Federal Research Center comes to Bautzen – Landmark contribution from TUD's cutting-edge research in the construction sector

In Berlin, the federal government and the states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Baden-Wüttemberg signed a position paper on the establishment of construction research centers, the aim of which is to research and initiate sustainable transformation in the construction sector. Saxony is one of the three founding states. Saxony’s Federal Research Center, which involves TUD participation, will promote change in the construction sector and make a significant contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2045. The scientific excellence at TUD Dresden University of Technology, especially in climate-friendly and resource-efficient construction, was decisive in winning the contract. This includes the cutting-edge research of the CARE (Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction) Cluster of Excellence and TUD's close cooperation with UNU-FLORES. 

In Saxony, the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz also initially agreed to provide up to EUR 450 million from structural change funds for the construction. Other federal states, including Thuringia and Brandenburg, have expressed their interest in cooperating and participating in the financing. Following discussions between the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction (BMWSB) and the states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Baden-Württemberg, the Federal Research Center's establishment in Lusatia was confirmed. It was agreed the new research center would be headquartered in Bautzen. Furthermore, a new office will be set up in Bautzen to handle administrative tasks and support the work of the center.

Minister of State Regina Kraushaar, who signed the agreement in Berlin on behalf of the Free State of Saxony, representing the Minister-President, commented: “I am immensely proud that the idea of a research center for climate-neutral and resource-efficient construction, which was developed in the Free State of Saxony, is now being implemented and that the construction sector will receive special support in this crucial area. And I am extremely grateful that the excellence of TUD Dresden University of Technology and the expertise contributed by Professor Manfred Curbach made this result possible in the first place.”

Saxony intends to establish research infrastructure in Bautzen to support the Federal Research Center. Funds of up to EUR 100 million are to be made available for this purpose under the Coal Region Investment Act. The establishment of a start-up incubator in Bautzen is planned for a later date. The aim of these projects is to establish value chains based on newly developed technologies, thereby creating training opportunities and jobs for the future.

CARE, a TUD Cluster of Excellence that was approved a few months ago, also plays an active role in the planning for the new Federal Research Center. Cluster Speaker and Director of the Institute of Construction Materials, Prof. Viktor Mechtcherine, emphasizes that “CARE and LAB – Living Art of Building, which is now the Federal Research Center, were developed in parallel and in close coordination with each other. Both initiatives seek to make substantial contributions to the vast research needs in the construction sector. Now, our task is to use the resources available to generate as much synergy as possible for forward-looking, practice-oriented research."

The Federal Research Center focuses on the rapid and secure transfer of these findings into practice. In addition to faster approvals for new developments, this also includes opportunities for simpler and reduced building regulations. “This makes Federal Research Center an ideal strategic partner for CARE, which is a Cluster of Excellence with a focus on fundamental research,” says Prof. Mechtcherine.

From the perspective of the initiating team led by Prof. Curbach, any moves towards more construction research are hugely beneficial, and all synergies should be leveraged to get closer to the ultimate goal of climate-neutral and resource-efficient construction. “Construction research must be intensified and formalized,” explains Prof. Curbach. The establishment of the Federal Research Center is an additional step in this direction, albeit one that is far from complete and final.

Prof. Steffen Marx, Director of the Institute of Concrete Structures at TU Dresden and closely involved in the planning of the LAB and Federal Research Center, emphasizes: “Together with the openLAB research platform in Bautzen, we must work with the Federal Research Center to ensure that fundamental research is quickly transferred into practice so that climate-friendly, sustainable construction rapidly becomes the norm.”

Background: CARE Cluster of Excellence
The Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction (CARE) Cluster of Excellence aims to fundamentally transform the construction industry. The Cluster develops climate-neutral, mineral-based building materials, resource-efficient construction principles, and digitalized and automated manufacturing processes. CARE is also pursuing urgent societal goals—improving working conditions, increasing productivity, reducing costs, and enhancing resilience and social sustainability in the construction sector.

Media contact:
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Institute of Construction Materials
Prof. Viktor Mechtcherine, Director and Cluster Speaker for CARE
Tel.: +49 351 463 35 920
Email:
Internet:  http://tu-dresden.de/bau/ifb