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On 12 May, the City of Chemnitz's business division, the school-business working group and the Chemnitz District Parents' Council are hosting an impulse evening entitled "Educational projects in Chemnitz". Parents, school administrators, parent representatives and practical advisors are invited to the Stadtschaufenster from 5.30 pm to around 7.30 pm to find out how schools and companies can work together to shape education in a practical and future-oriented way and actively participate in the future education process. The focus will be on the "Business meets school" and "School meets business" projects, which provide children and young people with valuable insights into the world of work - an important contribution in view of the current challenges in the education system. Registration is possible until 11 May.

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VibroCut GmbH was honoured with the Audience Award for Best Start-Up 2024 at the prestigious "Factory of the Year" awards. This honour is one of the most important industry awards in Europe and recognises companies that impress with innovation, excellent processes and forward-looking strategies. VibroCut, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer IWU based at the Technology Centre Chemnitz, is a technology company that develops advanced solutions for industrial machining. Through the targeted use of vibrations in the low-frequency and ultrasonic range, the team pushes existing process boundaries, increases efficiency and process reliability and makes an important contribution to sustainable manufacturing. The award is an important milestone for VibroCut and an incentive to continuously develop the technology and actively shape the industrial production of the future. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

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The Chemnitz Region Hydrogen Alliance, which was founded last year, has achieved its first important goals. This was announced by the partners at a press conference on 15 April. In the first few months, a strong network of companies and politicians in the field of hydrogen infrastructure has already been established. One of the plans for this year is to strengthen the political work in order to strengthen and further develop Chemnitz as a leading centre of innovation. An important component of this is the establishment of the HIC - Hydrogen Innovation Centre at the Chemnitz Technology Campus.

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The "Robotics Saxony" innovation cluster was officially launched in Chemnitz on 2 April 2025. The Free State of Saxony is funding the development and work of the network, which currently has 66 partners, with around 2.8 million euros until the end of 2028. The aim is to create a central contact point for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) that supports companies, universities and other stakeholders in integrating the relevant technologies into applications and processes. The cluster is intended to help position Saxony as a leading centre of innovation in robotics and automation technology and increase its national and international visibility. The key players are the Chemnitz Institute of Mechanical and Plant Engineering (ICM e.V.), the Mechanical Engineering Association in Saxony/Thuringia (VEMAS e.V.) and Robot Valley Saxony. The Business division has endorsed the application for the innovation cluster in advance with a letter of intent. It will continue to actively accompany the cluster as a multiplier and support the transfer of technology to industry.

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Attention start-ups: The first international start-up festival will take place in Chemnitz from 19 to 22 June. The "Start-up Connect" programme focuses on the exchange between young companies from Chemnitz's partner cities and the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica/Gorizia. The four-day programme offers a wide range of opportunities for international networking, including company visits such as the Chemnitz Unicorn Staffbase as well as workshops, discussion formats and pitch sessions. Topics such as international funding, cooperation potential and the transfer of knowledge between start-ups and established companies are the focus of the programme. StartUp Connect is a joint project of the City of Chemnitz and Makers United and sees itself as a driving force for cross-border innovation culture.
Join in now and invite your international start-up contacts to Chemnitz! For further information, please contact Manuela Zenk.

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The Late Shift 2025 will take place on Friday, 14 November 2025 in Chemnitz, the Ore Mountains, Central Saxony and the Zwickau region. Companies wishing to take part in the Late Shift 2025 can now register via the website. The late shift enables visitors to gain direct insights into the working world of various companies during exclusive guided tours. For job seekers and career starters in particular, this is a valuable opportunity for career guidance and personal dialogue. The late shift will be taking place for the 15th time in 2025 and has established itself as a real success story. With its variety of participating companies, it attracts a broad target group. Last year, more than 4,600 visitors from over 100 participating companies set a new record for attendance. In cooperation with the Industrieverein Sachsen 1828 e.V., which is organising the 2nd Long Night of Training in Chemnitz on 12 September 2025, companies participating in BOTH formats will receive a 20% discount on the respective participation fee for both events.

