The investment location of Saxony-Anhalt in August 2013
Company invests €20m in Pilot Plant. The first multi-purpose fermentation plant for the continuous production of organic chemicals was inaugurated in Leuna (Saale) today. ThyssenKrupp invested a total of €20m to extend its research and development activities in the field of biochemicals based on renewable raw materials. The chemicals are used inter alia as the raw material for biodegradable plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polybutylene succinate (PBS). Bioplastics can be processed to packaging materials, films or textiles. Environmental protection and stewardship have been given pride of place.
Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger, the CEO of ThyssenKrupp, sees significant market potential: ‘Modern biotechnology is one of the key technologies of the twenty-first century. Biotechnological processes, products and services play a role in almost every field of daily life, as in the development of new pharmaceuticals, plant varieties, detergents or cosmetics, for example. Industrially implemented biotechnology is part of our growth strategy. From basic research to the operation of industrial-scale pilot plants, ThyssenKrupp possesses extensive know-how in this matter.’ State Secretary Marco Tullner thinks that the investment will further increase the attractiveness of Leuna as a location for the chemical industry: ‘Saxony-Anhalt has evolved into an innovative business location. A highly-qualified workforce, attractive production and industrial sites, as well as a well-developed infrastructure combine to assure optimal conditions, especially for industry. ThyssenKrupp’s expansion to Leuna underscores the fact that we have achieved clear advantages at this location for cutting-edge technologies’.
During a five year cooperative effort, an interdisciplinary team of engineers and scientists of ThyssenKrupp’s plant engineering division developed a licensable technology for the production of lactic acid. The technical centre for the research of biochemicals moved from Leipzig to Leuna in August of 2012. The multi-purpose pilot plant enables ThyssenKrupp to test the fermentation and processing technology developed in its lab under industrial conditions. The plant will now be capable of producing more than 1,000 tonnes of biochemicals, such as lactic or succinic acid, each year.
Pariser Platz turns to runway for Creative Achievers from Saxony-Anhalt
Federal Government Initiative grants ‘Kultur- und Kreativpiloten Deutschland’ (German Cultural and Creative Industry ‘Pilots’) Prize in Berlin. It is now certain who the German Cultural and Creative Industry ‘Pilots’ will be for 2013. The BRACHMANN fashion label from Saxony-Anhalt is one of the 32 winners (you will find the exposé in the attached PDF file). All of them were granted the award by the Federal Government’s Cultural and Creative Industry Initiative in the AXICA at Pariser Platz on 24 July 2013. For the fourth time, creatives and start-ups were awarded for the outstanding entrepreneurial spirit and remarkable business ideas that make them stand apart.
BRACHMANN. Jennifer Brachmann and Olaf Kranz deconstruct men’s fashion classics, such as shirts, vests and jackets, into separate parts and then put them together again in their collections.
Federal Minister of Economics Philipp Rösler met with the enterprises of the cultural and creative industry at the workshop discussion in the afternoon. The award was granted by the Parliamentary State Secretary Hans-Joachim Otto during the evening event.
Recipients of the ‘Kultur- und Kreativpiloten Deutschland 2013’ prize were awarded access to a start-up programme as well as expert-support by the U-Institute of Bremen. The focus will be on personal conversations and exchange with industry experts, joint workshops and, of course, the development of new business ideas. Prize winners were also granted access to the Institute’s network as well as to the network of the cooperation partner, ‘Kompetenzzentrum Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft des Bundes’ (Federal Centre for Cultural and Creative Industry Expertise).
Overview of Facts and Figures
This year, 565 applications were sent from all regions of Germany. Of those, 96 applicants were invited to take part in the selection interviews in Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne or Nuremberg. In total, 68 jury members participated in the selection process.
Application Period: 15 February – 31 May 2013
Selection Period: 22 April – 3 May 2013
Awards Ceremony: 24 July 2013
What is behind it?
Germany is the leader of the European cultural and creative industry. It is made up of one million salaried employees, including 244,000 freelancers and entrepreneurs, and generates more than €143bn in annual revenues (source: BMWi, 2012). At the same time, the industry in Germany is characterised by the absence of networks, a low degree of industry identification, as well as by lack of individual support and visibility. This is where the ‘Kultur- und Kreativpiloten Deutschland’ programme comes in, providing the 32 prize winners with one year of training, networking and media attention.
The programme organisers are the Bremen University of Applied Sciences’ U-Institute and the Federal Centre for Cultural and Creative Industry Expertise. The sponsor is the Federal Government’s Cultural and Creative Industries Initiative, which is a project of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and of the Federal Government’s authorised representative for culture and media.