International­isation 2023

2023 marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with Greece. On January 1^st, 2023, the cooperation and education project M2BRIDGE was launched, building on the long-standing partnership between our institute and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics (MEAD) at the University of Patras (UoP). The project M2BRIDGE: "Towards a Sustainable Cooperation in Teaching and Research in Lightweight Engineering and Multi-Material Design between the TU Dresden and the University of Patras", is funded under the DAAD programme "University Partnerships with Greece 2023-2025" (HSP GR 23) and aims to create a strategic framework for sustainable cooperation between the two universities.

The challenges of global climate change and the need for resource-efficient development require close networking between the EU member states. The overall objective of M2BRIDGE is to combine the research activities of both institutions and to develop innovative solutions in the field of lightweight engineering and multi-material design. These key technologies are crucial for achieving a "Sustainable Europe by 2030".

A central goal of M2BRIDGE is to promote exchange at all levels, to develop joint teaching formats and to initiate new research projects. Dresden is positioning itself as an attractive location for Greek scientists, offering them a wide range of study and research experiences. The excellent materials science of TU Dresden and the long experience of UPAT in the field of aeronautics form the scientific basis for this cooperation and the transfer.
|Continue to M2BRIDGE project page.

© ILK/TUD | MEAD/UPAT

The kick-off meeting took place in Dresden in February 2023, where representatives of both partners discussed the main objectives of the project. The hybrid format also allowed the participation of the DAAD and the central administration of the TU Dresden, which further enriched the exchange on funding opportunities and a good project development. During this meeting, concrete measures for 2023 were defined, including the planning of study, teaching and research visits and the basic concept for joint teaching formats. A special event was the presentation of the contract for the Joint PhD program of TU Dresden and UPAT and the official welcome of Ms. Evgenia Madia as the first PhD student of this double degree program.
| Continue to the news report on the M2BRIDGE kick-off.

© M2BRIDGE

In the course of the year, numerous project measures were successfully implemented. These included research and teaching visits of PhD candidates and young scientists at both universities as well as the first M2BRIDGE student internship at the ILK. A highlight was the second project partner meeting in Patras at the end of the year, this time on an occassion of a public event. The "Days of Cooperation days of TU Dresden and UoP" on November 2^nd and 3^rd brought together not only the M2BRIDGE team and the Greek stakeholders and multipliers but also a large number of interested students and PhD students of UPAT. The lively participation of the students in the lectures and by the round table discussions during these days showed their great interest in the possibilities of an exchange between the two universities and countries. The event provided a platform to promote knowledge exchange and identify potential areas for future cooperations.
|Continue to the news report on the cooperation days.

© TUD/ILK

In summary, M2BRIDGE made significant progress in 2023 and had a successful first project year. The positive feedback from the participating students and scientists, but also from the funding agency on both, the German and the Greek (DAAD Greece), side shows promising prospects for future cooperation in research and teaching as well as the development of innovative solutions in the field of lightweight eingineering and multi-material research.

India is increasingly playing a central role as a strategic partner of TU Dresden and its international collaborations. The educational and research partnerships with Indian institutions make a decisive contribution to the global networking of the university. The exchange of knowledge, cultures and technologies opens up a wide range of opportunities for students and researchers to develop innovative solutions to global challenges. These collaborations not only promote academic excellence, but also strengthen TU Dresden's international competitiveness.
|Read moreabout TU Dresden's strategic partnership with India.

Our Institute makes a significant contribution to TU Dresden's activities in India through its long-standing partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). Since 2020, this cooperation has been bundled at institutional level as part of the bilaterally funded DIP education project COMPOLL "Combating Environmental Pollution through Internationalization of Education"(DAAD, UGC), with a special focus on resource efficiency and environmentally friendly design solutions. The transnational collaboration in COMPOLL focuses on raising awareness of the impact of human activity on the environment and solutions through waste reduction, recycling and the use of bio-based materials.
|Continue tothe COMPOLL project website.

© COMPOLL

In 2023, the COMPOLL team participated in several important events in the role of the Dresden multiplier. These included the visit of the Indian ambassador to TU Dresden on March 9 and participation in the annual Heritage Network General Assembly 2023 in Madrid in June. The team also accompanied the Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, to IIT Madras in Chennai in November for the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between the Saxon Ministry of Science and the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The third year of the project was characterized by a complete return to academic mobility between Germany and India. As part of the project, personal exchange formats were again realized, including two three-month COMPOLL internships at the ILK for outstanding doctoral students from IIT Delhi, Jonty Mago and Sushmita Ghosh, who were awarded the COMPOLL scholarship.