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The Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Dr Volker Wissing, handed over the €84.4 million grant to HZwo and HIC Managing Director Karl Lötsch on 6 March 2025 in Berlin for the construction of the Hydrogen Innovation Center in Chemnitz. The official go-ahead for the HIC Hydrogen Innovation Centre was given with the handover of the funding decision. The HIC research and transfer centre at the Technology Campus in Chemnitz will officially start operations in summer 2025. The opening marks the start of the first support services for companies and research institutions.

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The circular economy conserves resources by reusing, repairing and recycling materials. This not only generates less waste, the circular economy also makes economic sense and secures competitive advantages because it reduces the need for expensive raw materials. This is why the EU and the Free State of Saxony are promoting the transition to a resource-efficient and low-emission circular economy. The Free State of Saxony grants subsidies of up to 70% for investments and non-investment measures for the transition from a waste-based economy to a resource-efficient and low-emission circular economy. The decisive factor is a reduction in resource consumption. Funding is available to companies, public waste management authorities, municipalities, municipal special-purpose associations as well as associations, clubs and non-profit organisations.

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From 25 April, the Chemnitz Industrial Museum invites you to the special exhibition "Tales of Transformation". This exhibition tells the stories of European industrial cities such as Chemnitz, Gabrowo, Łódź, Mulhouse, Tampere and Manchester. The focus is on the rise, fall and reinvention of these cities and the people who live and work there today. Digital extensions allow visitors to experience the past, present and future visions of these places in an immersive way. An extensive accompanying programme with guided tours, workshops, readings and concerts complements the exhibition and invites visitors to experience the transformation of European industrial cities at first hand.

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Chemnitz University of Technology is expanding its range of courses with an innovative Master's degree programme at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering that is unique in Germany. The focus is on the future topic of hydrogen - from production, storage and transport through to utilisation. The new degree programme focuses in particular on the engineering aspects of fuel cell and electrolyser components and associated system elements. The university's direct connection to the HIC Hydrogen Innovation Centre at the National Innovation and Technology Centre for Hydrogen means that students benefit from the transfer of the latest technologies into teaching.
The accreditation process is in its final stages, so that nothing stands in the way of the planned start in the coming winter semester 2025/2026.

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In the ranking of the online evaluation portal "StudyCheck.de", Chemnitz University of Technology achieved first place among German universities based on the very positive evaluations of its students and graduates. Chemnitz University of Technology is also the best state university in the "Digital Readiness" live ranking.

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According to the "Vital City Centres 2024" study by IFH Cologne, Chemnitz is one of the most attractive cities in its size category in Germany. With a school grade of 1.4, the city achieved the top position among cities with 200,000-500,000 inhabitants. Particularly pleasing: 62.2% of respondents rated the city centre as "very good" - a sharp increase compared to 2022 (20.1%). This is due to numerous measures such as new green spaces, modern lighting, revitalised pedestrian zones and a more diverse range of restaurants and events. 54% of respondents visit the city centre every day to shop and 72.1% would recommend it to others. Proof of what is possible when the city, business, retail and various initiatives work together.

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This year, the city of Chemnitz is organising the Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) together with the Fraunhofer IWU's Reference Factory.H2. The international event combines innovative technology with the promotion of young talent and offers a unique platform for young talents from all over the world. The 3rd National Hydrogen Grand Prix will kick off on 21 June 2025 in Chemnitz. School and university teams from all over Germany will compete against each other with self-developed, hydrogen-powered vehicles on a scale of 1:10. The winning teams will qualify for the world final in August. This will take place from 20 to 27 August 2025 at Kraftverkehr Chemnitz. Over 600 pupils and students from more than 30 nations are expected to compete in three racing categories. In addition to the exciting races, there will be an extensive accompanying programme, including workshops and a specialist platform that promotes exchange between industry, participants and visitors.
Your support is needed! In order to make this major event a success, we are looking for partners to support us financially or with ideas.

