One of the goals of the TU Dresden, as a university of excellence, is to strengthen and broaden its international network. With Russia, and especially with St. Petersburg, the TU Dresden is connected by a high number of intensively lived and traditional cooperations.

The German Week in St. Petersburg, which was dedicated to the host country Saxony from April 20 to 25, 2021, was therefore a welcome occasion to focus on the cooperation with the universities and research institutions there and to take new steps. Thus, on April 21, a renewal of the cooperation agreement between the Technischen Universität Dresden and the Peter-the-Great Polytechnic University of St. Petersburg (SPbPU), which has existed since 1993, was signed.

"Science connects beyond all political changes and challenges. With globally connected research and teaching, universities contribute to solving the challenges of the 21st century. Our cooperation with the University of St. Petersburg is an important element in the global network of TU Dresden," affirmed Prof. Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger. Prof. Dr. Andrei Rudskoi, Rector of SPbPU, added: "We are proud of a long-standing cooperation and friendship, today's event is a new milestone in this partnership."

The signing took place during a virtual workshop, moderated by CTIO Prof. Ronald Tetzlaff, in which existing cooperation projects were presented in tandem lectures. Subsequently, possible new fields of cooperation, such as in materials science, were explored. The signing of the contract was transmitted via video at the - also virtual - Science Day of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the German Week St. Petersburg.

At this Science Day, the TU Dresden also presented itself with an "exhibition booth": In Russian-language presentations and through students and doctoral candidates of the TUD, who answered questions, interested parties learned everything about study opportunities and other offers, which also include the double degree of the International University Institute Zittau with the St. Petersburg State University of Economics.

The importance of the partnerships with the St. Petersburg universities is underlined by the participation of the CTIO and other scientists from the TU Dresden in the delegation trip of the state government of Saxony and the state capital Dresden this week. The latter celebrates the 60th anniversary of the city partnership with St. Petersburg in 2021.