Here's to a successful new year!

On January 12, the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Dresden), the Dresden Chamber of Crafts, the Zittau General Entrepreneurs’ Association (Allgemeiner Unternehmer Verband Zittau e.V.), Fraunhofer IWU, and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences hosted the 14th annual “Business Meets Science” New Year’s reception at the university.

Under the theme “More Space for Innovative Technologies,” companies, researchers, and interested individuals gathered to learn about the new opportunities in the Fraunhofer IWU’s newly opened expansion building, toast the new year together, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. Additive manufacturing was thus the focus of attention.

The event program followed a tried-and-true format: A welcome address by Rector Prof. Kratzsch, brief remarks by representatives of the co-organizers on the significance and future of additive manufacturing in the region, a technical presentation by Dr. Lopez from the Fraunhofer IWS in Dresden, and a brief overview by Prof. Scholz (Fraunhofer IWU) on what guests would see during the subsequent tour of the Fraunhofer IWU.

We should also mention the early farewell to Matthias Schwarzbach, Office Manager of the Zittau Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). He launched this event format together with former Rector Prof. Hampel and, over the past 14 years, has continued to develop it in collaboration with the Chamber of Crafts (HWK), AUV, and the university. He will be retiring this year—so this was his last “Business Meets Science” event as an organizer. Thank you very much for your many years of dedicated work connecting science and business, and all the good for the future!

A big thank you also goes to Leonie Liemich, who moderated the evening with competence, charm, and poise, and who, in the lead-up to the evening event, conducted a very successful technical workshop on additive manufacturing as part of the Lausitz Life and Technology project.

So what took we away from the evening?

The existing concentration of companies in the region that manufacture products using lightweight construction and plastics is impressive.

In Zittau, cutting-edge research is being conducted on the latest manufacturing technologies.

In recent years, the university and research institutes in Zittau have become increasingly open, more accessible, and key partners for companies in the region.

Text: Martin Kunack (Saxony⁵)