A Strong Network between University, Industry and City

The Technische Universität Chemnitz takes a positive view of the year 2015 and would like to thank all those who have contributed to the success

Dear students and staff,
Dear alumni and friends,
Dear cooperation partners and sponsors,

The year 2015 is coming to an end, the Christmas holidays and the New Year are just around the corner, giving us an opportunity to look back on a successful year for our university. Many figures illustrate the positive development of the TU Chemnitz. For example, in the winter semester 2015/2016 five new degree programs were introduced. More than 2,900 students were newly enrolled at the TU Chemnitz. We intend to expand our range of demand-oriented Master’s programs as well as part-time MBA course programs. The high number of enrolments – especially for the Master’s programs – confirms that we have succeeded here up to now. Currently, a total of more than 11,000 students are enrolled at our university.

Our achievements in research are equally successful. External funding will probably reach the same level as in 2014. Our research competences are directed towards supporting the whole value chain with relevant knowledge – starting with materials and going on from production to usage in society. It is important to actively transfer knowledge and technologies to industry and society in order to offer a visible contribution to local development. Against this background, during the past year, the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer has become fully established as a reliable service provider for industry, society, and for our university.

This illustrates once more the strong relationship between the university and the City of Chemnitz which has been underlined during the past year: in March the continuation of the cooperation contract between the City of Chemnitz and the Technische Universität was signed. This contract provides a solid basis for both parties to benefit from existing and new synergies. One example of this strong network has also started in the past year: Chemnitz – as well as Prague and Tiflis – won the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft competition “Morgenstadt City Challenge which gives Chemnitz the opportunity to establish itself within a network of science, industry, and politics. Furthermore, the city will find it easier to attract partners and resources for sustainability projects.

The university also makes a valuable contribution to society through its intensive cooperation with industry. In October, the research buildings of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE went into service. They provide the university with the needed infrastructure for an ongoing strong cooperation – first and foremost with the industrial engineering, textile, and automotive sectors. This also enables us to offer important impulses for small and medium-sized enterprises. The same measure of success is expected of the planned “Centre for Materials, Architecture, and Integration of Nanomembranes”. In August the foundation stone was laid on the construction site at Rosenbergstrasse.

Another important aspect for the future is the connection between the university sites and their further development. Here I am thinking of the “Alte Aktienspinnerei” building which is undergoing major renovations and is expected to open as the Central Library in September 2018. This project will give important impulses for the development of the neighbouring “Brühl” quarter to a prospering, young, and creative neighbourhood.

The university will play a great role in the city next year, too: on 2nd May 2016 it celebrates its 180th jubilee. The festivity week program includes the Spring Gala in the archaeology museum, where there will also be an exhibition related to the jubilee. Furthermore, the International Forum of the “Academic Consortium for the 21st Century” (AC21) will take place from 28th April to 3rd May. More than 200 participants from all over the world will visit Chemnitz and focus on successful networks.

Last year’s success was possible because of the contribution of the university’s members, of our intensive network with industry as well as other partners, and because of our international exchange. On behalf of the university management I would like to thank you for your contribution in the past year and your support for the benefit of the TU Chemnitz.

As many of you may already know, I will be leaving the university shortly. The senate and the supervisory board of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University have elected me as the new president of their institute, a position which I will take up on 1st February 2016. Looking back on three and a half years at the Technische Universität Chemnitz, it was a great privilege for me to be able to gain extensive experience in this innovative environment. I am very grateful for this and I intend to keep up my strong connections with the TU Chemnitz, the city, and the region.

I wish you and your families happy and peaceful holidays, good health, personal well-being, and all the best for the year 2016.

Prof. Arnold van Zyl
Rector of the Technische Universität Chemnitz

Katharina Thehos
22.12.2015

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