On September 6, 2026, all citizens interested in politics will have the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the Saxon State Government. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the State Government will open its doors around Dresden’s Carolaplatz for the 21st 'Open Government Quarter'—this time under the motto ‘To See and Be Seen.’ This event format offers insights into the work of the State Chancellery and the ministries, providing an opportunity to engage with staff members from these agencies.

At the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK), located at Wigardstraße 17, Chemnitz University of Technology will be among the institutions presenting two research topics. The Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology (Director: Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt) presents its research within the university's core competency area ‘Materials and Intelligent Systems.’ Using demonstrators and video footage, an international team of researchers and doctoral candidates—led by Dr. Vineeth Bandari and Dr. Yeji Lee, senior scientists at Research Center MAIN at Chemnitz University of Technology—provides visitors with a clear and engaging look into the latest research on small, intelligent micromechanical systems, known as 'smartlets.' In addition, potential application scenarios for microrobotics in environmental and medical technology will be presented as building blocks. Visitors at the 'Open Government Quarter' will have the opportunity to engage with researchers and learn about degree programs offered by the participating faculties at Research Center MAIN—Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, and Natural Sciences—including the master’s degree programs in Microsystems and Microelectronics, Micro and Nano Systems, and Advanced Functional Materials.

Moreover, Chemnitz University of Technology will present its activities as part of the 'C:HUB One Health Cluster Southwestern Saxony,' which combines research and development efforts in the medical technology sector with local businesses and healthcare providers to create value, address regional needs, and drive innovation.

Project Manager Aline Lohse is presenting two flagship projects for the 'Open Government Quarter': First, the 'Spatial Computing' project, which adapts commercial mixed-reality headset technology for use in the operating room. Second, she is presenting the 'Artificial Immune System' project. It combines research approaches from microrobotics, spectroscopic analysis, and biomedical analytics at Research Center MAIN and its participating faculties, offering potential for disruptive innovations in medical technology.

Detailed information on the “Open Government District 2026”: https://www.staatsregierung.sachsen.de/offenes-regierungsviertel.html

For more information, please contact Aline Lohse at aline.lohse@zwt.tu-chemnitz.de or Dr. Thomas Blaudeck at thomas.blaudeck@main.tu-chemnitz.de

(Translation: Dona Maria (Research Center MAIN)

The Free State of Saxony is supporting structural transformation in Southwestern Saxony with further multi-million-euro investments in science and research. One of the largest planned investments is the construction of a new cleanroom for research and technology development in the field of sustainable microelectronics and sensor technology at the Center for Micro and Nanotechnologies (ZfM) at Chemnitz University of Technology. Unspent EU funds are to be utilized for the building, which will cost approximately €68 million. Subject to approval by the European Commission, this will enable the implementation of a project that strengthens Chemnitz University of Technology's research infrastructure and creates new opportunities for collaboration with research institutions and companies. This was announced by the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism in a press release published on August 25, 2026.

“We are absolutely thrilled that, even in these highly constrained and challenging fiscal times, the construction of the new cleanroom for research and technology development in the field of sustainable microelectronics and sensor technology can be realized. This represents an exceptionally significant investment in Chemnitz University of Technology—particularly in its core competencies of materials and intelligent systems — as well as in the entire region of Southwestern Saxony. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Saxon State Government — in particular to Minister-President Michael Kretschmer and Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow — as well as to everyone else involved for their outstanding support!" says Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology.

With the planned cleanroom, the ZfM will further expand its expertise in micro- and nanotechnologies. The focus will be on technologies for sustainable microelectronics and sensor technology. The new infrastructure creates the prerequisite for cutting-edge research and technology development, while also aiming to intensify collaboration with non-university research institutions and industry partners.

“The planned new cleanroom represents a milestone boost for the Center for Micro and Nanotechnologies at Chemnitz University of Technology. Through these forward-looking investments, our world-class research can be further expanded and strengthened. This state-of-the-art infrastructure serves as a tremendous source of motivation for our staff and acts as a magnet for leading international researchers. In doing so, we are not only creating optimal conditions for research into sustainable microelectronics and cutting-edge technologies in quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, photonics, and smart sensors, but we are also building a stronger bridge between excellent research and industrial applications. As a key player in the region, we make a significant contribution to value creation—from which regional partners will benefit in the long term," said Prof. Dr. Harald Kuhn, holder of the Professorship for Smart Systems Integration at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS), and Director of the ZfM at Chemnitz University of Technology.

The planned investment is part of a comprehensive package of measures by the Free State of Saxony to strengthen Southwestern Saxony as a hub for science and research. This includes 79 European research funding projects (ERDF/JTF) in the field of mechanical and plant engineering, totaling more than € 80 million, as well as projects totaling over € 200 million in medium-term financial planning through 2031.

Background: The Center for Micro and Nanotechnologies (ZfM)

With the ZfM, Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) is home to one of the world’s leading research centers for microsystems technology and nanotechnologies. It represents one of the technological cornerstones of the Southwestern Saxony industrial region and serves as an indispensable pillar of Silicon Saxony. Key research areas include system miniaturization, energy efficiency, performance enhancement with reduced resource consumption, and the integration of micro- and nanoscale components into complex systems.

Microelectronics is the core enabling technology for AI, medical technology, autonomous systems, as well as energy and mobility solutions—forming the foundation of industrial transformation. With over 120 German and 49 European partners, the ZfM serves as a global development partner for industry. The planned new building is therefore far more than just a construction project; it is of immense strategic importance. Ultimately, it will help secure and expand more than 300 highly skilled jobs in Saxony.

(Source: including a press release from the SMWK dated August 25, 2026)

Dr. Elizabeth Mamros, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, USA, has joined the Professorship Forming Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology as a visiting scholar. During her one-year stay, which began on July 1, 2026, she will work with the Chemnitz team on research focusing in particular on innovative heating strategies for incremental forming processes.

Her stay is supported by two programs: the Visiting Scholar Program of Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. This support provides an opportunity to continue and further develop a German-American research collaboration that has grown over several years.

The collaboration between Dr. Mamros and Prof. Dr.Ing. Till Clausmeyer, head of the Professorship Forming Technology, began at TU Dortmund University. At the time, Dr. Mamros was a doctoral researcher and spent 13 months in Germany conducting research through the Fulbright Program. Their collaboration subsequently included the joint supervision of a student through the DAAD RISE Worldwide program and a joint scientific publication. They also worked together on an international review contribution to the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP) and continued to meet regularly at international conferences.

After completing her Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire in 2023, Dr. Mamros joined Bucknell University as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Following Prof. Dr.-Ing. Clausmeyer’s move to Chemnitz University of Technology, their collaboration is now continuing at the Professorship Forming Technology.

“We are delighted to host Elizabeth Mamros in Chemnitz for an extended research stay. I have known Elizabeth since her time as a doctoral researcher in Dortmund and have followed her scientific development with great interest ever since. It is therefore a particular pleasure to welcome her to Chemnitz now as an Assistant Professor and internationally recognized researcher. The fact that our joint project was successful in both the Fulbright Program and the Visiting Scholar Program of Chemnitz University of Technology is a special recognition for us and gives us the opportunity to develop our existing collaboration into a long-term partnership between our professorships and universities,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Clausmeyer.

Dr. Mamros’ research in forming and manufacturing technologies combines fundamental questions of material behavior with innovative manufacturing processes. In Chemnitz, her work will focus on the application of induction heating strategies in incremental forming processes. Together with researchers at the Professorship Forming Technology, she will work to advance the fundamental understanding of these flexible manufacturing processes and explore new approaches for their future industrial application.

“I am very excited to spend a year as part of the team in Chemnitz and to further develop this international collaboration. One of our biggest strengths is the combination of the team’s scientific expertise and the excellent experimental capabilities in forming technologies. This gives us the opportunity to investigate scientific questions together that would be difficult to address at either of our institutions alone. At the same time, I am looking forward to being immersed in the German culture, exploring a new region of the country, and building new connections,” says Dr. Mamros.

The collaboration is intended to continue beyond the current stay. Plans include joint scientific publications and conference contributions as well as the development of further collaborative research projects. In the longer term, students from both universities are also expected to become more closely involved in the exchange.

