Group photo of the representatives of the partner institutions and participants in the press conference – not in the picture Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Mario Brandenburg: (from left to right) Project Manager SpreeTec neXt at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Prof. Holger Seidlitz, BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande, Institute Director Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Steel Technology IWS Prof. Christoph Leyens, Minister of Science of the State of Brandenburg Dr. Manja Schüle, BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande, Institute Director Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Steel Technology IWS Prof. Christoph Leyens, Minister of Science of the State of Brandenburg Holger Seidlitz, BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Steel Technology IWS Prof. Christoph Leyens, Minister of Science of the State of Brandenburg Dr. Manja Schüle, Head of Research and Development at Forster System-Montage-Technik GmbH Martin Plettig (Photo: BTU / Sascha Thor)

The structural change project “SpreeTec neXt” will be presenting itself in Cottbus at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg fresh in the New Year. In addition to representatives from research and politics, Forster SMT is also taking part as a key representative of industry.

In the wake of climate change, all areas of public life are required to think in new directions. For this reason, scientists at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are conducting joint research into climate-friendly processes for energy generation, conversion and storage. Research into highly efficient material systems and the associated production technologies involves small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, thus strengthening both regional SMEs and Brandenburg as a research location.

The joint project “New manufacturing technologies for components and systems in decentralized energy technology” officially presented itself on January 5, 2023 in the halls of the BTU under the project name “SpreeTec neXt”. In the same breath, the funding of 52.44 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research was announced. In addition to the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Mario Brandenburg, project manager Prof. Holger Seidlitz (BTU) and institute director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Leyens (Frauenhofer-IWS), the BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande and the Minister of Science of the State of Brandenburg Dr. Manja Schüle were also present. The group was complemented by the Head of Research and Development at Forster SMT, Martin Plettig, as an important project partner in the field of fiber-reinforced plastics.

The importance of the link between the metal and plastics processing industry and energy technology was also emphasized. Forster SMT is therefore very keen to be part of this energy transition and to contribute networked, interdisciplinary expertise and modern manufacturing technologies as part of the project.“In cooperation with the district’s economic development department and the municipality, all local players are thus jointly shaping the structural change at the location of the event with their respective competencies.This is exactly what is needed! The initiative to establish the FABRIC Lausitz technology center in Forst is already showing initial signs of success,” says Plettig.

FABRIC Lausitz will offer companies the opportunity to transfer the knowledge provided by the BTU into production. Production equipment for networked pilot production between the companies will be made available for this purpose.