Chemnitz University of Technology Presented Excellent Research Projects at Parliamentary Evening

The University Management and Senate of Chemnitz University of Technology met with representatives of Saxony's state politics in Dresden on June 19, 2023

“To inform first-hand and to discuss significant university political topics - this is the central concern of the Parliamentary Evening of Chemnitz University of Technology," said Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President of Chemnitz University of Technology, at the start of the 4th Parliamentary Evening at the "Kobers Chiaveri" restaurant in the Saxon State Parliament, which was attended by members of the Saxon State Parliament as well as members of the Senate and University Management of Chemnitz University of Technology.

The president thanked the participants from politics for the important support of Chemnitz University of Technology's excellence initiatives by the Free State of Saxony. At the same time, he emphasized the need for future support of top-level research as well as adequate basic financing that meets increasing tasks and challenges. Furthermore, he expressed his wish for support for a new Chemnitz University of Technology building for hydrogen research, which is supposed to flank the location of the Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Center being established in Chemnitz, as well as institutional funding for the Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V. (ZKFS).

Dr. Claudia Maicher (Alliance 90/The Greens), Chairwoman of the Committee for Science, Higher Education, Media, Culture, and Tourism of the Saxon State Parliament, stressed in her greeting: "Chemnitz as a university location is at the forefront nationwide." She also pointed out the many achievements and activities of Chemnitz University of Technology, which combine regional proximity with high innovative power and social responsibility. Chemnitz University of Technologyis also an important partner for the economy and society, according to Maicher.

Excellence initiatives in all core competencies of Chemnitz University of Technology

The topics of the evening's impulse lectures were also diverse. First, Prof. Dr. Marco Ragni, head of the Professorship of Predictive Analytics and Scientific Director of the Research Center for Humans and Technology (MeTech) of Chemnitz University of Technology, Prof. Dr. Martin Dix, head of the Professorship of Production Systems and Processes, and Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt, head of the Professorship of Material Systems for Nanoelectronics and Scientific Director of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology spoke. They presented the three initiatives with which Chemnitz University of Technology is applying in the Excellence Clusters funding line under the Excellence Strategy of the German and state governments. In the current application round, Chemnitz University of Technology has managed to launch an Excellence Cluster initiative for each core competency of the university, one of them in a collaborative effort.

Combined Competence on Hydrogen in Chemnitz

Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, head of the Professorship of Advanced Powertrains and Chairman of the Saxon innovation cluster Wasserstoffland Sachsen (HZwo e. V.), presented the Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC). The HZwo e. V., which is closely associated with Chemnitz University of Technology, had submitted the best concept in the nationwide competition for the national innovation and technology Center Hydrogen Technology for Mobility Applications and was successful, making Chemnitz with the HIC one of four locations and the only one in Eastern Germany. This is associated with federal funding of up to 72.5 million euros until the end of 2025. On the HIC premises, in the immediate vicinity of Chemnitz University of Technology, a state-of-the-art vehicle laboratory, a hydrogen certification center, test benches for fuel cells, as well as a further training center and an Experience Lab are to be established at an international level. There are also plans to launch an interdisciplinary Hydrogen Technologies course at Chemnitz University of Technology.

First independent research institution for criminology in Eastern Germany

Following this, the focus was on the Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V. (ZKFS), an affiliated institute of Chemnitz University of Technology and the first independent research institution in Eastern Germany with a focus on criminology. Its director and head of the Professorship of Social Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology, Prof. Dr. Frank Asbrock, reported on the orientation of the ZKFS, which conducts fundamental and practice-oriented criminological research in all sub-areas of criminology including criminal policy and collects data on crime development and its perception in the population as well as in public discourse. Current focal points of research are "Violence and Radicalization", "Stigmatization and Perception" and the justice system. The aim is to create fact-based foundations for a society-wide discussion on crime.

The subsequent reception offered an ideal opportunity to deepen the impulses in conversation.

(Article: Mario Steinebach / Translation: Brent Benofsky)

Matthias Fejes
21.06.2023

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