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  • Transforming Lusatia
    Lusatia is a many-faceted landscape of change and transformation. The inhabitants of Lusatia have seen themselves confronted with major challenges from time immemorial and have mastered these with entrepreneurial courage, persistence and some extent of sacrifice.

Who we are

We create new jobs for Lusatia.

Innovationsregion Lausitz GmbH (iRL) is an agency established to represent regional commercial enterprises and university research institutes. It was founded in response to the German Federal Government’s climate policy decision to shut down two 500 MW units at the Jänschwalde Power Station in 2018/2019. The iRL team develops ideas and strategies that are enabling Lusatia to meet this structural challenge. It assists affected businesses by identifying new commercial opportunities while guiding economic growth and development in the Lusatian two-state region.

Fields of action
Our vision
Our mission
Fields of action
Analysis and common assessments

We continually analyse existing prerequisites in Lusatia together with partners from the fields of theoretical science and applied research. The first point of contact involves intensive exchanges with Lusatian businesses. A second focal point includes the evaluation of experiences gathered in other regions. In result, a systematic understanding of the processes of radical change is emerging from the ongoing assessment of conditions and prospects. We provide this knowledge and the practical business experiences they represent to all who wish either to benefit from them or to provide assistance in turning emerging challenges into future opportunities for Lusatia.

Entrepreneurial answers

Developing new products and launching new services on the market are highly qualified activities involving circumspect preparation and continuing dedication to maintaining vitality and resiliency. To this end, we support experienced as well as emerging entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art methods and application workshops embedded in a strong regional network. In result, new capabilities are being constantly developed that will improve the overall competitiveness of Lusatia.

Dialogue and communication

Innovation thrives on cooperation. Dialogue and new forms of communication offer the opportunity of exchanging views on issues of importance for the future, especially in times of change. The decline of lignite-based electricity generation in Lusatia means the loss of traditional jobs. As a consequence, new fields of employment must be created. iRL is providing meeting places by organising contact opportunities, regular ‘Business Talks’, and ‘Innovation Interactive’ events that promote dialogues on shared initiatives and joint creative ventures.

Our vision
Our vision

Lignite mining for energy production has been one of the remaining key industries in the region since German reunification in 1990. More recent politically announced lignite phase-out intentions constitute existential threats for many people. Our vision is to transform this challenge into an opportunity. We are creating viable prospects for the region to regain control of its destiny. This emerging new economy is developing commercial activities with growth potential in cooperation with iRL and participating universities. We provide businesses in the region with specific support for enhancing their future growth and development. At the same time, we work towards motivating regional stakeholders to combine efforts in putting pressure on the government in demanding the creation of reliable economic policies and infrastructure requirements for a successful structural change. In that case, we see a good chance of Lusatia developing new specialized economic activities over time that in the long run will supersede today’s still dominant role of lignite.

Our mission
Our mission

Together with our partners, we are transforming the challenge of structural change into an opportunity. We provide modern organizational techniques for the development of strategies, products, and business models for growth. Our success is based on making our partners strong, supporting the continuing growth of businesses, fostering cooperation in the region, and making entrepreneurship come alive for all Lusatians as a fascinating endeavour with confident protection against risk. The special contribution of iRL in interacting with other stakeholders in the region encompasses its responsive dedication, the consequential focus on entrepreneurial growth, and networking with senior-level experts both from within and outside of the region.

Lusatia as a global leader of transformation

Interesting facts

Weltspitze in der Textilproduktion:

Forst ist um 1900 die führende Stadt der Textilproduktion in Deutschland und wird als Manchester Deutschlands bezeichnet.

Weltspitze in der Textilproduktion:

Der preußische Reformer Peter Christian Wilhelm Beuth startet mit der Ansiedlung des englischen Textilproduzenten und Maschinenbauers William Coqueril 1816 die Entwicklung der industriellen Textilherstellung in Cottbus.

Weltspitze in der Zuckerrübenproduktion:

Die Lausitz ist Pionier der Lebensmittelindustrie durch die Einführung der Zuckerrübennutzung und Entwicklung einer Zuckerrübenfabrik im Jahr 1837 durch Johann Gottlieb Koppe aus Beesdau.