The Indian project partners were received twice in Dresden - in June and in a different formation in October. On the occasion of these delegations, the usual activities of project partner meetings and network meetings with stakeholders from the Dresden area took place. In addition, the respective IITD teaching at TU Dresden was organized: COMPOLL teaching in June and COMPOLL teaching in October. As part of the June delegation, both partners jointly presented the project at the 26th National Lightweight Engineering Symposium at the COMPOLL trade fair stand.
|Continueto the news report on the IITD delegation and participation in the lightweight symposium in June.

Impressions. COMPOLL Visit in Dresden, June 2023

A highlight of the year was the COMPOLL Winter School 2023 "Pollution, Life-Cycle Assessment and Recycling" at the IITD, which the ILK combined with the project trip of a large German team of organizers to India, including the associated COMPOLL partners: HTW Dresden, University of Patras, TUD Chair of Acoustics, TUD Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy IAK. Thanks to funding from TU Dresden's Excellence Fund, the ILK team was able to accompany ten outstanding students and doctoral candidates from Germany and Europe on the trip to India and participate in the winter school with their ten Indian colleagues. In order to counteract the widespread phenomenon of weakening interest in long-term stays on the German side, the focus was on structured short stays. In the long term, these should help to break down stereotypical perceptions of India and arouse interest in longer study and research stays. The positive response to the winter school confirmed the success of this approach. |Continue tothe ING news report on the delegation trip to India for the COMPOLL Winter School.

© IIT Dehli

Overall, 2023 impressively demonstrates the importance of partnerships with Indian institutions and the positive impetus they can provide for TU Dresden's international orientation.

In the third and final project year of the STIBET II project EDI:TUD "Successful - Digital - Integrated: Studying at TU Dresden ", which has been running since 2021, the focus continued to be on researching and improving the welcoming culture and integration of international students at the TU Dresden. The project, which was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Federal Foreign Office (AA ) until 2023 and carried out at the Institute of ILK as a model institute, is to be extended to other faculties and institutions of the TU Dresden in the long term.

The main objective of EDI:TUD was to support international students in their educational journey and to promote their integration. By taking appropriate measures, the number of dropouts should be reduced, the duration of studies shortened and academic results improved. A central aspect was the identification of language barriers as a possible cause of insecurity and challenges, which in the worst case can lead to students dropping out.

Another important component of the accompanying research within the project was the evaluation of the study conditions for international students at the TU Dresden. This research forms the basis for a DAAD follow-up project FIT:TER 2024-2028, which examinas the study and living situation of students.

In order to promote the exchange between the students, student mentors were appointed to organize various meetings, joint activities and smaller events. In addition to academic activities, the EDI:TUD team planned a variety of sports and cultural events for all ILK students, with a special focus on international participants. These activities included a sports festival and a hike in the Saxon Switzerland.

In addition, a survey was conducted among international students about their studies and campus life. This survey was crucial in finding out how we can better serve international students in the future. Efforts are ongoing to further improve the quality of support for international students. The events and surveys not only promote social integration and mutual understanding, but also help to celebrate the diversity of the student body.
| Download PDF "EDI:TUD flyer. Successful measures and areas for optimization".

A total of ten publications and scientific presentations have been produced as part of EDI:TUD between 2021 and 2023. The last one, in the form of a presentation entitled "Between support and lack of understanding: How teachers deal with study-specific problems of international students at TU Dresden", was presented at a symposium on "Dropping out in the teaching profession: What are the reasons and what course-specific and cross-curricular measures are available to increase student success?".

The results of EDI:TUD so far clearly show that the targeted promotion of integrative and interactive meeting places between international and German students can make a significant contribution to improving the welcoming culture and integration. These findings are particularly relevant for institutes like the ILK, which have a considerable number of international students – in this case mainly and specific from China.
|Formore information about the project, please visit the EDI:TUD project website of the ILK or the university monitoring website of the ZQA.