Research is only one aspect of the collaboration. Personal and cultural exchange also plays an important role and is a central element of the Fulbright mission. For both researchers, this aspect has a personal connection: Dr. Mamros previously spent time in Germany as a Fulbright grantee, while Prof. Dr.-Ing. Clausmeyer gained international experience early in his life as a high-school exchange student in the United States. The current stay therefore brings together scientific collaboration and the long-term development of trans-Atlantic relations and cultural exchange between Germany and the United States.

Previous apps for identifying animal calls regularly reached their limits in practice: without a stable internet connection, real-time identification in the forest or high mountains was impossible. The new BirdNET Live app, a further development of the BirdNET app, solves this problem with a technological breakthrough: the underlying AI models have been optimised, streamlined and accelerated to such an extent that they can now run directly on the smartphone.

Around 11,000 bird species are currently known worldwide; the app can currently recognise 8,927 of them. It is also capable of identifying the calls of 268 mammals, 254 insects and 340 amphibians, in real time and completely offline. In total, BirdNET Live can identify almost 10,000 animal species by their sounds – more than any other app, as lead developer Dr Stefan Kahl from the Professorship of Media Informatics at the University of Technology Chemnitz explains: the next-best offline app can only identify around 2,300 species.

As an open-source project, BirdNET Live offers maximum usability. The app’s user interface is currently available in seven languages; the names of the identified animal species are translated into 25 languages.

A tool for experts and the general public

Whilst conventional identification apps are primarily intended for occasional use in one’s own garden, BirdNET Live is aimed first and foremost at nature conservation professionals, researchers, students and ambitious citizen scientists. Amateur ornithologists can, of course, also use it.

The app features specialised modes for structured surveys, as are standard in scientific fieldwork. It automatically records animal calls with precise location and time data and stores them locally on the smartphone.

The recordings can subsequently be flexibly reviewed, exported or shared with other experts for validation. At the same time, the app serves as a learning tool: users can listen back to their own acoustic recordings directly and thus continuously improve their species identification skills.

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt funded the development team

BirdNET Live is the result of close interdisciplinary collaboration as part of the RangerSound project, which was funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).

To identify the shortcomings of existing bioacoustic systems in everyday practical use, conservation biologists from the University of Würzburg, the rangers at the Bavarian Forest National Park, hardware experts from the company Oekofor (Freiburg / Breisgau) and AI specialists from University of Technology Chemnitz worked hand in hand.

The result is a practical and robust app designed specifically for field conditions. When used with an external microphone, for example, the smartphone can be carried safely and waterproofed in a rucksack whilst the app continuously records data in the background.

BirdNET Live is an enormous technological progress

“At first glance, running the AI locally on a smartphone seems like a small, logical step forward. However, behind this lies enormous technological progress in optimising our AI models,” says Dr Stefan Kahl from University of Technology Chemnitz, an AI expert and lead developer of BirdNET. The app demonstrates just how important interdisciplinary collaboration is: “It was only when practitioners, conservation biologists and we, as AI developers, sat down together that we were able to identify the real shortcomings in the field and create a tailor-made, practical solution. This is a model that can be applied to many areas where AI is finding its way into our everyday lives.”

Professor Jörg Müller: “An app for students too”

“We will now be using BirdNET Live as standard in our university teaching. This will give our students entirely new opportunities to collect standardised data for their dissertations or during field courses,” says Professor Jörg Müller, Chair of Conservation Biology and Forest Ecology at the University of Würzburg.

The app’s potential extends far beyond local forests: “We expect the app to serve us exceptionally well in our research work in the extremely species-rich lowland rainforest in Ecuador, where there is no mobile phone coverage whatsoever.”

Dr Simon Verdon: “Ideal for rangers”

“Local analysis carried out directly on site is exactly what we’ve been hoping for in the day-to-day work of ranger teams in protected areas,” says Dr Simon Verdon from the University of Würzburg, a member of the RangerSound project: “They can simply leave the app running during their patrols and immediately get a clear picture of the local species composition without having to rely on mobile network coverage.”

Further facts about BirdNET

• De facto standard: BirdNET is an AI system for the automatic recognition of bird calls and the world’s leading technology for AI-supported bioacoustic monitoring.
• Successful citizen science project: With more than two million active users worldwide and over six million app downloads, more than 250 million verified nature observations have already been collected.
• Important for science: The data collected from citizen science projects feeds directly into global research projects. For example, BirdNET data collected via the BirdWeather network provided the basis for a study published in the renowned journal Nature on the impact of light pollution on birds’ singing behaviour.
• Partners: BirdNET is a joint project between University of Technology Chemnitz and the Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics (USA).

The ‘Schlaumeise’ portal helps you get started

For aspiring citizen scientists, schools, teachers and learners, the schlaumeise.org portal offers supporting materials, tutorials and project ideas covering the topics of bioacoustics, species conservation and artificial intelligence.

Further information on the app and how to download it:

• Official project website: birdnet.tu-chemnitz.de/live-app
• Portal for learners and teachers: www.schlaumeise.org

Contact: Dr. Stefan Kahl, Telephone +49 371 531-32219, e-mail stefan.kahl@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de, and Prof. Dr. Jörg Müller, Telephone +49 931 31-83378, e-mail joerg.mueller@uni-wuerzburg.de

(Author: Robert Emmerich, University of Würzburg)

Only 20 projects nationwide were selected by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in the competitive "Academic Horizons" programme and Chemnitz University of Technology is among the winners, as the only higher education institution in Saxony to secure funding in this call. With a budget of 750,000 euros over 3.5 years, the project "AI GlobalMinds – Global Minds Advancing Next-Generation Sustainable AI for Innovation Leadership" stood out through its comprehensive integration concept, holistic AI education approach across the complete value chain, effective mobilization of existing DAAD partnerships and international networks, and strategic diversification of recruitment channels for Master's students and PhD candidates.

Running from May 2026 to December 2029, AI GlobalMinds addresses a critical challenge: Germany's growing shortage of qualified specialists in artificial intelligence. The project aims to diversify the recruiting channels for students and PhD candidates by creating structured international talent pathways, combining targeted recruitment from Chile, Tunisia and Serbia, and with academic qualification and practical integration into the German innovation ecosystem. TU Chemnitz will build new recruiting channels and advertising strategies to showcase its excellent education programs around AI from data acquisition and sensor technology, through AI methods and neuromorphic computing, to sustainable and Green AI applications in science and different economic sectors.

"AI GlobalMinds addresses a key challenge for Germany's innovation system," explains Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, project coordinator at the Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology. "The demand for AI expertise is growing rapidly, while qualified professionals remain scarce. By connecting international recruitment with structured qualification and integration, we create opportunities for both AI talents and Germany's innovation landscape."

From Sensors to Intelligent Systems: Comprehensive AI Education

What distinguishes AI GlobalMinds is its holistic approach to AI education. Rather than focusing on isolated algorithms, participants gain system-level understanding across the full AI value chain from sensor-based data acquisition to intelligent processing and real-world implementation in neuromorphic systems and robotics, with particular emphasis on sustainable and Green AI approaches.

“Neurorobotics represents the convergence of brain-inspired computing, embodied AI, and intelligent sensor systems,” explains Florian Röhrbein. “By bringing together international talent with diverse backgrounds in these complementary fields, we are building the interdisciplinary teams needed to advance intelligent systems that can truly interact with and learn from their environment — while also addressing energy efficiency and sustainability aspects that are crucial for the future of AI.”

The project brings together multiple faculties at TU Chemnitz: Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Computer Science, and Mathematics alongside central institutions including the International University Center and Career Service.

Comprehensive Support: From Arrival to Career

"Successful international recruitment requires more than academic excellence it demands comprehensive support throughout the entire journey," emphasizes Katharina Wohlgemuth from the International University Center. "AI GlobalMinds provides exactly this: structured pre-arrival preparation, coordinated onboarding, buddy program, accelerated German language training, and continuous mentoring to ensure participants thrive both academically and socially in Chemnitz."

The project explicitly prepares participants for both academic and industry careers in Germany. "Germany's AI ecosystem needs qualified professionals across all sectorsfrom university research groups to innovative companies and applied research institutions," adds André Zwingenberger Claren from the Career Service. "Through targeted skills workshops, networking events with AI experts and industry representatives, and intercultural workplace training, we prepare AI GlobalMinds participants not just technically, but also for the realities and expectations of the German professional environment."

Building on established partnerships with universities in Tunisia, Serbia, and Chile, the project creates sustainable recruitment structures while strengthening international cooperation and diversifying TU Chemnitz's talent pipelines.