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This month, a new atmospheric light installation was installed in the area of Innere Klosterstraße / Börnichsgasse, creating a special atmosphere both during the day and at night. Illuminated spheres increase the quality of the area and improve the feeling of safety for visitors and residents of Chemnitz city centre. The decorative measure is financed by the city centre fund. In recent years, projects such as the "I love C" photo point, green seating elements and the colourful lampshades have already been implemented to sustainably enhance the city centre thanks to the City Centre Fund. Are you interested in making your company visible in Chemnitz City Centre? The Chemnitz City Initiative offers a wide range of opportunities for this.

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On 5 November 2014, the nationwide SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Deutschland network awarded this year's SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT prize "Making commitment visible" to the Chemnitz-based cooperation between the company FDTech GmbH and Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe-Gymnasium. They were honoured with 3rd place in the "Cooperation between schools and companies" category at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection in Berlin for their sustainable commitment to education in the "Business meets school" pilot project of the city of Chemnitz. "Business Meets School" is a project by the City of Chemnitz's Department of Economics to secure skilled labour in Chemnitz, which was launched at the start of the 2023/24 school year. Once a week, companies organise practical lessons based on the curriculum for classes from grade 7 upwards.

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The European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 has presented its programme for the coming year. Under the motto "C the Unseen", the Saxon city, together with 38 municipalities from the region, will present itself to its guests as a lively, hospitable and surprising place in eastern Germany, in the centre of Europe. The activities and sustainable projects for the Capital of Culture year and the future are the result of the commitment and participation of countless local players, including the city's cultural institutions as well as associations, democracy initiatives, young people, senior citizens, sports and community projects and international partners from 40 countries. Take a look at the homepage and start planning your Capital of Culture year 2025 now!

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An event that visualises the innovative power of SMEs in Chemnitz, inspires people and arouses technological curiosity. A festival that combines the spirit of our industrial culture with state-of-the-art technology and opens doors for the future - for young talents, experts and curious citizens alike. This is the vision for TECHNO CULTURA®, a unique festival that will take place for the first time in September 2025. Together with TechnoCultura gGmbH, we cordially invite you to gain exclusive insights into the preparations for this tech festival at the entrepreneur round table and give you the opportunity to actively participate in the organisation and position your company in an environment that combines technology, know-how and vision.

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Anyone looking for future skilled personnel must endeavour to acquire young talent and junior staff at an early stage. From 17 to 22 March 2025, companies from various sectors will once again open their doors and offer school pupils from Year 7 onwards practical insights into everyday working life. Small craft businesses and large industrial groups as well as social organisations, public authorities and hospitals will open their doors to young people to give them a vivid insight into industries, professions, fields of activity and everyday working life. Companies and organisations now have the opportunity to plan their events for the "Saxony Open Company Week" and publish them on the platform free of charge.

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The Late Shift 2024 will take place on Friday, 15 November 2024, in Chemnitz, the Erzgebirgskreis, Central Saxony and the district of Zwickau. Interested parties and visitors can now book free guided tours of the more than 100 participating companies online. Job seekers and interested parties can gain insights into companies and manufacturing companies during the late shift, talk to employees during factory tours and get to know companies from a wide range of industries up close.

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We cordially invite you to the next business round table at "Die Fabrik Chemnitz". Let's discuss the topic of "International skilled labour in Chemnitz" together. During the evening, the Welcome Centre team will present its services. We also want to be inspired by the experience reports of Chemnitz project organisers from the Skilled Labour Alliance who are involved in the recruitment of foreign skilled workers. You can also expect an overview of possible funding and support services and an example of best practice in the employment and integration of international skilled workers.

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IMK Engineering GmbH from Chemnitz was awarded the Saxon Milestone in the internal succession category at a ceremony on 1 October in the presence of Martin Dulig, current Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport and patron of the competition. Thomas Günther, Tino Münzner and Christian Schreiter tackled the succession at IMK Engineering GmbH as a well-rehearsed trio. Thanks to early planning, they were able to successfully master the change of ownership. Their investments in a new company building and technological progress are already paying off: The Chemnitz-based mechanical engineering company, which serves customers throughout Europe, has recently seen significant sales growth under their leadership.

