For the sixth 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 Office), and Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences hosted this New Year’s reception at the university. For the first time, the Dresden Chamber of Crafts participated as a co-organizer, reflecting the strengthened regional cooperation between business and academia.

Approximately 100 people accepted the organizers’ invitation. The faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences was the focal point of this event. To begin with, university faculty members and students gave lively presentations featuring demonstration experiments to showcase their respective departments, before the Dean, Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz, presented the teaching and research activities of the entire faculty and spoke about the collaboration with the regional business community.

Dr. Herbrich, head of the laboratory division at fit GmbH in Hirschfelde, shared positive experiences from the collaboration with the research partner. This regional company has been working closely with faculty members for many years. Dr. Herbrich reported in particular on joint efforts to develop skilled professionals—specifically, students who began their professional careers at fit based on practical, Diplom, or other final dissertations. “The proximity to Zittau-Görlitz University of Applied Sciences offers us many advantages,” he concluded.

The Prorector for Research, Prof. Dr. Tobias Zschunke, then summarized the university’s current developments and provided information about new initiatives in the collaboration between industry and academia. The web-based research information database and the “transfer map”—which visualizes collaboration in the area of student coursework and final dissertations—were presented. For the next two years, the university will have three “connectors” whose role will be to make the university’s research priorities and achievements more transparent to the business community and to promote collaboration.

Following the presentation, attendees toured the microbiology and bioprocess engineering laboratories located on campus, which are among the most modern at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. In these good-equipped laboratories, students in the chemistry, molecular biotechnology, and ecology and environmental protection degree programmes receive training tailored to their needs.

Even during the successful event, new ideas were developed for next year, when the event “Business Meets Science” will take place again on January 14, 2016. In addition, a new collaborative initiative is planned: Twice a year, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the Chamber of Crafts (HWK), and the university intend to organize a technology-focused project workshop.