Background: Project "AI GlobalMinds"

AI development demands more than algorithms, it requires integrating data acquisition, hardware, and realworld implementation. AI GlobalMinds spans this full spectrum: from sensor technology through machine learning to sustainable Green AI applications. The project combines short-term orientation formats with longer study and research stays, allowing early identification of talent and gradual integration into academic and professional pathways in Germany. Students are introduced to research environments, work on practical topics, and gain experience in applying AI methods in realistic scenarios—from intelligent sensor systems to neuromorphic computing and autonomous robotics, with emphasis on energy-efficient and sustainable implementations.

At the same time, AI GlobalMinds strengthens existing international partnerships and contributes to the development of sustainable structures for recruiting and qualifying talent. By diversifying recruitment channels and building new pathways for international students and PhD candidates, the project supports Germany's long-term goals in innovation and artificial intelligence development.

Further Information: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, phone +49 (0)371 531-36931, email olfa.kanoun@etit.tu-chemnitz.de

(Author: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun)

A Franco-German research team of members of the FEMTO-ST Institute at the Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, Besançon, as well as the Faculties of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and Natural Sciences, and the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, have uncovered new insights into the formation of forbidden frequency bands in periodic solid-state structures. The study, titled “Contact points open wide band gaps in all two-dimensional Bravais lattices,” was published in late April in the physics journal Physical Review B and makes fundamental contributions to the understanding of the electromagnetic wave transport properties through regularly arranged materials.

This study examines the influence of contact points between copper tubes as individual scatterers arranged regularly in space on the propagation of radio waves and, consequently, on the formation of forbidden frequency regions for these waves—so-called band gaps. Using theoretical considerations, numerical simulations, and experimental measurements of scattering across all possible two-dimensional arrangements—known as Bravais lattices—of the tubes, the researchers demonstrate that contact points systematically generate wider band gaps, thereby enabling broadband filters for radio-frequency waves.

The results underscore that a precise understanding of the geometric structure of the scatterers and their exact positioning relative to one another, especially in the case of touch, can systematically influence and control the band structures, thereby helping to control and tailor the propagation of waves. Large, adjustable band gaps are of crucial importance, particularly for applications in electronics and photonics, as they determine the electrical and optical behavior of the components.

This study is part of the current research on the development of geometric effects in functional, two-dimensional membrane materials and is consistent with findings from previous research in which the authors demonstrated a similar effect for sound. It is inspired by work conducted as part of the TUCculture initiative on the stele artwork “Model of Thought and Perception for the Phenomenon of Color” by Dresden-based artist Stefan Nestler (1998), located in front of the Central Lecture Hall and Seminar Building at Chemnitz University of Technology. This artwork has been discovered as the world’s largest realization of a photonic crystal. By further developing this field, the authors are now making a positive contribution to basic research in the field of wave physics and providing a new impetus for materials research.

Original publication: D. Röhlig, R. Zichner, T. Blaudeck, A. Thränhardt, V. Laude: „Contact points open wide band gaps in all two-dimensional Bravais lattices“, Physical Review B 113, 144391 (2026). URL https://doi.org/10.1103/9ql7-t9rh

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck)

Since the launch of the European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“ in March 2025, Chemnitz University of Technology has been working with nine partner universities across Europe. More than 30 students and staff from TU Chemnitz are involved in 16 international task forces. These teams develop joint strategies in the areas of education, research, innovation, governance, and societal engagement—creating direct added value for the university. Students and staff at TU Chemnitz are now invited to contribute their experiences on 18 and 20 March 2026 and support one of the task teams with their knowledge.

Supporting the task team by collecting valuable user experiences

Task Team 2.1 – „Across Border Campus System“ is responsible for ensuring the interoperability of digital services across all Across universities. At the core of this work is the “Across eCampus”, a digital hub for management, teaching, learning, and networking. In two moderated focus groups, the task team will collect experiences from everyday study and work routines with the university’s digital systems on 18 and 20 March. These insights will feed into the further development of a digital infrastructure designed to facilitate international collaboration and open up new opportunities for education and exchange. Key questions include: Where does access to information and services already work well? Where do barriers arise (e.g., due to scattered information, unclear processes/responsibilities, or parallel tools)? And which improvements would be most important from a user perspective?

Students and staff at TU Chemnitz who would like to contribute to shaping a future-oriented campus system are warmly invited to take part in the focus groups:

• Student focus group: 18 March, 13:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)
• Staff focus group: 20 March, 10:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)

Participation requirements and compensation

Students and staff of Chemnitz University of Technology can participate if they are willing to share experiences in a moderated group discussion and provide feedback on the beta version and concept ideas. No technical background is required. Focus group participants will receive 15 EUR compensation, an official certificate of attendance from the Across alliance, and—optionally—the opportunity to be involved in the future as a „premium beta user“ (early access and further feedback opportunities).

To register interest, students and staff are asked to complete a short pre-survey in advance. Based on the responses, eight to ten participants per focus group will be selected to ensure a broad range of perspectives. For students, selection aims to cover different faculties, study programms, and stages of study. For staff, selection will consider different roles as well as experience with various internal digital systems. Anyone who is interested but cannot attend on the scheduled dates can, upon request, be contacted again for the next development phases of the „Across eCampus“.

Links to the pre-survey

• Students (German): www.mytuc.org/bryq
• Students (English): www.mytuc.org/vxjx
• Staff (German): www.mytuc.org/ntfk
• Staff (English): www.mytuc.org/kjqk

Keyword: Across eCampus

The „Across eCampus” is intended as a central digital access point of the Across university alliance to make study- and work-related services easier to use across institutions. This applies in particular to access to course content and learning offers from partner universities, as well as information and services that facilitate international exchange and mobility. In the long term, a dashboard will serve as the central entry point, bundling user-related information and simplifying access to core services. These include, for example, a digital course catalogue and a learning environment for cross-institutional digital and blended-learning formats, as well as collaboration and communication tools. Within the Across alliance’s „eCampus” sub-project, a digital infrastructure is being developed to centrally bundle and integrate existing services rather than replace them.

Background: Across and the eCampus sub-project

The European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“, coordinated by TU Chemnitz, promotes the exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources across national and institutional borders. Through innovative cooperation in education, research, administration, and third mission activities, Across aims to strengthen international collaboration and the long-term visibility of its partner universities. Key activities include the development of joint teaching offers and the expansion of mobility opportunities for students and staff. The „Across eCampus“ is a TU Chemnitz-led sub-project and a central building block within the alliance. As a digital infrastructure, it is intended to systematically facilitate access to cross-institutional offers.

Further information: Dr. Daniel Pietschmann, Co-Leader of the Across Task Team „eCampus“, email: daniel.pietschmann@phil.tu-chemnitz.de

Dr. Chundong Wang, Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan (China), has been awarded a research fellowship for experienced scientists by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The prestigious fellowship will enable him to conduct a one-year research stay at the Chemnitz University of Technology, starting in March 2026. At the Research Centre for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), he will work in the group of Dr Minshen Zhu at the Professorship of Material Systems for Nanoelectronics (Chair: Prof. Oliver G. Schmidt) in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. 

Wang's research focuses on electrocatalysis and nanostructured functional materials, particularly for sustainable energy technologies such as hydrogen production and fuel cell technology. The aim of his work is to understand catalytic reactions at the atomic level and to develop advanced catalysts with precisely controlled electronic structures. In particular, he investigates single-atom catalysts and the role of electronic spin states in governing catalytic performance.

During his research stay in Chemnitz, Wang will collaborate with the groups of Dr Zhu and Prof Schmidt to develop microfluidic strategies for the controlled synthesis of single-atom catalysts at the MAIN Research Centre. The project aims to understand the influence of the electronic spin configuration of transition metal centres on catalytic reaction pathways and kinetics. By combining concepts from electrochemistry, nanotechnology and microfluidic technology, the aim is to enable more efficient and cost-effective production of catalysts. The expected results could contribute to the development of high-performance hydrogen fuel cell technologies, which are considered a key factor for sustainable energy systems.

Keyword: Humboldt Experienced Researcher Programme

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers supports highly qualified scientists with established academic careers from all over the world in carrying out long-term research projects in Germany. It enables experienced researchers to carry out independent research projects in collaboration with a host institution and become part of the global Humboldt network. With this initiative, the foundation promotes international scientific exchange, strengthens long-term cooperation and supports outstanding research across disciplinary boundaries.