© ILK/TUD

The ILK Korea country network made further progress in intercultural scientific cooperation between Germany and South Korea in 2023. Numerous cooperation activities were initiated and implemented and existing partnerships were further expanded. The Korea network partnerships are characterized by an intensive exchange of technology and a shared vision for  innovative, sustainable lightweight engineering solutions through the bundling of country-specific strengths. Lightweight engineering is a decisive factor in reducing energy consumption and emissions in key industries such as automotive and aircraft engineering. Through joint research projects and the exchange of expertise, we not only strengthen our competitiveness on the global market, but also promote the development of new materials and processes. The following report presents the highlights of German-Korean cooperation over the past year and takes a look at the promising prospects arising from this international partnership.
|Go to the website of the Korea country network.

At the beginning of the year, the focus was on establishing student exchanges between the ILK and the country network's newest partner, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), as well as on strengthening this new partnership in general. JBNU is an important stakeholder in the Jeonju region and has initiated a number of education-oriented exchange and mobility activities since establishing contact with the ILK in 2022. In February 2023, a four-day ILK Winter School was initially organized for excellent JBNU students and doctoral candidates.

Prof. Dong-Won Kim, former president of JBNU, spent his sabbatical semester as a visiting researcher at the ILK and conducted research together with Dr. Sebastian Spitzer, head of the "Lightweight Design" expert group, on a new type of advanced control method for adjusting the tool feed rate in the summer semester of 2023. In addition to numerous networking meetings with the multipliers and stakeholders in and outside of Dresden, Prof. Kim was able to play a key role in organizing a summer school for highly talented Korean students and consolidating contact with the new JBNU President's Office.

© ILK/TUD - JBNU

The tryING-Korean Summer School. Trial Study on Sustainable Lightweight Engineering from July 24 to 28, 2023 was the highlight of the network activities and has brought about an astonishingly high success rate. JBNU organized the participation of 30 highly talented Korean students who, accompanied by their teachers, traveled to Dresden for a week. The students took part in lectures, workshops and campus tours, which not only strengthened the German-Korean relations in general but also aroused interest in sustainable technologies.
|Continue to the news report on the ILK Summer School for highly talented Korean students.

In addition, several visits by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to the ILK and Dresden took place in spring and summer 2023, including a joint workshop in May.

While the first half of the year focused on mobility from Korea, the second half was characterized by mobility from Germany to Korea. From October 25 to November 5, 2023, Dipl.-Ing. Leon Schröder took part in the German-Korean Junior Forum 2023 (DKJF 2023) and represented the ILK on his trip from Seoul to Busan in Korea. The event provided a platform for exchange between German and Korean participants from various departments, focusing on topics such as climate and sustainable energy. The focus was on calls for increased expansion of renewable energies and more intensive technology transfer between the countries.
|Continue to the news report "TUD at the German-Korean Junior Forum in Korea".

© TUD/ILK

In order to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new opportunities for cooperation, Dipl.-Ing. Paul Hoffeins also undertook a scientific networking trip through South Korea at the same time. His trip included visits from our partners to the renowned research institutes Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Korean Institute of Material Science (KIMS) as well as Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) in Jeonju and culminated in his participation in the Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo (DIFA 2023) in Daegu. The aim of the networking trip was to promote cooperation in the field of future-oriented technologies, particularly in the area of sustainable lightweight structures.
|Continue to the news report "Strengthening German-Korean Collaborations".

© TUD/ILK_KIMS

As part of a basic research project, the Korean Institute of Material Science (KIMS) and the ILK investigated the crash behavior of a new type of thermoplastic fiber composite material in order to better understand and improve the crash performance of composite structures. The results of this collaboration were recently published in an article in the journal Composite Structures: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2023.117115.– An event not to be missed in the 2023 track record!
|Find out more here.

All these activities underline the ILK's close cooperation with South Korea in the field of science and technology as well as our commitment to international cooperation and intercultural exchange. We are optimistic about future projects and developments within the ILK Korea country network.

In 2023, Saxon-Polish cooperation in the field of research and technology has made significant progress. The partnership between the ILK and the AGH Krakow University of Science and Technology has developed to a particular extent this year, which is underlined by a number of projects and events. These initiatives have not only promoted the exchange of knowledge and technologies, but also strengthened international cooperation in engineering in general.