Weltspitze in Klimatechnologien:

Am Industriestandort Schwarze Pumpe entsteht die weltweit erste Pilot-Anlage zur Abscheidung von CO2 aus Industrieprozessen. Die sogenannte Oxyfuel-Technologie wird zur Weltmarktreife geführt. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse werden in einem Braunkohle-Demonstrationskraftwerk in Estevan in der Provinz Saskatchewan eingesetzt.

Weltspitze im Handwerk:

Maria Groch startet 1819 die Erfolgsgeschichte des Cottbuser Baumkuchens, der es bis zum Status „Hoflieferant des preußischen Hofes“ bringt.

Weltspitze Braunkohlekraftwerke:

An den Lausitzer Standorten Schwarze Pumpe und Boxberg entstehen nach 1990 die modernsten Kraftwerke der Welt.

Weltspitze Rekultivierung:

Prof. Dr. Günter Bayerl von der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg sagt: „Die Sanierung der ehemaligen DDR-Tagebaue war ein Impulsgeber für die ökologische Entwicklung ganz Deutschlands”.

Weltspitze Lausitzer Seenland:

Durch die Flutung stillgelegter Braunkohlentagebaue des Lausitzer Braunkohlereviers soll bis zum Jahr 2018 Europas größte künstliche Wasserlandschaft und Deutschlands viertgrößtes Seengebiet entstehen.

Weltspitze Polyurethan-Herstellung:

1971 wird in dem Chemiestandort in Schwarzheide die Benzinproduktion aus Braunkohle eingestellt und ab 1973 mit der Polyurethan-Herstellung mit großem Exportanteil begonnen.

Weltspitze Lebensqualität:

Mit der Innovation der Gartenstädte Marga, Lauta und Laubusch haben Unternehmen versucht moderne Arbeits-, Wohn- und Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten zu verbinden. Aufgrund der äußeren Erscheinung wird Marga oft als erste deutsche Gartenstadt bezeichnet.

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Weltspitze Lausitzer Seenland

Durch die Flutung stillgelegter Braunkohlentagebaue des Lausitzer Braunkohlereviers soll bis zum Jahr 2018 Europas größte künstliche Wasserlandschaft und Deutschlands viertgrößtes Seengebiet entstehen.
Close
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Weltspitze in Klimatechnologien

Am Industriestandort Schwarze Pumpe entsteht die weltweit erste Pilot-Anlage zur Abscheidung von CO2 aus Industrieprozessen. Die sogenannte Oxyfuel-Technologie wird zur Weltmarktreife geführt. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse werden in einem Braunkohle-Demonstrationskraftwerk in Estevan in der Provinz Saskatchewan eingesetzt.
Close
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Weltspitze Braunkohlekraftwerke

An den Lausitzer Standorten Schwarze Pumpe und Boxberg entstehen nach 1990 die modernsten Kraftwerke der Welt.
Close
null

Weltspitze Polyurethan-Herstellung

1971 wird in dem Chemiestandort in Schwarzheide die Benzinproduktion aus Braunkohle eingestellt und ab 1973 mit der Polyurethan-Herstellung mit großem Exportanteil begonnen.
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Weltspitze Rekultivierung

Prof. Dr. Günter Bayerl von der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg sagt: „Die Sanierung der ehemaligen DDR-Tagebaue war ein Impulsgeber für die ökologische Entwicklung ganz Deutschlands”.
Close

Lusatia as a global leader of transformation

Interesting facts
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Weltspitze im Handwerk

Maria Groch startet 1819 die Erfolgsgeschichte des Cottbuser Baumkuchens, der es bis zum Status „Hoflieferant des preußischen Hofes“ bringt.
Close
null

Weltspitze Lebensqualität

Mit der Innovation der Gartenstädte Marga, Lauta und Laubusch haben Unternehmen versucht moderne Arbeits-, Wohn- und Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten zu verbinden. Aufgrund der äußeren Erscheinung wird Marga oft als erste deutsche Gartenstadt bezeichnet.
Close
null

Weltspitze in der Textilproduktion

Forst ist um 1900 die führende Stadt der Textilproduktion in Deutschland und wird als Manchester Deutschlands bezeichnet.
Close
null