For further information, please contact Yvonne Ulbrich, email yvonne.ulbrich@etit.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Yvonne Ulbrich)

From December 1 to 4, 2025, the final week of the three-year collaborative project „WeSPICE" took place at the Tunisian university École Nationale d'Electronique et de Télécommunications de Sfax (ENET'COM). The project was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the Ta'ziz Partnership Program. The following staff members from the Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology were involved in the project: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun (Chair holder), Dr. Thomas Keutel (Project Manager Impedance Spectroscopy), Dr. Christian Viehweger (Working Group Leader and Project Manager Energy-Autonomous Sensor Systems), Dr. Rim Barioul (Working Group Leader Smart Wearables), Dr. Hiba Hellara (Project Manager Smart Wearables), and Mohamed Dhia Ayadi (Project Leader Micro- and Nanosensors (Nanogenerators)). The project was officially concluded with all participating organizations on December 4, 2025, in a ceremonial closing event attended by representatives from TU Chemnitz and the German Embassy in Tunis, as well as the Director of the DAAD Country Office.

Cross-Border Professional Development and Student Orientation

TU Chemnitz and ENET'COM in Sfax have worked closely in recent years with the Dräxlmaier Group, headquartered in Vilsbiburg, Lower Bavaria. The globally renowned premium vehicle manufacturer develops and produces wiring systems, electrical and electronic components, battery systems, and high-quality interiors for premium automotive manufacturers such as BMW and Porsche.

The project pursued three central thematic priorities with a special focus on knowledge transfer, participatory network building, and sustainable dialogue between academia, industry, and society:

• Professional development in ASPICE (Automotive SPICE): A total of 17 professionals were qualified, including seven instructors who will directly incorporate their knowledge into university teaching in the future, thereby ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer from industry to academia.
• Building an interdisciplinary network: A network of 25 partners from industry and society was established. Together with these non-university actors, „Improvements of Engineering Education Addressing Industry and Research Needs" were discussed from the perspectives of instructors and students. These participatory dialogue spaces enabled knowledge exchange between academia and practice and contributed to the needs-oriented development of engineering education.
• Student-oriented events: Over 360 students participated in a total of 32 participatory events including hackathons, soft skills seminars, women's empowerment workshops, job fairs, and green economy workshops. These formats strengthened the dialogue between universities, industry, and civil society and created sustainable bridges between academic education and professional practice.

ASPICE is an internationally recognized process model for evaluating and improving development processes in the automotive industry. Manufacturers and suppliers worldwide use it to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of software and system development. The project's final week was framed by a job fair and a workshop on integrating ASPICE into academic teaching. This made the international collaboration between research, industry, and education clearly visible and strengthened once again. „The parallel qualification of instructors and the practice-oriented offerings for students represent a sustainable contribution to strengthening international cooperation and training future professionals," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, project leader on the German side.

Background: The WeSPICE Project

The collaborative project „We Establish Sustainable Program to Improve Commitment to Employability" (WE-SPICE)" was funded from 2023 to 2025 by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the Ta'ziz Partnership Program with approximately 300,000 euros from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Background: Ta'ziz Partnership Program

The Ta'ziz Partnership Program, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with resources from the Federal Foreign Office, promotes cooperation between German universities and partner institutions in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). The Arabic term  „Ta'ziz" means „strengthening" or  „consolidation" and clarifies the program's objective. In times of social and political change, universities and non-university actors are to be supported in order to promote reforms, scientific cooperation, and civil society participation.

For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology

Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, holder of the Department of Measurement and Sensor Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology, was awarded the President of the Republic of Tunisia's prize for the best Tunisian researcher living abroad at a ceremony in Tunis on 28 August 2025.

The National Prize for Science and Technology is awarded by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS). It honours Tunisian researchers and inventors living in Tunisia or abroad who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scientific achievements or technological innovations. The research prize is awarded according to strict criteria that go far beyond mere publication performance. Scientific visibility through publications and doctorates, innovative strength through patents or new methods, the economic and social benefits of research projects, and international presence through collaborations, conferences and awards are all taken into account. In the case of Prof. Dr. Kanoun, the award recognises in particular her scientific excellence and the technological innovation of her internationally recognised research work.

“This award represents an important milestone in my academic and scientific career. I regard it as recognition of many years of intensive research and the dedicated commitment of our entire professorship. At the same time, it is a strong motivation for us to continue on the path we have chosen with determination and dedication and to further advance our scientific work,” emphasises Prof. Dr. Kanoun.

"We warmly congratulate Professor Kanoun on this prestigious award and are delighted that our colleague has received this recognition. The award once again underlines the excellence of the scientific achievements and technological innovations that Professor Kanoun and her team are making in the field of materials and intelligent systems," says Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, representative of the Rector and Vice-Rector for Research and University Development at Chemnitz University of Technology.

Commitment to Tunisia and promoting young talent

Although Prof. Dr. Kanoun works in Germany, she has always maintained close ties with Tunisia. She has supervised more than 100 theses by Tunisian engineering and master's students, as well as over 20 doctoral and postdoctoral students. In addition, she has organised more than 15 international summer schools in Tunisia and developed over 30 research and mobility projects with Tunisian institutions, which were funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the European Union.

Innovation, patents and international projects

As the (co-)owner of seven patents in the field of sensor technology and nanomaterials, Kanoun is also heavily involved in innovation. She supported the founding of NanoSen GmbH, a start-up specialising in innovative force sensors. She also coordinates numerous large-scale international projects at EU level and in the context of joint projects of the German Research Foundation.

Prof. Dr. Kanoun has also founded and chaired several renowned international conferences, including the International Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy (IWIS) and the Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD). She has been elected IEEE Distinguished Lecturer twice (2016 and 2022).

About Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun

Born and raised in Sfax, Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun studied in Germany and established herself internationally as a leading expert in the fields of sensor technology, impedance spectroscopy and nanomaterials.

Prof. Dr. Kanoun received her doctorate from the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich in 2001 and was awarded the dissertation prize by the Working Group of University Lecturers for Measurement Technology (AHMT e. V., Germany). In the same year, she founded the ‘Impedance Spectroscopy’ working group at the Institute for Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems at the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich (Prof. Dr. Hans-Rolf Tränkler). In 2006, she was appointed adjunct professor and head of the Department of Measurement Technology at the University of Kassel. Since 2007, she has been a full professor at Chemnitz University of Technology, where she heads the Chair of Measurement and Sensor Technology. After founding the International Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy (IWIS) in 2008 and the Advanced School on Impedance Spectroscopy in 2017, she launched the Technical Committee Impedance Spectroscopy (TC2) in 2018. Prof. Dr. Kanoun is now a leading and internationally recognised scientist in the field of sensors and sensor systems.

In the SCOPUS literature database, she tops the list of authors on impedance spectroscopy in Germany and the list of authors worldwide in the field of sensor systems for impedance spectroscopy. She has published over 700 peer-reviewed scientific publications, which have been cited more than 8,000 times. Her work has led to decisive advances in the development of novel intelligent sensors, energy-autonomous systems and new diagnostic methods for batteries, health, the environment and industry. In 2022, she was honoured with the Technical Award of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society for her pioneering achievements.

(Translation: Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, Anne Eichhorn)

„Live long and prosper!” – with this phrase, well known to science fiction fans, Prof. Dr. Jan-Philipp Stein, Head of the Department of Media Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology, welcomed more than 20 media enthusiasts from nine different countries to the summer school “How much science is in science fiction?” in Chemnitz on 28 August 2025. The event was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Maximilian Eibl, Vice-Rector for Teaching and International Affairs at Chemnitz University of Technology. In close cooperation with Across – The European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing European University Alliance ACROSS, Prof. Dr. Stein and his team organised an inspiring and varied two-day programme.

The exciting guest lectures by renowned social scientists on science fiction media and the technologies, social developments and issues addressed therein provided interesting insights. Speakers included Prof. Jaime Banks (Syracuse University, USA), Prof. Fabio Buttussi (University of Udine, Italy) and Prof. Sorin Cazacu (University of Craiova, Romania).