At the beginning of the year, the mobility project FANTASTIC "Determination of fatigue strength and analysis of fracture mechanisms of TMC" started on January 1^st, which is funded under the PPP program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the years 2023 to 2024. The aim of this project is to establish and intensify international cooperation between the ILK and the Faculty of Metal Engineering and Industrial Informatics (Wydział Inżynierii Metali i Informatyki Przemysłowej) at AGH. As part of the project, around three to four doctoral students from each partner institution will regularly complete research stays at the other university. This should not only promote the qualification of young scientists in an international environment, but also enable interdisciplinary and multilateral research experiences.

A central element of the FANTASTIC project is the development of joint research results and the establishment of standardized methods for the analysis of material properties in metal composite production. The scientific objective is to investigate the behavior of β-titanium alloys under cyclic loading conditions and to analyze the mechanisms of material failure and its wear resistance. The knowledge gained is particularly important for applications in the aerospace industry. Workshops and scientific analyses are planned to validate the results and intensify the exchange between young and experienced researchers.

© ILK/TUD

The mobility of the Polish side is supported as a complementary measure within the framework of the PROM program of the National Agency for Academic Exchange NAWA. The first exchange research visit within the framework of this partnership took place in March: Dipl.-Ing. Wiktoria Skonieczna, a PhD student at AGH Krakow, visited the ILK from March 20^th to 28^th. During her stay, she got to know the ILK's scientific profile, laboratories and machinery, including the newly opened National Lightweight Engineering Validation Center (LEIV). Her research work included preliminary investigations into the analysis of nickel alloy-based powder materials using scanning electron microscopy. Her research visit is part of a 15-year history of cooperation between the ILK and AGH in the field of model-based development of manufacturing processes, which culminates in the FANTASTIC project.

In return, a small ILK-research group traveled to the AGH in March. Joint research activities on titanium-metal matrix composites were discussed and another international project on the axis Germany – Poland – South Korea was prepared. At the end of the year a second ILK project trip of the DAAD/PPP program took place in December. In addition to continuing their project work, the ILK-researchers also offered and held guest lectures and workshops at the AGH Krakow.

From December 11^th to 13^th, a project meeting was organized at the ILK, which was attended by the Polish project leader of FANTASTIC Professor Marek Wojtaszek, accompanied by Ms. Skonieczna and Dr. Zygula. In addition to the project partner meeting, which focused on the publication of the project results, the guests also participated in various network meetings with stakeholders within and outside the TU Dresden. These reciprocal visits and collaborations not only strengthen the individual research activities of both institutions, but also promote international exchange and cooperation in the School of Engineering Sciences in a general sense.

In addition to the PPP/PROM exchange program with the AGH Krakow, numerous other study, research and visiting scientist stays with Poland have been carried out, mainly through the ERASMUS+ contracts of the ILK with Warsaw University of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Bialystok University of Technology, Silesian University of Technology and the Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the PROM program on the Polish side. These include the six-month ERASMUS+ study visit of Mr. Dawid Lipski, a graduate student at AGH Krakow, and the NAWA long-term research visit of Mr. Szymon Demski, a doctoral student at Warsaw University of Technology, to the ILK. Lively mobility with Warsaw University of Technology also took place as part of the scientific-technological projects with an international background CompECO, LITAPROP and ComfyTPU. The ILK's Polish partners were represented in many ways at the 26^th International Dresden Lightweight Engineering Symposium. They presented their research both in specialist lectures and at the accompanying trade fair, while also promoting the strength of the ILK-Poland cooperation network.

Impressions from Dresden: 5th Saxon-Polish Innovation Day

An outstanding event of the year was the organization of the 5^th Saxon-Polish Innovation Day – a now established platform for the exchange of ideas, technologies and innovations in cross-border cooperation – on September 21^st and 22^nd, 2023 in Dresden. Under the guiding theme of "Innovative solutions for sustainable mobility", experts from science, business and politics from Germany and Poland came together to further promote cooperation and present best practice examples in the field of knowledge and technology transfer. The event was jointly organized by the ILK, the School of Engineering Sciences and the International Office of TU Dresden, Politechnika Wroclawska, the City of Wroclaw, the Saxony Economic Development Corporation and the Saxony Liaison Office in Wroclaw – a consortium that has been working together in a spirit of trust since the first edition of the event in 2017.