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The Business division can look back on a successful visit to the most important trade fair in the property sector - Expo Real in Munich. Together with Lord Mayor Sven Schulze, we exhibited at the joint stand of the Free State of Saxony from 7 to 9 October. In numerous discussions with investors, we were able to convey a dynamic image of Chemnitz as a sustainably growing technology and industrial city. With informative presentations and creative contributions, we emphasised the potential of our city as a business location and European Capital of Culture 2025. We were also able to talk about important projects at investor meetings and arouse great interest in our city.

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A research team from Chemnitz University of Technology and Infineon has come out on top among 29 submissions and is among the final three nominees for the prestigious Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2024. Their groundbreaking development is revolutionising electricity transmission and storage. The modules developed enable enormous energy savings and open up new areas of application in fields such as electromobility and renewable energies. The nomination emphasises the global significance of the research results from Chemnitz, as the Deutscher Zukunftspreis is considered one of the most important science awards in Germany. The winner will be chosen by the Federal President on 27 November 2024. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the team from Chemnitz University of Technology and Infineon!

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The question of the future demand for hydrogen as an energy source is not easy to answer. This applies to entire regions as well as individual companies. In some cases, the costs and technical feasibility of a change in energy source are almost impossible to predict. In order to address these unanswered questions, the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce has commissioned DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH in Freiberg to conduct a scientific study. Every participant in the survey has the opportunity to take part in an initial consultation on hydrogen utilisation in the company by the experts at DBI. Further topics and requirements arising for the participants from the study will be addressed again in a separate event.

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As a result of the city of Chemnitz's lignite phase-out, funding is available from the European JTF fund in the "Regional Growth" programme for many sectors from trade, services and gastronomy. Investments of €20,000 or more are subsidised with 30% or up to 50% for company successions. Do the funding check at: www.sab.sachsen.de/regionales-wachstum. The programme will also be presented step by step in a webinar on 28 November at 4 pm.

The IHK Chemnitz will be happy to answer any questions on 0371 6911-1221 or -1310.

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The City of Chemnitz offers financial support for small companies based or planning to set up in the "Chemnitz Mitte", "Zwickauer Straße" and "Altchemnitz" development areas. The funding can amount to up to 40% of the eligible costs and is limited to a maximum of €25,000 per company. Funding is available, for example, for investments that serve to secure and expand the location or relocate to a new site in the subsidised area. Investments to introduce new production technologies or to create accessibility for employees and customers at the company's location are also subsidised. If you have planned investments, please contact us!

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Bremen-based aviation company Evia Aero has taken a significant step towards sustainable aviation: CEO Florian Kruse signed a contract for the construction of a photovoltaic system at Chemnitz-Jahnsdorf Airport. A solar plant will be built on an area of four hectares, which will generate up to four gigawatt hours of green electricity per year - enough to cover the needs of around 1,000 four-person households. The plant is part of a comprehensive energy system that will supply Chemnitz-Jahnsdorf Airport with climate-neutral electricity. Evia Aero is thus sending a clear signal for the future of sustainable aviation in Germany. We will keep you up to date on the progress of the project and the background.

The Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien e. V. (AEE) honoured the city of Chemnitz as Energy Community of the Month in August. The reason given was: "Chemnitz is broadly positioned when it comes to the use of renewable energies in all sectors. With the establishment of Chemnitz as part of the international innovation and technology centre for hydrogen, the continuous expansion of solar energy as well as projects for neighbourhood development and the expansion of the mobility offer, the municipality is consistently dedicated to continuous decarbonisation. "The award is under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.

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From now on, Chemnitz residents can apply for additional benefits easily, conveniently and digitally from the City of Chemnitz. The following new service categories are available as online application wizards:

- Applying for an exemption permit under road traffic law for craft businesses
- Driving ban on Sundays and public holidays: Apply for a special permit
- Applying for a parking permit for severely disabled persons (blue, orange and yellow parking permit) - Applying for residence permits, residence cards and residence-related certificates

All administrative services of the City of Chemnitz can be accessed via the service portal. The new online services are further building blocks in the implementation of the City of Chemnitz's "Digital Agenda".

