Event Review: Responsible Management Talks Explore Perspectives and Challenges in Upper Lusatia

On Monday, June 2, 2025, regional representatives from academia, business, and civil society gathered in Lecture Hall 1.10 at the IHI Zittau for the latest edition of the Responsible Management Talks, hosted by the Chair of Business Administration, esp. Responsible Management. The topic of the evening: The Oberlausitz Economic Region – Between Structural Change and Entrepreneurial Responsibility.

Dr. Eckhard Burkatzki opened the event with a macroeconomic analysis of the region. He highlighted that Oberlausitz faces significant economic challenges, demographic change, and socio-political tensions. The region continues to exhibit characteristics of structural weakness – even when compared with other regions in both eastern and western Germany. At the same time, Burkatzki emphasized that the Oberlausitz economic area is not a uniformly disadvantaged region. He advocated for targeted investment to leverage location-specific advantages and for differentiated innovation support.

Frank Großmann from the Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Dresden) followed with concrete figures on the regional economic structure and ongoing economic development projects, such as the Net Zero Valley Lausitz. Initiatives like this aim to proactively shape the economic transformation of the post-coal mining region. Special emphasis was placed on the need for fresh momentum in education, skilled labor recruitment, and interregional cooperation.

The subsequent discussion, which brought together academia and practice on equal footing, was marked by remarkable depth. A central issue was how companies can take on responsibility not just economically, but also socially and politically in a structurally weak and politically tense region like Lausitz. Participants debated the extent to which businesses are called upon to act as political players – for example, by taking a stand against populism, promoting diversity, or supporting democratic structures at the local level.

The open exchange made one thing clear: the challenges are significant – but so is the commitment to actively shaping them through responsible corporate leadership. The event offered not only valuable insights but also inspiration for a responsible and sustainable future for the region.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our speakers Dr. Eckhard Burkatzki and Frank Großmann, as well as to all participants for their contributions and the lively discussion.