Completion of Phase I and start of Phase II in SPP 2388

From October 8^th to 10^th, 2025, the annual meeting of the DFG Priority Program SPP 2388 “Hundert Plus” took place in Dresden. Around 50 researchers from various universities and research institutions presented the results from the first funding phase and jointly launched the second phase.

© Stefan Gröschel

The first day, October 8^th, 2025, was dedicated to the presentation of results from the first funding phase. The project teams provided a comprehensive overview of their progress and discussed key research outcomes. The five clusters of the first phase as well as the Nibelungen Bridge cluster presented their findings. The first funding phase was officially concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Marx, who acknowledged the achievements of recent years and thanked all participants for their commitment. Afterwards, a joint dinner at “Lohrmanns” offered an opportunity for further exchange in a relaxed atmosphere.

The second day, October 9^th, 2025, was devoted to the kick-off meeting for the second funding phase of SPP 100+. After a brief welcome, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Marx presented the coordination project and outlined the planned activities for the new phase. This was followed by presentations of the two validation structures — the Nibelungenbrücke and openLAB. The Nibelungenbrücke was presented by Chris Voigt from MKP GmbH and Maximilian Haaß from the Landesbetrieb Mobilität Rheinland-Pfalz (LBM Worms), who introduced the bridge and explained the planned as well as completed maintenance measures. Later in the day, the subprojects of the second phase were presented. The project teams introduced their research objectives, goals, and methodological approaches, providing insight into the thematic direction of the coming years. Building on the success of the first phase, the cluster structure of SPP 100+ will be continued in the second phase. The aim of the clusters is to facilitate better exchange among all subprojects in smaller groups. After the lunch break, the new clusters were formed under the guidance of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Marx, and the new cluster speakers were elected. The second funding phase now consists of four new clusters as well as one cluster each for the two validation structures. The kick-off meeting concluded at 4:15 p.m. with closing remarks by Dr.-Ing. Chongjie Kang, who offered an optimistic outlook for the upcoming phase.

On the third day, October 10^th, 2025, a PhD Workshop took place. As part of TU Dresden’s Equal Opportunities initiative, Dr. Sylvi Bianchin led a workshop entitled “Changing Perspectives – Developing Diversity Competences.” The workshop provided valuable insights and inspiration for the participating doctoral researchers to reflect on their own perceptions, integrate diverse perspectives in scientific collaboration, and foster personal growth and development. Afterwards, four working groups were formed. The working groups are a new format in the second funding phase, allowing PhDs in the priority program to exchange ideas on overarching topics such as data management, science communication, the finite element method, and artificial intelligence. They are designed to foster the development of soft skills and networking among PhDs. The workshop concluded with presentations on research data management and the publication strategy of SPP 100+. Overall, the workshop offered an excellent opportunity for professional exchange and networking among the PhD candidates.

We sincerely thank all participants for their commitment and the lively discussions. As the second funding phase begins, we look forward to continued successful collaboration and many new scientific insights.