LAB has landed: The idea of a construction research centre for Lusatia receives funding award

The decision has been made. Six applications were selected for the first funding phase of the open-topic competition "Knowledge Creates Perspectives for the Region". The idea of a building research center "LAB - Lausitz Art of Building" receives funding for the development of a concept until the beginning of 2022. The joy is very great.

"With our strong team, we are determined to advance the transformation of building and to offer Lusatia a future-oriented perspective with a building research center in the heart of Lusatia," says Prof. Manfred Curbach, spokesman for the application and director of the Institute of Solid Structures at TU Dresden.

With the LAB, the top researchers are striving for a paradigm shift in the construction industry. This is to be achieved through the use of resource-efficient, climate-neutral high-performance materials and new materials, combined with completely new manufacturing processes, artificial intelligence and the digitalization of the entire construction industry. "This very important step puts construction in the spotlight. We are aware of the great responsibility and will do everything to change the requirements of construction, always taking into account the experience of the Lusatians," emphasizes Manfred Curbach.

The top team of the application includes the following scientists:

Idea giver:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Manfred Curbach

Further partners:

Dr.-Ing. Birgit Beckmann, Technische Universität Dresden
O.Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. MSc. Ph.D. Dr.phil. Dr.techn. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Konrad Bergmeister,
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Prof. Dr. Thomas Brück, Technische Universität München
Prof. Dr. Michael Gelinsky, Medizinische Fakultät der Technischen Universität Dresden
Prof. Dr. Edeltraud Günther, UNU-FLORES-Institut der Universität der Vereinten Nationen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peer Haller, Technische Universität Dresden
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Josef Hegger, RWTH Aachen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gunter Henn, Emeritus TU Dresden, Architekturbüro Henn,
München/Berlin/Peking
Prof. Dr. Silke Langenberg, ETH Zürich
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Peter Mark, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Dipl. Wirtsch.-Ing. Klaus Raps, ehem. Vorstand Bilfinger Berger SE
Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Mike Schlaich, Technische Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, ehem. ESA- und DLR-Vorsitzender,
Präsident Acatech

The competition started in November 2020. Yesterday, July 22, the first funding phase was launched with the selection of six promising proposals. The authors of the six outlines now have six months to develop their ideas into viable concepts for large research centers that are ready for implementation. They will receive up to 500,000 euros for this. The concepts developed in funding phase I will be reviewed by external scientists. On this basis, the federal government and the host state will decide on funding for the two best concepts, which will enter the start-up phase in summer 2022. In this three-year start-up phase, the legal foundation and subsequent institutional funding will be prepared. The start-up phase can be extended by three years if necessary. The federal government will provide 1.25 billion euros per center from the Structural Strengthening Act up to and including 2038.

Further information: https://lab-lausitz.org
Source: Pressemitteilung des BMBF

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