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Interested parties had until 15 October 2024 to apply to run the restaurant in the "Stadtwirtschaft" on Sonnenberg. With 159 square metres of space for up to 40 guests and an outdoor area, the canteen is set to become a meeting place for creative people, local residents and guests of the Capital of Culture. As the Stadtwirtschaft is located in the ERDF subsidised area, the future restaurateurs can count on financial support to set up their future restaurant. A subsidy of 40 per cent of the furnishing costs (max. 25,000 euros funding) is possible. Interested restaurateurs were invited to apply and become part of this exciting project.

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On 3 September 2024, the business round table of the Business division took place in the H2 reference factory atFraunhofer IWU, where regional companies and representatives of chambers and associations discussed the potential ofhydrogen technologiesfor industry.

Silvana Bergkpresented current important impulses from the city, while Dr.-Ing. Ulrike Beyerhighlighted the opportunities for companies arising from the research and application of hydrogen in her presentation. Dipl.Ing. Sören Scheffler emphasised: "What is being researched today can be used by our industry tomorrow."

Companies from a wide range of sectors in the region took the opportunity to find out about the latest developments and challenges - from leading manufacturers of industrial components to experts in innovative vehicle technology and heat treatment.

The round table impressively demonstrated that hydrogen is a key technology for the future and offers enormous opportunities for the regional economy.

From 7 to 9 October 2024, the Business Division represented Chemnitz at Expo Real, Europe's largest real estate and investor trade fair, in Munich. You could meet us at the stand of the Free State of Saxony in Hall A2, Stand 320 and discover the opportunities in the European Capital of Culture 2025. The diverse forum programme at Saxony's joint stand was created under the motto "Building tomorrow". Lord Mayor Sven Schulze presented Chemnitz as a growing industrial and technology city.

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The signals for the establishment of the national hydrogen centre in the Chemnitz Technopark are "green". The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) and the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs (SMWA) signed the necessary administrative agreement in Chemnitz today. The federal government is supporting the "Hydrogen Innovation Centre" (HIC) project with 72.5 million euros. The Free State of Saxony is co-financing the construction phase of the HIC with around 15 million euros until 2028.

The construction of the HIC will create a development and test environment for hydrogen technologies in the region that is unique in Europe and combines the expertise of the region and the cluster under the umbrella of HZwo e.V.

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The Chemnitz economic region is pooling its interests in the field of hydrogen. The Chemnitz Region Hydrogen Alliance was established for this purpose. This represents the common interest of the member companies in connecting the region to the hydrogen core network. The 2nd annual meeting took place on 30 August. The focus of the event was on concepts for hydrogen utilisation at company level and the expected market development at European level.

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Especially in the area of congresses, events and leisure activities in our city, it unfortunately becomes clear time and again that taxi availability needs to be improved. With a view to the Capital of Culture year 2025, we would like to increase the presence of taxi providers in the city and improve the user-friendliness of the industry in Chemnitz. We want to remedy long waiting times or difficulties in finding a taxi, even at night, in order to increase customer satisfaction. By cooperating with the freenow platform, we will create an attractive and modern mobility service. The digital booking option provided by the app and the integration into Google Maps and other online services represent a decisive advantage.

Local taxi companies and self-employed drivers who would like to support the project can find information and register with freenow here. Additional taxi licences can also be applied for. Manuela Zenk will be happy to answer any questions on the subject.

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Small and medium-sized companies in Saxony can now apply for a subsidy for the recruitment and sustainable integration of international skilled workers and labour from third countries. The Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs has launched a new funding programme for this purpose. It applies to training and employment relationships that are contractually concluded with foreign skilled workers and young people from 1 July 2024.

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The successful concept of recruiting skilled labour at events will be continued and expanded this year. In addition to the Coming Home - Skilled Labour Exchange at the extended Christmas market, the Business division offered companies the opportunity to recruit skilled workers and employees at the popular Chemnitz Wine Festival for the first time this summer. This opportunity was well utilised.

Registrations are still possible for the skilled labour exchange at the Christmas market.

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This year's late shift will take place on 15 November 2024. Registration for companies was possible until 31 August 2024. Would you like to present your company and your daily work to interested visitors and potential employees and trainees? Then the late shift is the perfect opportunity to do so. Around 4,500 guests took part in the free guided tours last year and gained interesting insights behind the scenes of the participating companies.
We would like to thank our sponsor GGG - Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft mbH for their support in preparing and organising the Spätschicht 2024.

