European Chemical Conference 2011 - 9th Congress of the European Chemical Regions Network

The year 2011 marks the International Year of Chemistry, embodied in the slogan "Chemistry - our life, our future". In this context, on behalf of the ECRN - European Chemical Regions Network, the German Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt as host, organizes the 9th Congress of ECRN in Halle (Salle).

This years congress theme is European regional policy. The congress will focus particularly on the potential and challenges of sustainable use of structural funds of the European Union in the European Chemical Regions in the context of Europa 2020 Strategy.

As President of the European Chemical Regions Network and Minister of Sicence and Economic Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt, Prof Dr Birgitta Wolff is hosting the International Chemical Conference on October 27th 2011 in Halle (Saale).

The chemical industry has played a vital role in the industrial sector in Saxony-Anhalt for many years now. Generating 14 percent of overall turnover and employing 9 percent of the total workforce, it has a leading position among the various industries in our federal state. In terms of exports, it is top of the pile. The chemical industry makes up one fifth of all industry export turnover in Saxony-Anhalt.

So, it's all the more pleasing that the local chemical industry has had such a strong start to 2011. At the home of the central German chemical industry, turnover from January to March rose to € 1.9bn. Seasonally adjusted in comparison with the previous quarter, turnover has risen by more than 21 percent. Compared to the same quarter the previous year, business volume has risen by a third. The main impetus behind this rapid development has been the classic chemical industry. The pharmaceutical industry has contributed nearly € 300m to this sector's turnover in the federal state.

Investing in innovations is an absolute necessity if we want to continue to drive growth forward and ensure competitiveness, because knowledge is increasingly becoming a decisive production factor. This is also expressed by the federal state government's extensive promotion of research infrastructure development. One example of this is the “Chemisch-Biotechnolgoisches Prozesszentrum CBP” (Chemical-Biotechnological Process Centre) in Leuna, which is being established jointly by the federal state and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It shall enable enterprises to replace crude oil with renewable raw materials such as straw, wood and microalgae on an industrial scale. Furthermore, the federal state government is intending to re-adjust investment assistance. In the future, focus will be put on enterprises carrying out intensive research and innovation activities as well as on future-proof careers with suitable and acceptable salaries.

In addition to economic development, meeting future demand for skilled personnel also has to be a top priority on the political agenda. As far as I'm concerned, this aspect is going to be one of the most important challenges to the economy and the federal state government in Saxony-Anhalt.