The international audience, which consisted primarily of students, early-career researchers and postdocs, many of whom had travelled from ACROSS partner cities, also had the opportunity to participate in a creative writing workshop led by artist Denise Lee during the event. In addition, participants were able to learn more about psychological research at the Institute for Media Research at Chemnitz University of Technology. The packed programme of the Summer School at Chemnitz University of Technology was rounded off by a poster session in which participants presented their own research work and a sci-fi film evening.

Overall, the summer school offered participants a great opportunity to exchange ideas and network based on their shared enthusiasm for media, stories and the futuristic worlds of science fiction. According to the organisers in Chemnitz, this made the event a complete success.

Background: Across

Across – The European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing is a European university alliance coordinated by Chemnitz University of Technology that aims to develop solutions for cross-border challenges. With their regional roots near borders, the nine partners of the Across Alliance contribute to the sustainable development of cross-border regions by bringing about genuine social change, cultural integration, a sustainable approach to innovation, new economic opportunities and employment, together with stakeholders from business and civil society. Across covers an academic area with more than 100,000 students and has been funded by the European Union since the beginning of the year as part of the European Universities Initiative.

Through innovative and diverse models of long-term cooperation, the participating European universities contribute to strengthening common European values and a stronger European identity. They help to achieve significant progress in terms of quality, attractiveness and international competitiveness in the participating regions, thereby contributing to the economy, employment, culture and prosperity in Europe.

The Across Alliance includes:

•    University of Banja Luka (Bosnia)

•    Bialystok University of Technology (Poland)

•    Chemnitz University of Technology (Germany)

•    University of Craiova (Romania)

•    University of Girona (Spain)

•    University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia)

•    University of Perpignan Via Domitia (France)

•    University of Ruse ‘Angel Kanchev’ (Bulgaria)

•    University of Udine (Italy)

•    Ivan Franko National University (Ukraine) as an associate partner

(Authors Prof. Dr. Jan-Philipp Stein, Anne Eichhorn)

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I came from Mongolia. I graduated from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Hardware Engineering. Since 2023, I have begun my master’s research in the rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence, one of the most dynamic areas in today’s technological world. I am very pleased to have been selected for the “Saxon Student Mobility Program” and to have joined Chemnitz University of Technology in May 2025 as a visiting research master's student.

What brought you to Chemnitz and what are you currently doing at Chemnitz University of Technology? 

I learned about the "Saxon Student Mobility Program” through an announcement posted on the official website of MUST. After successfully passing the selection, I came to Chemnitz University of Technology as a research master’s student to produce an internationally recognized research paper in my chosen field of study. My research work involves studying a wide range of methods in AI and machine learning, as well as image processing, and exploring how these can be applied to solving real-world problems. For instance, I am working on the development of a mobile application capable of detecting various types of skin cancers and lung cancers.

What is your impression of the city and its university?

Chemnitz is a city with a rich history and remarkable beauty. Upon my arrival, I found it to be safe for foreigners, characterized by abundant green spaces, a tranquil atmosphere, friendly residents, and a highly developed public transportation system. I have been thoroughly impressed by the university’s campus, research laboratories, library, and surrounding environment. The abundance of research laboratories and the extensive collection of resources in the library provide significant advantages for student learning.

What has been your highlight so far?

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many students at the university were already familiar with Mongolia. For instance, they spoke about Chinggis Khaan, Ulaanbaatar city, and the Mongolian countryside. I have had the opportunity to gain knowledge from excellent professors, connect with international students, build meaningful friendships, and explore various aspects of myself. These experiences have made my time here both enriching and memorable.

What will you do after your stay at Chemnitz University of Technology? What are your plans?

During my time at Chemnitz University of Technology, I am working on completing my master's thesis. Upon returning to Mongolia, I plan to finalize and defend my master's degree as soon as possible. My future goal is to return to Chemnitz University of Technology to pursue doctoral studies. I also intend to share the knowledge and experience I have gained with students in Mongolia.

(Interview conducted by Sophie Oelsch.)

The pilot project for a net zero greenhouse gas emissions circular economy in Lusatia, which is unique in Europe, is picking up speed: On June 11, 2025, Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD Dresden University of Technology, Prof. Anja Strobel, Vice-President for Research and University Development at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC), Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), and Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG), laid the foundation stone for the Green Circular Economy (CircEcon) research campus. It will be funded by the Federal and State governments with around 108 million Euro.

From 2027, the campus is set to bring pioneering circular economy technologies to market maturity. In addition, the project aims to create new jobs by attracting new companies and to accelerate spin-offs in the region. To mark the start of construction, the partners jointly deposited a time capsule containing the certificate of foundation stone laying, symbolic gifts from the universities, and an issue of a daily newspaper.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Regina Kraushaar, Saxon State Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, and Dr. Ronald Werner, Head of the Higher Education Department at the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism.

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD: "Today's ceremony marks the next step in this unique cooperation between the three technical universities in Saxony and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Jointly, we will contribute to the transformation of Lusatia into a location for cutting-edge research and high technology. By pooling our expertise in the field of net zero greenhouse gas emissions circular economy, CircEcon will enable us to establish a technology network for the development of novel materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling technologies that is unique in Europe. As a University of Excellence, TU Dresden is extremely pleased to be coordinating the construction measures in close cooperation with its partner universities and on behalf of the SIB, which manages public buildings in Saxony."

Prof. Anja Strobel, Vice-President for Research and University Development at TUC: "With the laying of the foundation stone for CircEcon, we are delighted to have what is now the fourth branch of Chemnitz University of Technology - a significant step towards addressing key future issues relating to climate protection, resource responsibility and sustainable innovation. The focus is on the highly efficient circular economy, which is becoming increasingly relevant as a key technology for a net zero greenhouse gas emissions future. The close cooperation with the technical universities of Dresden and Freiberg as well as the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences strengthens both the scientific networking of the partner universities and our joint regional effectiveness in Lusatia."

Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TUBAF: "The CircEcon research center in Saxony will be a facility that will have national and European prominence - an impressive example of the strength and future potential of Saxony as a science hub. In this interdisciplinary research facility, the participating universities are pooling their special expertise - for example in the areas of recycling, sustainable production processes and zero-emissions value creation - and thus are creating the basis for a climate-neutral industry of tomorrow. TU Bergakademie Freiberg is contributing its proven expertise in raw materials and recycling management as well as in materials science, non-ferrous metallurgy and forming technology in a targeted manner to the joint platform."

Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences: "The ceremonial groundbreaking for CircEcon marks a moving moment for the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, for Lusatia, and for the future of the circular economy in Europe. CircEcon will be a unique research factory in Europe, linking science, business and society in a completely new way. As an innovation center for pioneering technologies, CircEcon will also become the heart of regional development - a driving force for new jobs, value creation and prospects in Lusatia. The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences will not only contribute decades of research experience, but also its particular strength: practical solutions for complex challenges, from dismantling and mechanical sorting to the thermal conversion of residual materials. We are proud to be taking bold steps forward with CircEcon - together with strong partners, as a university of applied sciences, as part of this region, as shapers of a more sustainable world."

Once all the machinery and equipment has been installed, the research campus will offer around 14,500 square meters of space for the development and testing of innovative and competitive technologies and processes on an industrial scale that is unique in Europe.

Bringing innovative technologies into the economy more quickly

The core research areas of the new campus building include:

• Intelligent sorting and processing technologies: Developing processes for more efficient recovery of recyclable materials from complex waste streams.

• Circular material development: Researching and designing materials that are tailored for full recycling from the outset.

• Digitalization in the circular economy: Using AI and Big Data to optimize recycling processes and create transparent value chains.

• Sustainable process design: Development and implementation of circular production processes for the industry.

The project aims to translate new technologies from universities into industrial jobs more quickly, thereby closing material cycles, using resources more efficiently and making a decisive contribution to decarbonization and climate neutrality. From basic research to practical development, innovative solutions for industry and society will be created in short innovation cycles.

About CircEcon

Due to the necessary phasing-out of the coal-fired power generation by 2038, Lusatia is in the midst of an accelerated structural change. For the region and its inhabitants, this means major challenges - but also a great opportunity to emerge even stronger. TUD Dresden University of Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg and Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences are pooling their expertise in materials, production and recycling technologies.

It is the first time that joint pilot lines, testing facilities and demonstration systems allow for Saxon research expertise to be combined in a targeted manner. CirCon will develop innovative approaches to efficient recycling management and bring them to market maturity in collaboration with regional companies. Modern technologies such as comprehensive digitalization and artificial intelligence will be used for optimized energy and recyclable material management. The goal is to map the entire value creation cycle in a way with net zero greenhouse gas emissions: from raw material extraction and material processing to re-production on an industry-relevant scale.

