Security of action for continuous further development
The Free State of Saxony and the state universities sign a grant agreement for the years 2025 through 2032.
On May 15, 2024, in Dresden, the next long-term funding agreement was signed by Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow, Minister of Finance Hartmut Vorjohann, and the presidents of Saxony’s 14 public universities.
It essentially governs the basic funding for all universities for the years 2025 through 2032. Over these eight years, a total of approximately seven billion euros will be allocated, taking into account fixed and projected increases in collective bargaining and salary scales.
The new funding agreement ensures that the long-term financing of Saxony’s universities is maintained at a high level. In addition to the increases in collective bargaining and salary rates, the universities will be provided with additional funds for special tasks, which will continue to grow over the term of the funding agreement:
- 2025: 5 million euros
- 2026: 15 million euros
- 2027: 25 million euros
- 2028 through 2032: 30 million euros annually.
The additional funds are intended to better enable universities to meet higher education policy challenges such as combating the shortage of skilled workers, digitization in teaching and administration, sustainable campus development, and technology transfer. Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphasized:
Saxony’s academic community, through its research and teaching, forms the foundation for innovation and competitiveness, as well as for the Free State’s economic strength and appeal. The extension of the grant agreement for eight years is a clear commitment by the Saxon state government to strong universities and colleges, and at the same time an expression of great confidence in these institutions. With this grant agreement, we are laying the groundwork for our universities and colleges to continue to succeed in national and international competition.
”The president of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, emphasizes how significant the grant agreement is for the planned ongoing development of our university as part of the “University for Future” process. In a video message, he summarizes the key points of the agreement from the perspective of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. He also expresses his gratitude that the Free State of Saxony is the only federal state to provide its universities with such long-term operational certainty.
The first grant agreement between the universities and the Free State of Saxony was concluded for the years 2014 through 2016. The second grant agreement, valid for the first time over an eight-year period, covered the years 2017 through 2024. The agreement covering the years 2025 through 2032 continues this mechanism. As a result, the Free State of Saxony is the only federal state to guarantee financial security over such a long-term planning horizon for its public universities, regardless of the biennial budgets to be adopted.
1st floor