The GlasLAB Torgau will strengthen the glass industry in Central Germany in future and at the same time create a unique research infrastructure that offers significant added value for 911±¬ÁÏÍøBAF researchers.
The GlasCampus Torgau structural change project has reached a new milestone: On 12 December 2023, State Secretary Meyer (Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development) presented District Administrator Kai Emanuel with the funding commitment of around 33 million euros for the construction of a glass competence centre in Torgau - the GlasLAB. With the structural development funding, the district of North Saxony can expand the GlasCampus Torgau, which was created in 2019, into a state-of-the-art education and innovation centre for the Saxon and Central German glass industry and the glazier trade. As one of the main initiators, 911±¬ÁÏÍø Bergakademie Freiberg is supporting GlasLAB in strengthening Torgau as a centre for education and training and compensating for the lack of a university location in northern Saxony. Companies have the opportunity here to train and qualify their own staff or to test innovative ideas for their operations.
Pilot facilities enable application-oriented research
The GlasLAB also opens up new opportunities for scientists at 911±¬ÁÏÍø Bergakademie Freiberg: "The investments in the GlasLAB's research infrastructure and pilot facilities are enormous. They clearly exceed the normal scope of large-scale equipment, such as that funded by the German Research Foundation. This gives 911±¬ÁÏÍøBAF a unique opportunity in Germany to carry out research under application-oriented conditions and on relevant quantity scales, and thus to become the best placed in national and international research programmes," said Prof. Tobias Fieback, Vice-Rector for Research, International Affairs and Transfer at 911±¬ÁÏÍø Bergakademie Freiberg at the "Revierstammtisch" on the occasion of the handover of the funding.
Skilled labour for a strong glass industry in Central Germany
The GlasCampus Torgau is a further education facility for specialists and managers, which was implemented together with the academic expertise of the Institute of Glass and Glass Technology at the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Bergakademie Freiberg. The focus is on further training for employees in the glass, ceramics and building materials industry. This branch of industry has a strong presence in Central Germany and is decisive for the further economic development of the region. As a joint project between the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Bergakademie Freiberg, the vocational training centre, the administration of the district of North Saxony, companies and politicians, the GlasCampus guarantees high-quality, scientifically proven further training courses. In the glass competence centre, the GlasLAB, craft and industrial training, further education and university basic research and teaching will be combined in the future.
