“With this pact for the future, we’re fulfilling our promise to play an active role in shaping structural change in Lusatia,” said Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG. “That’s why – in addition to the worldwide headquarters for industrial steam turbines – we want to build an innovation campus here at our Görlitz location. On this campus, products and solutions based on hydrogen technology are to be developed in cooperation with partners and startups. In this way, we’re creating an ecosystem for what will be one of the most attractive future-oriented fields over the long term when it comes to measures for combatting climate change – and thus also when it comes to ensuring Germany’s competitiveness in industries of the future
“Phasing out coal-fired power generation has triggered transformation processes that are deeply impacting Saxony as a region that has an energy-based economy. Nevertheless, the Free State’s research and technology landscape features good relationships with players in this field. In addition, the region benefits from a well-established local industrial sector and a culture of innovation. These advantages offer excellent prerequisites for creating structures that will both strengthen the region and further enhance Germany’s position as an engineering powerhouse within the international competitive environment,” explained Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “Setting up a joint platform for conducting hydrogen research and developing new hydrogen technologies together with Siemens and with the support of the Free State of Saxony puts us on track for the future. This cooperation provides a vital foundation for this region’s plant-engineering sector and brings industrial research together with the scientific community in a strategic partnership.”