(Source: Press release TU Dresden)

By the title „Don’t gamble Europa away! – Without the EU, Germany is a midget”, the long-experienced European parliamentarian Elmar Brok delivers in his book of the same title, published jointly with the journalist and biographer Peter Köpf, a warning: In a period of growing dangers by extremist tendencies, an anxious political center, emerging nationalisms and egoisms as well as external-political hotspots in the right neighborhood, a strong European Union capable of acting is, for national interest alone, of crucial importance for Germany. From those aspects, the authors derive concrete propositions for transition to more capability for acting, transparency, democracy and rule of law within the European Union. In addition, the book deals also with the political and economic consequences of the Trum/MusK-era.

Elmar Brok will read from this bestseller on March 25, 2025 at the IdeenReich in the University Library of Chemnitz University of Technology, Straße der Nationen 33. Subsequently, the audience may, moderated by PD Dr. Antje Nötzold, scientific staff member at the Professorship for International Relations at Chemnitz University of Technology and currently visiting professor at TU Dresden, start into a conversation dealing with the elaboration and its late-breaking political topic. The event starts at 6 pm. The reading is organized by the University Library jointly with the Chemnitz branch office of the Saxon Center for Political Education, the European Movement Saxony as well as the Union for Europe Saxony. The participation is free. A prior registration is not required.

Concerning the authors of the book „Don’t gamble Europa away! – Without the EU, Germany is a midget“:

Elmar Brok is a former German politician and Vice-President of Centrist Democrat International. From 1980 to 2019, he was member of the European Parliament and acted from 1999 until 2007 and from 2012 to 2017 as Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs. He used to be Co-Chairman of the PPE-ministers for foreign affairs and member of the meetings of the PPE-heads of government in the run-up to EU-summits (European Council) for 20 years as well as member of the federal board of the CDU. Due to his expertise, the British daily paper „The Guardian” awarded to him the title “Master of the EUniverse”.

Peter Köpf is a journalist and author with comprehensive experience in political reporting and biographic literature. He elaborated several biographies, such as “The maverick Kurt Biedenkopf”, “Stoiber”, “The Burdas” and “The Mommsens”. Until 2021, he headed as editor-in-chief – jointly with the editor Theo Sommer – the international publications of the publisher Times Media, among them The Atlantic Times, The German Times and The Security Times.

Further information regarding events in the University Library: mytuc.org/gpvz

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

The 3rd Focus Day of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology was dedicated to the medical application of nanotechnology, coined “Nanomedicine” for short. Around 60 participants from Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz Municipal Hospital (Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH), non-university research institutions, local companies and other interested parties approached the interdisciplinary field from different perspectives on February 13, 2025. In his capacity as Scientific Chair of the event, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn, Deputy Director of Research Center MAIN and holder of the professorship Semiconductor Physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Chemnitz University of Technology, assembled a spectacular program of plenary and short lectures, scientific posters, and interactive contributions from both the viewpoints of science, engineering, and clinical practice.

The „headliner” of the event was Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph. D., Professor and Research Coordinator at the Department of Nanobiophysics at the Medical-Pharmaceutical University „Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). In his plenary lecture, he provided insights into current developments of spectroscopic analysis methods for biological and body fluids. This methodological toolbox is known under the technical term „liquid biopsy”. The set of methods used in this toolbox represent non-invasive and therefore gentler alternatives to conventional biopsy procedures which always require the at least partial surgical removal of tissue.

The lecture session showcasing the viewppoints of Chemnitz Municipal Hospital (Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH), the third-largest municipally run hospital in Germany and Medical Maximum Provider in the region of Southwest Saxony, was opened by Dr. Paul Warncke, pharmacist and scientific-technical employee at both the Department of Internal Medicine III with focus on Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig. His presentation ranged from the physicochemical and biological characterization of nanomaterials to the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery and Prof. Dr. Matthias Kirsch, chief physicians at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, then examined the clinical requirements for research questions in nanomedicine from the perspectives of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, respectively. Finally, the project „Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz“ (Health Cluster Chemnitz, CGC) – a planned research and transformation cluster for the region of Southwest Saxony was presented by Aline Lohse, program manager at the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology.

Finally, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn shared his research experience from over three decades in the field of nanospectroscopic analysis methods such as Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and surface- or tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS/TERS), which have a very high potential not only in the analysis of semiconductor surfaces but also in medical diagnostics of biological “soft matter”.

The participating experts used the opportunity in the breaks between the respective specialist lectures to network with each other and sought professional exchange at scientific posters and interactive booths in the MAIN Foyer. To name a few, Amir Jafari Moghaddem, Yeji Lee and Dr. Vineeth Bandari, representatives of the Professorship Material Systems in Nanoelectronics at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Head: Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt) informed on „Microactuatoric Systems in Action“ using a video installation.

The participants of the 3rd MAIN Focus Day particularly appreciated the exchange on an interdisciplinary level. Prof. Rares Stiufiuc, Ph. D., Professor and Research Coordinator at the Department of Nanobiophysics at the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), explained: “Participation in the MAIN Focus Day ‘Nanomedicine’ was a valuable opportunity to exchange insights into the spectroscopic analysis of biological and endogenous fluids and their transformative potential in medicine. The presentation of my work before such a knowledgeable audience of experts and researchers sparked valuable discussions about advances in non-invasive diagnostics and the future of nanotechnology in healthcare.”

Also Dr. Paul Warncke, pharmacist and scientific-technical employee at both the Department of Internal Medicine III with focus on Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig, was pleased with the way the event took ist path: “The MAIN Focus Day 'Nanomedicine' enabled a rarely experienced, successful interdisciplinary exchange between clinic and science, in which various interesting perspectives, needs and possibilities came to light and could be discussed. Potential starting points for joint research work in the context of the development of the „Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz“ (Health Cluster Chemnitz, CGC) that could make a positive contribution to the further development of Chemnitz as a scientific location were identified.“

“The exchange between clinics and researchers is essential to promote communication and learn from each other. With MAIN, in Chemnitz, we have an institution with a worldwide reputation - nothing could be more obvious than to get the local developments into clinical applications," the Chief Physician for Ophthalmology at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery added.

“Events that cross borders – interdisciplinarily, internationally, open to everyone from students to management – bring fresh ideas and new perspectives. They are a real add-on and should be an integral part of everyday research,” concluded Aline Lohse, program manager at the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology, summing up the 3rd MAIN Focus Day.

Background: Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC)

The implementation of a Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC, „Chemnitz Health Cluster“) is an initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology together with Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. A joint center for transformation is intended to promote the academization of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and strengthen cooperation in research and development between the two institutions. Relevant research fields include artificial intelligence & mixed reality systems, robotics & sensor technology, prevention and early detection, e-health and wound healing.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Arthur Dumler)

“Postponed is not abandoned – finally complete the course paper!” Headed by this slogan, the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers" happens again on March 6, 2025 at Chemnitz University of Technology. It starts at 03 pm at the University Library, Straße der Nationen 33. The participation is free of charges.

"Students of Chemnitz University of Technology, who would like to complete their course paper, and doctoral students, who want to proceed with the elaboration of their doctoral thesis, may expect a comprehensive program and lots of time for writing," Angela Malz, Director of the University Library, says. Thus, representatives of faculties and central institutions of Chemnitz University of Technology, of the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau as well as other offer a variety of workshops.

The "Long Night" will be opened by a presentation of Tina Horlitz from the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau dealing with the question “Have you ever thought about yourself?” which would like to provide hints and information on how to take care for oneself in challenging phases of studies in order to charge (new) energy and to stay high-performing. The presentation is followed by workshops dealing with the search for literature for the course paper resp. the doctoral thesis, with the management of literature sources and with ways to avoid frequent mistakes in LaTeX-manuscripts, held parallely in German and English, as well as on how to conduct appropriate surveys in the field of empirical social research. In addition, there will be again a workshop giving answers to the question "And what comes next? Entrepreneurship during and after studies". Furthermore, there are additional new workshop offers regarding “Legal questions about studying” and the working method of the “Digital note box”. Finally, there will be again an offer for exercise.

