In the following weeks and months, ambassadors for the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) will be introduced on seven different posters. The motto „Wissen schafft ...“ („Knowledge creates ...“) calls to all Dresdeners to register as supporters for TU Dresden on the website www.tu-dresden.de/exzellenz. Within less days 1000 supporters on the Internet site have already signed up!

The protagonists and their message are:

• Stanislaw Tillich, Minister President of Saxony (Knowledge creates FUTURE),

• Dirk Hilbert, First Mayor of the State Capitol of Dresden (Knowledge creates GROWTH),

• Gunda Röstel, manager of Stadtentwässerung (urban sewerage) Dresden GmbH (Knowledge creates JOBS),

• Jan Vogler, cellist and director of the Dresden Music Festival (Knowledge creates CULTURE),

• Reiner Calmund, member of Dynamo Dresden (Knowledge creates DYNAMICS),

• Anna Cmaylo, Stefanie Karg and Nicole Schröber, DSC 1898 Volleyball GmbH (Knowledge creates SUCCESS) and
  

• Felix Räuber, singer of Polarkreis 18 (Knowledge creates PROSPECTS).

The seven messages will be visible on the CityLights of Dresden, further posters, postcards, TV ads on Dresden-Fernsehen, passengers’ TV of Dresden Transport Authority (DVB AG), the internet and in other places. Many partners of TU Dresden have also agreed to support the campaign through their own media. From the middle of January 2012 the posters will be on display at the Altmarkt Galerie. „The support from the protagonists, but also from the partners of the university is just great! In the preparation stage of the campaign, we were told time and again how important the university is for the whole region and that for most people it was a matter of course to become committed to TU Dresden“, enthuses Kim-Astrid Magister, the coordinator of the campaign and spokesperson for TU Dresden, and says thanks to all involved. All in all, the campaign will continue until the decision of the excellence initiative on 15th June 2012.   
The campaign has its own website at www.tu-dresden.de/exzellenz. You can find more information on all protagonists, interviews, short film clips, posters for download and the opportunity to sign up as a supporter there. The Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Hans-Müller Steinhagen, who signed himself up to the list during the press conference, calls to everybody to follow his example: „It is my big request to all Dresdeners to visit this website, get informed and sign up to our list of supporters.”
The First Mayor, Dirk Hilbert: “I didn’t have to think twice about getting involved with this campaign. I am an alumnus of TU Dresden myself, and as Dresden’s Mayor I’m aware of the meaning of this institute for our city. The university is one of the most important employers, the most significant center of research and the node in the network of all of Dresden’s research institutes. Last but not least it is the most important educational institute. I believe that we will all profit from TU Dresden becoming a University of Excellence.”
TU Dresden is considered to be the biggest Technical University of Germany with 36500 students and about 8000 employees. At the same time it’s a significant influence on all developments and the image of the State Capitol of Dresden. The efficiency of the university has effects on all areas of social life in Dresden. Dresden owes its reputation as a “city of science” to the university, which also contributes to the internationality and cosmopolitanism of the city and creates new jobs through spin-offs. The high quality of the courses and the chance to recruit highly trained scientific personnel have been the criteria of decision for settling here for many companies. TUD’s participation in the initiative for excellence of the German federation and the states strengthens the meaning of the university for Dresdeners. It is the only university in the new federal states that stands a chance to be awarded the title „University of Excellence“ and to be supported accordingly. But the seal of Excellence wouldn’t only be a gain for the university itself, but also for the state capitol and the whole region!

Information for journalists:
Technische Universität Dresden,
Spokesperson,
Kim-Astrid Magister,
Telephone 0351 463-32398,