistance measure for the mining areas and communities affected by the phasing out of coal use. In order to create new economic prospects for the mining regions, section 17 no. 29 of the StStG provides for “the establishment of a new institutionally funded large-scale research centre according to Helmholtz or equivalent principles in the Saxon part of Lusatia and the Central German coalfield following a competitive procedure”.
The ideas competition “Wissen schafft Perspektiven für die Region!” (Science Creating Prospects for the Region) is a joint initiative of the BMBF and the Free State of Saxony to develop and choose the best proposals for the establishment of the two new large-scale research centres in a transparent and thematically open competitive procedure. The competition is aimed at outstanding scientists and is designed to determine the thematic orientation and the precise location of the new large-scale research centres. Depending on how successful the new research centres are in scientific terms, the long-term aim is to provide annual institutional funding of up to 170 million euros for each centre within the framework of the StStG.
The establishment of these new large-scale research centres is intended to strengthen German science and innovation and to contribute to the development of the Saxon part of Lusatia and the Central German coalfield regions into attractive regions for the future. In addition to scientific excellence and the supraregional significance of the research programme, the focus of the new research centres will therefore also include the transfer of research results into commercial and societal applications as well as the promotion of innovation in the mining regions. With the establishment of these two new large-scale research centres, we want to create innovative models for cooperation between science and industry.
Leipzig applications for the large-scale research centre in the Central German mining area
Leipzig Science Network supports three of our members´initiatives whose visions aim to help shape structural change in the region and thus create added value and new perspectives for society and industry. Researchers from the University are also involved in another application.
Spin for Life (S4L) - Research for the medicine of tomorrow
The vision: tailored preventive medicine in smartphone format. Whereas up to now the focus has been on standard therapy for all, Spin for Life wants to use the latest spin technology to create a treatment tailored to the patient.
The Center for Medicine Innovation will develop integrated, digital value chains for personalised medicine and drive the transformation of the Central German lignite mining district into a high-tech region for health research.
Led by Professor Georg Teutsch, Scientific Managing Director of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), CLAIRE develops scientifically based system solutions for climate protection and climate adaptation that support regional transformation processes towards a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient society.
UFZ / Peter Barczewski, 3D-Art /Mateusz Łopuszyński, Adobe Stock
UFZ / Peter Barczewski, 3D-Art / Jackfrog, Adobe Stock
EARTH aims to deliver solutions for change that protects the climate and environment. Engineers and natural scientists, but also social scientists and economists want to research areas of energy technology, and climate and environmental protection.