Moreover, there will be information booths until 09 pm at the foyer of the University Library, where participants may gather information regarding literature search, working methods, texting techniques, IT as well as social and psychological aspects of academic work. Specific questions of international students, regarding residence issues or related to learning German as a foreign language for instance, are answered as well.

A number of persons and institutions of Chemnitz University of Technology were involved in the organization of the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers". Among those are the University Library, the Student Council of Chemnitz University of Technology, the faculty student bodies, the University Computer Center, the Methodological Competence Center of the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Professorship of Intercultural Communication, the entrepreneurship network SAXEED, the International Office, the Foreign Language Center and the Central Course Guidance Service as well as the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau. 

Homepage of the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers": www.mytuc.org/landah   

Additional offers of Chemnitz University of Technology regarding "Academic Writing"

In addition to the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers", also other offers may be used for getting assistance in academic writing. To those belong:

• a course "Academic Writing" during the term on Thursdays from 11:30 am to 01:00 pm,
• an Academic Writing Week  from March 10 to 14, 2025, from 09:00 am to 12:15 pm respectively, and
• consultation hours for academic writing, held during the term on Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 01:00 pm.

The courses and consultation hours are offered by Dr. Burkhard Müller. Please register for participation at the Foreign Language Center of Chemnitz University of Technology.

On February 13, 2025, the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, together with a renowned international guest speaker and representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology, will be hosting a focus day dedicated to nanomedicine. A plenary lecture, several short presentations, posters, and other scientific and technical exhibits promise a lively professional exchange.

The Focus Day begins at 2 p.m. with the plenary lecture “Spectroscopic Liquid Biopsy: State of the Art and Perspectives” given by Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph.D. from the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). In English language, the speaker will discuss current developments in spectroscopy with a focus on applications in medical analysis. The spectroscopic analysis of biological and body fluids (“spectroscopic biopsy”) has established itself as a powerful, non-invasive method for biomedical diagnostics, disease monitoring and the monitoring of biological markers. Various spectroscopic techniques - including infrared (IR), Raman, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy - provide molecular insights into the biochemical composition of blood, urine, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid. These techniques allow the identification and quantification of metabolites, proteins and other biomolecules and thus contribute to the early detection of diseases and personalized medicine. Advanced data processing techniques, such as chemometric analysis and machine learning, improve spectral interpretation and increase diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. A special focus of the plenary lecture will be on the application of ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopic techniques, in particular surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), to analyze various biofluids with the aim of developing new (bio)medical applications. Prof. Stiufiuc will first present the current state of research based on scientific literature. He will then outline key achievements and challenges encountered in the last decade in studies on blood plasma, serum, urine, saliva and DNA. As SERS is a surface-dependent technique, the role of microstructured, plasmonically active substrates in the vibrational spectroscopic analysis of biofluids will also be discussed.

Following the plenary lecture, Dr. Paul Warncke from the Department of Haematology and Oncology at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH will present a survey of physicochemical and biological characterization methods of nanomaterials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, inspired by everyday clinical practice. Furthermore, ChA Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery, Chief Physician at the Department of Ophthalmology, and ChA Prof. Dr. Matthias Kirsch, Chief Physician at the Department of Neurosurgery, will also outline the needs and requirements for nanomedical research from a medical perspective as representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. Aline Lohse, representing the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology will talk about the concept of the emerging Campus Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC). Finally, the host, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn, holder of the Chair of Semiconductor Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology and Deputy Director of Research Center MAIN, and Dr. Vineeth K. Bandari from MAIN Research at the Chair of Materials Systems in Nanoelectronics (Head: Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt) will present current developments in the fields of nanospectroscopy, microactuators and microrobotics with reference to medical applications.

The 3rd MAIN Focus Day “Nanomedicine” will take place in the Conference Area of the MAIN Research Center (conference room C50.001 and foyer C50.013 on the first floor), Rosenbergstr. 6, in Chemnitz. Between the lecture sessions, there will be opportunities to engage in scientific exchange with the speakers and other representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and Chemnitz University of Technology. Interested parties are cordially invited and are requested to register informally by the day before via the office of the MAIN Research Center (e-mail: kontakt@main.tu-chemnitz.de, telephone 0371 531-20100) for the purpose of capacity planning or transmission of dial-in data for online participation in the lectures. Questions will be answered by the host, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn (e-mail zahn@physik.tu-chemnitz.de, phone 0371/531-33036) or the MAIN Management Office.

About the person: Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc

The speaker of the plenary lecture, Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph.D. is Professor and Coordinator of Research Activities at the Department MedFUTURE - NanoBioPhysics of the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca (Romania). His research focuses on different types of multifunctional nanohybrids, e.g. magnetic, plasmonic and magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles, nanoliposomes and quantum dots for biomedical applications, e.g. targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy and biosensing. He is also working on the development of new early detection techniques using ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy techniques on biofluids. Rares Stiufiuc received his PhD in Physics from the University of “Babeș Bolyai” Cluj-Napoca in 2005 and completed his habilitation in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of “Iuliu Hațieganu” in 2017. During his doctoral studies, he completed a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud XI (2003-2004), followed by a postdoctoral research position at the Institut d'Électronique, Microélectronique et Nanotechnologie (IEMN), Lille, France (2005-2007). For his research achievements, Prof. Stiufiuc received the Romanian Academy of Sciences Award in 2020 for the development of multifunctional nanostructures with applications in nanomedicine. As a research group leader within the framework of the European Union's ERA Chair-Holder Program, Prof. Stiufiuc leads the activities in Cluj-Napoca to establish an interdisciplinary research team in the field of NanoBioPhysics. The work focuses on novel multifunctional nanohybrids with core-shell architecture for therapeutic-diagnostic (“theranostic”) biomedical applications. The aim of these research efforts is to strengthen the integration of the research center into the European Research Area (ERA) for increased international visibility, more intensive participation in collaborative projects and the promotion of translational research.

Background: Research Center MAIN

The Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) was implemented in 2020 as a Central Scientific Institution of Chemnitz University of Technology. In its research building on Rosenbergstraße, 18 working groups from the Faculties of Natural Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology are currently working together, dedicated to the joint explorative research of the fundamental physical and chemical properties as well as the development of the engineering application potential of flexible nanostructured membranes ('nanomembranes') as a novel class of materials. The term nanomembranes covers very thin (down to an atomic layer), but micrometer-sized functional structures that are characterized by special electronic, optoelectronic or electrochemical properties with high mechanical flexibility. They form the basis for new types of tiny components that can be bent, stretched and shaped and are therefore extremely adaptable. The aim is to incorporate the findings of this research into the development of future-oriented fields of materials science for the benefit of society. This can lead to new technologies and products in areas ranging from mobile communication and energy technology to medical technology. Research Center MAIN offers lectures, research seminars, and forus or topical days at irregular intervals. MAIN Focus Days are characterized by the consideration of a central topic through lectures and poster contributions from various specialist perspectives. Previous focus days were dedicated to the material class of Semiconductor Quantum Dots (keynote speaker: Dr. Oleksandr Stroyuk, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energies, January 2024) and Concepts for a Circular Economy for Electronics (keynote speaker: Dr. Christian Hagelüken, expert and former Director of EU Affairs at Umicore AG, November 2024).

Background: Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC)

The implementation of a Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC, „Chemnitz Health Cluster“) is an initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology together with Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. A joint center for transformation is intended to promote the academization of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and strengthen cooperation in research and development between the two institutions. Relevant research fields include artificial intelligence & mixed reality systems, robotics & sensor technology, prevention and early detection, e-health and wound healing.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Arthur Dumler)

Can you tell us some things about yourself?

I come from India and have completed my bachelors there. After two years of working, I chose to do my masters in Germany, to learn more about the field of mechanical engineering and explore Europe. Currently I’m studying Masters in advanced manufacturing with specialization in hybrid technologies. Outside academics I often go trekking. Apart from that I read philosophy, watch formula 1, play badminton and do bouldering.

Why did you choose to come to Chemnitz and what is your impression of the city and the university?

Along with diverse fields of research and the ongoing research projects at TUC, the city also played a crucial role in my decision. Chemnitz is relatively small and calm in comparison to many cities in my home country. Also it is almost at the canter of many beautiful neighboring countries and relatively near to the Alps which makes it easy to discover the European culture. Because of which I could travel to 4 different countries within the first 6 months. Also in Chemnitz it was easy to adapt in the new culture. My German skills definitely played a key role in making my social life easy, in getting to know new peoples, become part of student clubs and in day-to-day life. Also with time, professionally as well. The subjects in my course of study are interesting and exams are relatively easy, so I could learn not only about the subjects in my curriculum but also from other degree programs. It has been a great learning experience.