Weltspitze in der Textilproduktion

Der preußische Reformer Peter Christian Wilhelm Beuth startet mit der Ansiedlung des englischen Textilproduzenten und Maschinenbauers William Coqueril 1816 die Entwicklung der industriellen Textilherstellung in Cottbus.
Close
null

Weltspitze in der Zuckerrübenproduktion

Die Lausitz ist Pionier der Lebensmittelindustrie durch die Einführung der Zuckerrübennutzung und Entwicklung einer Zuckerrübenfabrik im Jahr 1837 durch Johann Gottlieb Koppe aus Beesdau.
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Developing new cooperation networks

Your innovation boost

Structural change implies transforming the existing network of research institutions, production plants and service providers in the field of opencast mining and power plant engineering into a multi-tiered infrastructure for value creation. We are dedicated to contributing to this process in our capacity as a platform of regional cooperation.

Workshops

Workshops

We support enterprises in developing their commercial activities. In doing so, we are guided by the individual needs of the respective businesses. The tailored workshop formats range from the development of growth strategies and product innovations, to business model optimisation and market introduction. We embrace the latest developments in the field of innovation management at our workshops and offer state-of-the-art businesses methods and approaches.

 

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The Lausitz Lab

The Lausitz Lab

The ‘Lausitz Lab’
Innovation requires venues where people can meet and implement ideas. The ‘Lausitz Lab’ is our laboratory for this purpose, where we collaborate with businesses on developing sustainable projects for the future. At the same time, the ‘Lausitz Lab’ is available to interested parties as a co-working space and may be booked short-term for events focusing on structural change issues.

 

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Projects

Projects

We support businesses in the development of their individual growth proposals. These are anticipated to fulfil the following prerequisites:

  1. A participating entrepreneur intends to implement the project.
  2. Business expansion should increase turnover and / or staff.
  3. Intermediary goals can be attained within five years.

You have an idea for a growth project and intend to implement it? Then compare our advantages.
Kontakt

 

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Innovation Interactive

Innovation Interactive

With ‘Innovation Interactive’, iRL aims to motivate creative individuals and in particular young people in the region interested in becoming entrepreneurs themselves one day. ‘Innovation Interactive’ is an event scheduled for a whole day. Three interactive programme units simultaneously focus on entrepreneurship – each for a different target group. For instance, one programme unit is designed to allow young participants to have a go at being entrepreneurs. They weigh opportunities and risks, develop concepts, and make decisions in the context of creative group work and interactive business games. Another unit offers seasoned and emerging entrepreneurs a common platform for an in-depth exchange of experience by way of a storytelling circle, focusing on one specific topic of business development at a time.

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Co-innovation plattform

Co - innovation plattform industrial automation

Ko - Innovationsplattform

The intention of this project group is to develop new products and business ideas in Lusatia in close cooperation between local industrial production plants, technology firms and research institutions from the surrounding urban centers in the field of industrial automation.

For this purpose the group undertakes a series of innovative ways of working: LEAD-Projects (at the minimum two regional partners) and cooperative learning formats.

Eventually this should result in exportable products of industrial automation, modernization impulses for industrial production plants in Lusatia and a new DNA of cooperation.

Ko - Innovationsplattform

Further information:
https://www.unternehmen-region.de/de/wir—das-programm-2061.html

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How to contact us

Contribute

Our office ‘Lausitz Lab’ is located in Hubertstraße 24, 03044 Cottbus near the BTU (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg).

Arrival by car: We recommend using the public parking facilities in Nordstraße due to limited parking space availability.
From there it is only a few metres to the office of Innovationsregion Lausitz GmbH.

Arrival by public transport: The iRL office is located two kilometres away from the Cottbus main railway station. A taxi will bring you to the Lausitz Lab in about six minutes. Alternatively, the bus line 16 gets you directly to our office. Take the bus direction Stadthalle (City Hall) and get off at TU Mensa. From there, it is only a few minutes on foot to our office. You can also use the tram line 1 direction Schmellwitz/Anger. In this case, please get off at Zimmerstraße and again it is only a few minutes on foot to the iRL office.

Innovationsregion Lausitz GmbH

Hubertstraße 24 | 03044 Cottbus
Telefon: 03 55 / 49 45 96 59

E-Mail: info@innovationsregionlausitz.de

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Innovationsregion Lausitz GmbH

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