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On 30 May 2024, the city of Chemnitz presented itself for the first time at Real Estate Mitteldeutschland in Leipzig. The team from the business division had its own stand and pursued two key objectives: effective location marketing and attracting new investors. As part of the congress programme, which had the motto "Hidden Potentials - the added value of regional site development", Silvana Bergk, Head of the Business division, presented the district development of the city of Chemnitz, highlighting the diverse potential and opportunities that the region offers. In the discussions held, Chemnitz was also positioned as an attractive location for investment.

Finding out about current topics in Chemnitz's economy, exchanging ideas and initiating new projects together - around 40 guests took advantage of the invitation from the Business division to the business round table at the Carlowitz Congress Centre on 28 May 2024. In addition to the presentation of a new pilot project in the area of "School - Business", initial information on the planned "Tech Festival" 2025 was provided alongside numerous other topics.

On 30 May, key players from the real estate industry, science and administration came together at Real Estate Central Germany in Leipzig's Messehaus to discuss current challenges facing the real estate industry. Guests were given a comprehensive overview of the Central German real estate market in a packed conference programme. Silvana Bergk, Head of the Business Division, was on hand to answer questions on the podium on the topic of "Hidden potentials and the added value of regional property development". The Economic Development Agency also presented Chemnitz as an exhibitor in order to strengthen its presence in the property sector, open up new business opportunities and successfully position our city.

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The European Capital of Culture is picking up speed and the programme with its more than 1000 events is taking shape. To ensure that you and your employees don't miss anything, the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH is providing a free digital information kit for internal corporate communications. The information kit bundles all current flyers and event posters for you and is updated monthly. To get access to the kit, please register with your company name and contact person at partner@chemnitz2025.de.

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The city of Chemnitz will be enriched by a culinary highlight. Just in time for the start of the Capital of Culture year, the brand restaurant L'Osteria will open its first location in Chemnitz on the ground floor of the Rosenhof 4 building. After many intensive discussions over the past few months, the business division and GGG as the city's landlord have found a good solution with the future operator in the challenging city centre location to establish L'Osteria in Chemnitz. The opening will create a total of 40 jobs in the kitchen, bar and service areas. In addition, four new positions will be created in restaurant management.

On-site career guidance: Industrieverein Sachsen 1828 e.V. organised the Long Night of Apprenticeships for Chemnitz and the region for the first time this year. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 27 September 2024, companies from various sectors opened their doors to pupils from year 7 and above and their companions, presenting them with training opportunities, internships and BA degree programmes and giving them an insight into the company. Companies wishing to take part in the Long Night of Training could register here until 31 May 2024.

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Want to see in advance online - via smartphone, for example - whether and where there are still spaces available in a car park? This is now possible in Chemnitz at four different car parks in the city thanks to a built-in sensor system!
The car parks are so-called Park & Ride car parks and are located at public transport interchanges. Particularly in view of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, this is intended to make it easier for guests and locals to use Park & Ride car parks if they can see the current occupancy status at any time.
The occupancy status is recorded seamlessly with the installed sensor technology. The data collected on car park occupancy is displayed on a map in real time.

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The city will change in the coming years, as the European Capital of Culture 2025 is also an urban development project that now involves an investment of over 60 million euros. Places will be transformed in very different ways on a total of 30 so-called intervention areas. In the coming weeks, a series of construction measures will begin, primarily under the title "Public Squares" in the areas of the citizens' platforms or the neighbourhoods, but other areas of the "City by the River" are also taking shape.

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On 15 May 2024, the TUCconnect Spring careers fair attracted students from Saxon universities, graduates and anyone interested in starting a career. Companies had the opportunity to present themselves to interested young talent directly on the Chemnitz University of Technology campus.

Funding is still available here: Investment projects to increase adaptability and competitiveness can be subsidised through the "Regional Growth" guideline. The "Business Angel Bonus" offers start-up support for innovative start-ups in the early stages.

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