You applied for an internship, were you successful?

Yes, but the application process was not easy for me at the beginning as well. I got so many rejections that I lost the count at one point. That's why I invested a lot of time in improving my German language skills so that I could apply for jobs in German and speak more confidently in job interviews. I started drafting application documents and adapting to respective job profiles. With the help of Career Service, I prepared myself for interviews through tips provided and mock interviews. I received a lot of useful tips for guidance in my application process and refined my CV and cover letter up to the level of expectations needed in German market. Along with this personal guidance, events and lectures organized by Career Service also helped me gain more understanding of the process and requirements of the German job market. Finally, and most importantly, the assistance in preparation for interviews was very helpful. Dos, don’ts and other important aspects got clarified. And finally, I could convert my first German interview to full-time internship at Hörmann Vehicle Engineering in Chemnitz.

What events organized by the Career Service would you suggest the most up to other courses at the university?

The Career Service organizes different events every semester, such as lectures, the career fair TUCconnect, and excursion tours. Especially the excursion tours to the companies, gave me more insight into the ways of working, ongoing projects, job openings and to get in contact with people with similar academic interests. The career fair TUCconnect is the place where you have the best opportunity to get an employment opportunity as you get in contact with the recruiter rather than just being dependent on documents during online applications. I took this opportunity to get my full-time internship. Before the day of the fair, I read about different companies visiting the fair, what different projects and job opportunities they are offering. Then on the day of fair, I met the representatives from those companies, discussed my experience and skills and, talked about expectations and interests. It was a great experience not just professionally but also from my German skills perspective. And I am happy and grateful that the internship worked out.

What are your wishes for the future?

I wish to keep learning in this new work culture and contribute to the diverse research projects across the industry. That’s why it is such a big pleasure for me to be able to work even further at Hörmann Vehicle Engineering as a working student. Someday, I hope to work in the motorsports industry in Germany.

(Interview and translation: Sophie Oelsch)

On April 5, 2024, Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden (TUD), Prof. Uwe Götze, Vice-Rector Transfer and Continuing Education at TU Chemnitz (TUC), Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), and the Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) - Prof. Alexander Kratzsch - signed a cooperation agreement at the industrial park “Schwarze Pumpe” near Spremberg to establish the "Green Circular Economy" (CircEcon) research campus for a greenhouse gas-neutral circular economy, the only one of its kind in Europe. The signing took place in the presence of Thomas Schmidt, Saxon State Minister of Regional Development, and Dr. Andreas Handschuh, State Secretary of the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism.

With these joint pilot lines, test facilities and demonstration systems, the participants are pooling their expertise in the field of materials and production technologies, as well as process and recycling technology, in order to map future-oriented technologies for the circular economy onto an industrial scale, thus initiating the creation of new jobs through the establishment of companies and spin-offs in the region.

"CircEcon" is scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2026. Up until this date, the Federal Government and the Free State of Saxony will invest around EUR 108M. Around EUR 48M of this will be used for the construction of the center, leaving around EUR 60M for equipment and pilot plants.

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD: "By signing the contract today, we are creating the basis for a unique cooperation between the three Universities of Technology in Saxony and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the highly innovative field of the circular economy, thereby making a valuable contribution to structural change. CircEcon will allow us to establish a unique European technology network for the development of new materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling techniques at the industrial park “Schwarze Pumpe”. TU Dresden is delighted to coordinate the construction measures in close cooperation with its partner universities and on behalf of the Saxon Property and Construction Management. In the future research center, we are exploring the closed circuit from component production to comprehensive recycling and reuse. This will make Lusatia an internationally visible, technological region that excels in the field of the circular economy - a win-win situation that opens up the prospect of new jobs and dynamic development for the region, all the while enabling us to improve research and transfer and to explore new forms of cooperation in the field of the circular economy."

Prof. Uwe Götze, Vice-Rector Transfer and Continuing Education at TUC: "TU Chemnitz is actively pursuing the strategy of setting up regional offices in order to promote its regional effectiveness, as well as effectively establish itself and increase its visibility in the Free State of Saxony, all the while fulfilling its economic and social responsibility. CircEcon is the fourth regional office of our university to be launched - this time as a joint institution in cooperation with three partner universities. This close collaboration will open up new paths towards a highly efficient circular economy through coordinated research activities on the future campus. The transfer of acquired knowledge into innovations will not only provide new approaches to climate protection, but will also make a significant contribution to regional development in Lusatia. We would like to thank the many people involved in this complex and future-oriented project for their valuable input and contributions - especially Prof. Lothar Kroll and his team at Chemnitz University of Technology."

Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TUBAF: "TU Bergakademie Freiberg is contributing its comprehensive expertise in the fields of processing technology, metallurgy and materials technology to the project. The focus is on the high-quality recycling of composite materials and metallic lightweight materials. With the large-scale pilot plants that will be set up as part of CircEcon, we can accompany innovative technologies from their conception to market maturity. We are certain that this will effect a sustainable transformation of the region and its economy."

Prof. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences: "The signing of the cooperation agreement for the 'Green Circular Economy' project marks a very special moment for our Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. With this pilot project, which is unique in Europe, we are joining forces and boldly entering the future of the circular economy. CircEcon will not only become an innovation center for sustainable technologies, but also an engine for regional development and new jobs in our home region of Lusatia. It shows what great things universities of applied sciences can achieve and that, alongside strong partners, we can play a pioneering role in shaping a sustainable future."

About CircEcon

Due to the necessary phasing-out of the coal-fired power generation by 2038, Lusatia is in the midst of an accelerated structural change. For the region and its inhabitants, this means major challenges - but also a great opportunity to emerge even stronger. Chemnitz and Dresden Universities of Technologies, TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences are contributing to this and pooling their expertise in the field of materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling technology. "CircEcon," a center for researching and developing new technologies for recycling and reusing fiber composites from wind turbines, for example, is to be established that is unique in Europe.

With joint pilot lines, test facilities and demonstration systems, research expertise in Saxony is being linked in a targeted manner for the first time, and innovative approaches to the efficient structuring of the circular economy are being developed and marketed alongside regional companies. Modern methods, such as comprehensive digitalization and artificial intelligence, will be used to manage energy and recyclable materials in order to realistically map the entire value chain - from raw material extraction and processing of recyclables and materials to re-production - and to round it all off, it will be done in an industry-relevant, greenhouse gas-neutral manner.

(Source: TU Dresden press release)

ISINA, the Interdisciplinary Symposium for Women in STEM, took place on 13-14 March and was a great success. ISINA provides every year a unique opportunity for women in technology, science, mathematics and computing to share knowledge, network and collaborate. The two-day event featured inspiring presentations from female experts and scientists, as well as interactive workshops. More than 50 participants had the opportunity to engage with experienced women in STEM and gain inspiration on how to realize their full potential.

The symposium has been opened by the vice president for research and university development Prof. Anja Strobel who emphasized in her touching speech the importance of the event and the great chances it provides for empowering both female students and young scientists. The opening lecture has been provided by Dr. Nicole Lorenz, the deputy chairwoman of the university council of Chemnitz University of Technology and the CEO of the Axilaris GmbH Chemnitz. She delivered an exceptionally inspiring talk that resonated and left an indelible mark. Through a mixture of success stories, valuable advice and heartfelt encouragement, she ignited a sense of motivation and aspiration in the audience, inviting them to explore new horizons in their individual career development.

The interdisciplinary symposium program included six plenary lectures provided by prominent women experts and scientists on trends in science and technology with presence of strong research groups and participation of the collaborative research centers at Chemnitz University of Technology.

A speed dating event has been organized to connect attendees with sponsoring companies and showcase available job positions. Attendees have been invited to visit the labs of Chemnitz University of Technology and Fraunhofer IWU to explore ongoing research projects in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and natural sciences.

Empowering Women in STEM is the aim of ISINA, which contributes to create a future, where women have equal opportunities and recognition in these important career fields. ISINA will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year with a special program. The organizing committee welcomes proposals for special events, lectures and program highlights to make this milestone celebration unforgettable.

(author: Prof. Olfa Kanoun)