Transforming Lusatia: Structural Change on the Horizon
Nearly all the projected funds, amounting to approximately 6.7 billion euros, for Lusatia's structural change, have been firmly set aside. This revelation was made by the Brandenburg State Chancellery on Tuesday. According to the statement, 56 measures, with an estimated value of around 3.8 billion euros, have been approved for Lusatia since August 2020. These initiatives cover a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure development and the establishment of innovation centers.
The Brandenburg district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz boasts over 120 projects initiated by the state to date. About 68 of these projects, with an estimated total investment volume of around 1.7 billion euros, have been cleared by the Lusatia Interministerial Working Group as eligible for funding. Of these, 30 projects with a total budget of around 600 million euros have already been approved or partly approved, and 45 million euros have been disbursed for 21 projects.
Major Projects in Oberspreewald-Lausitz
Some of the significant projects planned for Oberspreewald-Lausitz include:
- A modern training center and boarding school with 60 places in Schwarzheide, which will serve as a teaching and learning location for local companies. Over 80 companies have already expressed their interest in utilizing the center's services.
- The development of the Spreewalddreieck Lübbenau industrial estate, which will boost the district's industrial sector by providing new business opportunities.
- The FamilienCampus Lausitz in Klettwitz near Senftenberg, a central training location for the healthcare sector, aimed at securing a steady supply of skilled workers.
Lusatia's Transformation into a Training Region for Skilled Workers
Brandenburg's head of government, Dietmar Woidke (SPD), highlighted the increasing transformation of Oberspreewald-Lausitz into a location for education, business, and science, as well as a health region. He stated, "The region is gaining a new trademark. Young doctors from Germany and abroad are being trained here, and we urgently need them as junior staff in our hospitals and medical practices."
Digital Networked Model Region for Lusatian Health
More than 70 stakeholders are participating in the development of a digitally networked model region for Lusatian health. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) will play a central role in this project as a cooperation partner of the Innovation Center University Medicine Cottbus (IUC).
Expanding Teacher Training Capacities in Oberspreewald-Lausitz
In response to the shortage of teachers in rural areas, more than 60 students began a teacher training course for primary education at BTU Senftenberg in the winter semester of 2023/24. The course, designed, set up, staffed, and launched in less than a year, has been specifically developed to accommodate this demand. Additionally, the German government has allocated additional funds to expand teacher training capacities in Brandenburg.
The Role of Federal Funds in Lusatia's Transformation
The federal funds allocated for the structural change in Lusatia are essential in driving the transformation of this region. These funds have supported various major projects, including the double-track expansion of the Lübbenau-Cottbus railway line and the development of the Spreewalddreieck Lübbenau industrial estate. Furthermore, they have enabled the establishment of innovation centers, such as the Innovation Center University Medicine Cottbus (IUC), and improvements in the healthcare and educational sectors.
Enrichment Insights
- Energy Transition and Hydrogen Projects: The TransHyDE project is one of three hydrogen lead projects supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to implement hydrogen infrastructure. The EIZ at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg focuses on solutions for a climate-neutral energy supply, while research on green finance and technological innovation examines the effects of green finance and technological innovation on the energy transition.
- Mobility and Infrastructure Planning: The Chair of Infrastructure and Mobility Planning at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is conducting research on climate protection in transport and infrastructure planning.
- Alternative Mobility Solutions: The MoVeTo Lausitz project focuses on alternative mobility solutions in the Chiemsee region.
- Traffic Survey in Senftenberg: A mobility survey is being conducted among residents of Senftenberg to analyze traffic behavior and develop demand-driven transportation systems.
- Decarbonization of Industry: The Cluster Decarbonization of the Industry (CDI) focuses on decarbonizing the industry by introducing direct reduction plants in steel production using green hydrogen.
- Südlink Project: The Südlink project involves building a high-voltage power line, with the aim of improving the grid connection and ensuring a stable energy supply, although its implementation has been challenging.