This year's main theme reflected the growing need to develop innovative approaches for environmentally friendly and sustainable mobility. Representatives from research and industry intensively addressed questions of climate and resource-friendly mobility, its importance for Central Europe as an industrial location as well as its psychological and social dimensions and jointly sought solutions that would not only offer ecological advantages, but could also drive the economic development of the participating regions. Prof. Ronald Tetzlaff, Chief Officer Technology Transfer and Internationalization at TU Dresden, emphasized in this context: "With the Saxon-Polish Innovation Day, we are providing important impetus for sustainable regional growth and the development of internationally competitive solutions for the mobility of the future. The close cooperation between science, business and politics in both regions is an essential basis for our joint success and is an integral part of our central internationalization strategy. I am delighted that this excellent format is taking place in Dresden for the first time this year." The Innovation Day offered a variety of activities and events, including expert presentations, B2B and R2B talks, themed tables and networking opportunities. Participants had the opportunity to benefit from the experience and insights of leading experts in the field of sustainable mobility. In addition, outstanding projects in the field of knowledge and technology transfer were presented, helping to put valuable innovations into practice.

Without a doubt, the 5^th Saxon-Polish Innovation Day in Saxony marked an important stage in the long-standing partnership between Saxony and Poland in the field of research and innovation. Next year, Poland will once again host the Innovation Day, this time in Wroclaw and on the topic of "Artificial intelligence for Global Challenges".
|Continue to the Website of the Saxon-Polish Innovation Days and to a review of the 5^th Innovation Day: here.

Overall, it is clear that Saxon-Polish cooperation has made significant progress in 2023. Through numerous projects and events, the exchange of knowledge and technology was promoted in an exemplary manner, thus strengthening international cooperation in the engineering sciences. The 5th Saxon-Polish Innovation Day was an outstanding example of the ILK's successful partnership network in Poland. Neighborly cooperation will continue to generate innovative approaches and pave the way for new developments.

© ILK/TUD

On November 6^th and 7^th, 2023, scientists from the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Lab at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore visited the ILK and Dresden. Under the leadership of Ms. Sujithra Radhakrishnan, Program Manager for Advanced Repair and Materials, the visit focused on the personal exchange of current research work within the framework of the existing cooperation.

The visit included a successful milestone review to evaluate the progress of the joint projects and determine future steps. The NTU researchers gained insight into the activities of the ILK, especially in the areas of functional integration, structural health monitoring and simulation. Technical discussions identified key areas for a future collaboration. Both sides confirmed their commitment to a long-term exchange to develop innovative solutions in lightweight design.

The collaboration between Rolls-Royce and TU Dresden started in 1994 and was further intensified with the establishment of the UTC Dresden in 2006 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTU Singapore in 2015. To date, more than 150 joint research projects have been carried out, which not only contribute to the creation of additional jobs, but also promote the exchange of knowledge. Students and researchers benefit from this international network too. More than 150 exchange study and research visits have been realized with the NTU Singapore until today.

The visit of NTU to ILK is an important step to deepen the cooperation in the field of lightweight engineering and engine technology and promises innovative developments and a strengthening of the international exchange between research institutions worldwide.

The Days of Cooperation in June 2023 brought together Tongji University students from German-speaking countries to find out about study and research opportunities. The ILK reported the details on the Student WIX page here.

Tongji University, one of China's oldest and most prestigious universities, is known for its programs in Engineering, Business Administration and Economics and Architecture, as well as China's first Industry 4.0 lab. The university has over 200 partnerships worldwide and is home to an international student body. The Chinese-German University College (CDHK) has a special position among Tongji University's joint projects with Germany.

TU Dresden has a long-standing partnership with both Tongji University and the CDHK, which enables its students to obtain a double degree in mechanical engineering. The ILK is an important actor in this cooperation and has already received several awards for its commitment to Sino-German scientific exchange.

The experiences of German students in China are consistently positive, despite the differences in the study system and language barriers. An exchange program at Tongji University offers a unique opportunity to experience Chinese culture and expand academic skills. For the numerous announcements the ILK arranges, follow "What's New" on the student website or subscribe to "ILK News" on the OPAL platform or the ILK-Element/Matrix group "Lightweight Community". Interested students can find out more by writing to and apply for an exchange program at any time.

The ILK has once again proven to be a center of intercultural exchange in 2023. By participating in a variety of programs and initiatives, the institute offers students, doctoral candidates and researchers from the ILK and from around the world the opportunity to gain valuable international experience.

