Technology centre for lightweight applications will be built in Forst (Lausitz)
picture: left to right Heike Gensing (Managing director CIT GmbH), Felix Kuke (Head of Fraunhofer project team ZenaLeb), Florian Müller (Business Development, City of Forst (Lausitz)), Simone Taubenek (Mayor, City of Forst (Lausitz)), Matthias Senftleben (Managing director Forster System-Montage-Technik GmbH), Sebastian Fritzsche (Manager SpreeTec neXt, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg), Prof. Holger Seidlitz (Head of project SpreeTec neXt, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg), Prof. Gesine Grande (President BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg), Copyright: BTU, Sascha Thor
press release of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, March 24th, 2023:
“Interministerial working group (IMAG) gives green light for Fabric Lausitz funding application
Over the next three years, a technology transfer center is to be built in Forst (Lusatia) at a cost of around 24 million euros, which will bundle the expertise of companies based in the region in the field of lightweight construction. This will create crisis-proof jobs and make Lusatia much more attractive as a business location.
In addition to the networking of the resident companies, Fabric Lausitz offers low-threshold access for start-ups and newly established companies to existing company networks or business partners and scientific institutions. Through the establishment of Fabric Lausitz, stable value chains will emerge that encompass new products and processes in the field of lightweight construction applications. This will strengthen companies in their efforts to open up new markets.
The BTU is closely involved in the establishment and operation of Fabric Lausitz through the joint project SpreeTec neXt. Research findings and technologies developed via the SpreeTec neXt research cluster will be transferred to an industrial environment at Fabric Lausitz in the future, right through to the production of pilot components and systems and the achievement of pre-series maturity. In this way, interdisciplinary teams drive the technology transfer to industry.
The focus is on lightweight construction solutions, e.g. for novel hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors, for H2 storage solutions, function-integrated CFRP floor systems and interior components, or resource-efficient multi-material 3D printing for mold making. The cooperation of scientists from the BTU, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and employees from the companies in the technology transfer center ensures the education and training of highly qualified specialists and thus strengthens the innovative power of the region. Users of Fabric Lausitz have access to a network of more than 70 partners from science, industry and society.
After the successful qualification process by a Lusatian expert panel in the workshops of Wirtschaftsregion Lausitz GmbH, the project "Fabric Lusatia - Platform for Lightweight Construction Solutions" was confirmed by the Interministerial Working Group of the Brandenburg state government on March 15, 2023. This paves the way for an application for funding at the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB).”