For the seventh time now, at the start of the new year, entrepreneurs from the region met with “their” university professors as part of the “Business Meets Science” event at the Zittau campus of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Following what has now become a good tradition, the General Entrepreneurs’ Association of Zittau and Surrounding Areas (AUV), the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Zittau and Görlitz offices, the Dresden Chamber of Crafts, and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences to this New Year’s reception at the university.

This year, the university welcomed guests to Building ZI—and with over 120 attendees, there was once again a significant increase in attendance, which speaks to the quality of this event format.

The focus of the evening was on the Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management, and during the first part of the presentations, the attendees’ curiosity about the status of the renovation of Building ZI was first satisfied. Dr. Wolfgang Menzel spoke about the building’s history and its current and future uses.

Prof. Dr. Straßberger, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Industrial Engineering, then presented the study options, the technical equipment in the laboratories, and the faculty’s research topics. Straßberger urged companies to provide internship opportunities for students. Only in this way, he said, could the next generation of skilled workers be secured for and within the region through partnership.

Robert Freudenberg shared positive experiences from the collaboration with the academic partner; he is responsible for strategy and investment management at the municipal utilities of Görlitz and Weißwasser within the “Energy” division of Veolia. As a graduate of our university, he knows the institution inside and out and reported on joint research activities with faculty members from the Faculty of W.

The Prorector for Research, Prof. Dr. Tobias Zschunke, then summarized the university’s current developments and emphasized in his presentation the importance of close collaboration between business and academia. Structural changes are intended to further improve the framework conditions for this intensive partnership.

Among other initiatives, there is an ongoing event series resulting from this collaboration: the Entrepreneur Workshop Discussions. Together, the university, the Dresden Chamber of Crafts, and the Zittau Chamber of Industry and Commerce office offer a technology-focused discussion platform.

Launched in 2015, this event series will continue this year with two themed evenings. On March 16, 2016, the workshop discussion will focus on energy efficiency and the load management potential of companies. Load management often offers additional economic benefits for companies if they succeed in shifting their electricity demand to periods of lower demand. On October 26, 2016, the topic of the workshop discussion will be data security in companies.

Following the presentations, guests were able to take a tour of the completed first construction phase of the renovated ZI building, visiting the laboratories of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as well as the University Executive Board.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to our colleagues in the “Technical Administration” department—for it was only through their proactive and uncomplicated assistance that we were able to create a pleasant atmosphere in the Building’s hallways that was appropriate for the event. On January 12, 2017, the eighth edition of “Business Meets Science” will take place—new ideas for the event were already developed during this year’s successful gathering.