Internships and exchange programs

Every year, the ILK offers ten internships through the DAAD's IAESTE program ("International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience"), which gives international students in over 85 countries worldwide the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study. In 2023, we filled all ten places and welcomed interns from Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Serbia, Brazil, Japan and Mexico to the ILK for three months each. In addition, Mr. William Spellmann came from the USA and was supervised at the ILK as part of his DAAD Rise internship.

In addition, numerous stays were realized within the framework of the ERASMUS+ contracts. The partnerships with Polish universities and with the University of Patras (UPAT) in Greece were particularly very active. In this context, several ILK group trips to Poland and staff mobilities from Poland to the ILK by Prof. Skarka (Silesian University of Technology Gliwice), Prof. Perkowski and Dr. Augustyniak ( Białystok University of Technology) took place. A teaching visit by Prof. Angelos Filippatos (UPAT) and various internships for undergraduate and graduate students at the ILK were also successfully completed during the year under these contracts.

Visiting scientist and scholarship holders

As a part of ILK's country network in South Korea, Prof. Dong-Won Kim from Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), Jeonju, visited the Expert Group Lightweight Structures during his sabbatical. As part of the EU COST campaign, Dr. Pin Hu from the University of Aarhus (AU) in Denmark and Ass. Prof. Soman Rohan from the Institute of Fluid Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IIMP PAN) were welcomed to the ILK. Both guest scientists provided valuable impulses for research at the ILK and its internationalization.

© ILK/TUD

An outstanding example of international cooperation is the research stay of Ms. Chaima Boukthir from Tunisia at the ILK. During her six-month stay at the ILK, the master's student at the L'Ecole Supérieure des Communications de Tunis (SUP'COM) supported the development of an AI-based method for the detection of foam beads in EPP materials. Her work represents an important contribution to the further development of AI applications in materials research and demonstrates the potential of such technologies for the analysis and characterization of materials. The research stay was funded by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the program "Combined Study and Practice Stays for Engineers from Developing Countries" (KOSPIE) and co-initiated by the Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig). At the ILK, the research work was supervised by Dr. Bernd Grüber and assigned to the Expert Group Computational Methods and Simulation. |Continue to news "AI/ML methods for the detection of foam beads in EPP foams. A DAAD KOSPIE internship at the ILK".

Szymon Demski from Warsaw University of Technology and Dawid Lipski from AGH Krakow were also welcomed for six-month study visits at the ILK. In return, two lightweight engineering students were send via ERASMUS+: Mr. Robert Merkel to the Technical University of Riga (RTU) in Latvia and Mr. Simon Gawrich to the University of Padua (UNIPD) in Italy.

Summer schools and events

For short-term stays, the ILK focuses on the event format of Summer Schools. In 2023 we joined the initiative "Season of Excellence" of Dresden-concept, which bundles all events of this kind in the Dresden area and communicates them to potential interested parties.

© ILK/TUD. Foto: realisticshots.com

In addition to the Summer School for highly talented Korean students and the COMPOLL Winter School in New Delhi, the ILK organized the International Dresden Summer School on Function Integration at Lightweight Systems for Industry 4.0 in April, which welcomed 20 international participants to Dresden.

© ILK/TUD

The Summer School was supported by the Internationalization funding program from the excellence funds of TU Dresden and was designed as a pilot project for an ILK Summer School. The success was overwhelming and the feedback from the participants consistently positive.

In addition, the ILK was also significantly involved in the DCIM Summer School "Data-driven exploration and design of materials" in August 2023 and the T.I.M.E. Summer School at RTU Riga on the topic of "IoT of Drones" in July.

These events not only provide a platform for a concentrated exchange of knowledge and ideas, but also promote intensive intercultural cooperation between students and researchers from different countries. In this sense, summer schools are often the birthplace of new collaborative approaches and initiate far-reaching international cooperation.

Finally, other internationally oriented event formats to be mentioned include the International Dresden Lightweight Engineering Symposium, which the ILK organizes every year with great success, and the Saxon-Polish Innovation Day, which took place for the first time in Dresden or rather Saxony in its 5^th edition in 2023. Both events have contributed significantly to the international networking and internationalization of the institute.

Conclusion

The ILK is continuously committed to creating global perspectives and promoting intercultural exchange. Through internships, study and research stays as well as innovative event formats such as summer schools, a lively international community is built up that enriches the exchange of knowledge and promotes new ideas. The ILK's diverse programs help students and researchers not only to acquire professional skills, but also to overcome cultural barriers and build global networks.