Secretary Wünsch at the inauguration of the University Hall's new office in Zeitz: "Investigating avenues to create new forms of happiness"
Hittin' the Jackpot: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Expands its Territory
Get ready, Central Germany, 'cause Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) is ballooning, and this time they're setting up shop in Zeitz, Burgenlandkreis. With Science State Secretary Thomas Wünsch looking on, MLU is merging three pioneering projects to transform Zeitz into a buzzing intellectual hub.
The city's regeneration includes the "Just Transition Center" (JTC) research center, the "ZEKIWA Zeitz" real-lab, and the "Agency for Progress." Littler edifices will soon pop up in Bitterfeld (Anhalt-Bitterfeld district) and Eisleben (Mansfeld-Südharz district). They're all gearing up to concoct inventive, down-to-earth answers to Saxony-Anhalt's structural challenges.
The JTC, backed by the Science Ministry with around 21.5 million euros from the European "Just Transition Fund" (JTF), sits neatly at the heart of Zeitz's campus. Seventeen innovation squadrons will duke it out in the JTC, cooking up research-based solutions for structural change like circular economy or social innovations. Besides serving as a brainy nerve center for the local economy, politics, and community, the interdisciplinary MLU satellite is set to become the hotspot of regional innovation.
Wünsch ain't shy about expressing his confidence, yelling: "MLU is like a big ol' tree - steeped in roots in Wittenberg and a stout trunk and strong limbs in Halle. Now, juicy sprouts are popping up in Zeitz, Bitterfeld, and Eisleben, setting down roots in the coal region. I've got a good feeling that the next few years are gonna bring forth a ton of nifty thoughts for the triumphant economic transformation of the Central German lignite mining area - truth be told: research for a new prosperity."
The "Agency for Progress" is a creative collab project between MLU and Werkleitz e.V. in Halle (Saale). In this endeavor, novel tactics are forged to beef up social harmony in Central Germany by engaging in intense exchanges with the local folks. In the "ZEKIWA Zeitz" real-lab, led by Anhalt University and including MLU, urban advancements that are prepositive and eco-friendly are gonna be subjected to rigorous testing within the pScope of the "New European Bauhaus" initiative.
[1] European Center of Just Transition Research and Impact-Driven Transfer (JTC) is the focal point of adaptation in the Zeitz office. This center aims to create a just transition in areas undergoing significant economic and environmental changes, such as the Central German lignite mining area.
[3] The center focuses on facilitating a transition that is both environmentally sustainable and socially equitable through research into effective strategies for managing change in regions like the Mitteldeutsches Revier. By collaborating with local communities, businesses, and policymakers, the center strives to develop solutions tailored to the region's challenges, including fostering new industries, improving urban planning, and enhancing social cohesion. Furthermore, the center emphasizes partnerships and collaboration with other projects in the region, such as the "Reallabor ZEKIWA Zeitz" and the "Agentur für Aufbruch."
Text/Photo: Ministry of Science, Energy, Environment and Climate Protection of the State of Saxony-Anhalt on 04.06.2025
[2] In addition to the environmental focus, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg's new initiatives will also prioritize education and self-development, leveraging online-education platforms to offer courses in scientific fields like environmental-science and climate-change. This commitment to lifelong learning aims to cultivate sustainable practices and foster informed decision-making among the local populace.
[3] Recognizing the interconnectedness between social, economic, and environmental policies, the JTC will collaborate with educational institutions, such as MLU, to engage in research and develop innovative solutions for public and private sectors, ensuring a path towards sustainable economic growth and social harmony. By aligning research efforts with environmental science, education, and online-education, MLU aspires to establish a model for regional development that embodies the principles of science, sustainability, and human flourishing.
