Industry you can touch

Katrin Hoffmann

Next Wednesday, 16 May, the Day of Industry and Science will take place at Chemnitz University of Technology. At the meeting of entrepreneurs, scientists and students, young people will be shown prospects in Saxon industry. The Managing Director of Industrieverein Sachsens 1828 e. V., Katrin Hoffmann, has not only helped to organise this event. The recent Maker Faire Saxony also offered a colourful mix of creativity and entrepreneurship. The communications graduate left Santiago de Chile 14 years ago to join the Saxony Industry Association, which is based in Chemnitz. She tells us what makes Chemnitz so attractive for companies and start-ups in our Maker of the Week interview.

As co-organiser of the Maker Faire Saxony, how would you sum up the last Maker Faire Saxony?
Katrin Hoffmann: It was a very successful event, which we held for the second time together with the Kreatives Chemnitz association, the CWE and the C³ event centres. Next year, on 23 and 24 March, the Maker Faire Saxony will take place again. Chemnitz is a particularly good choice. On the one hand, there is a good start-up landscape, many tinkerers and inventors are here, and on the other hand, we also have an active industry that is very involved. This has given us a unique selling point in Chemnitz. The Maker Faires take place all over the world and we are well on the way to establishing the event as a permanent fixture in Chemnitz.

Why is the environment for makers in Chemnitz particularly good?
Historically, Chemnitz has always been a city that has produced many innovations and was home to many creative people. This development has continued to the present day.

Which idea or project has stuck in your mind?
For example, there was a hydraulics company that introduced a pipe bending machine. This is a large machine that can be used to bend pipes. Children and adults were then able to bend their own coat hanger in a fun way and take it home with them. They could do it themselves. The children had to adjust everything themselves to produce their own hanger. This is exactly what we want to achieve: Children and young people should come into contact with technology, science and crafts before they think about their career aspirations and perhaps discover their enthusiasm for them. For girls in particular, it is very important that they do not become shy of technology.

What trends emerged at the Maker Faire Saxony?
We had various sectors represented on site. On the one hand, there were of course many offers in the field of 3D printing, robotics and sensor technology. On the other hand, the Chemnitz Chamber of Crafts presented the craft of planing in order to showcase the origins of the craft. The main premise was to make everything tangible.

A co-operation between the inventor Conrad Koczielski and the electrical company WIR Elektronik resulted in a level measuring device for rivers. As an industrial association, how do you get involved in such collaborations?
Through the Maker Faire, such connections often develop on their own as people approach each other and network. We provide contacts and promote networks. As an industrial association, we also want to promote young talent and secure the skilled labour needs of our member companies. The Maker Faire, for example, is a wonderful format to get children and young people interested in technology on the one hand and to connect the cultural and creative industries with local industrial companies on the other.

On the Day of Industry and Science on 16 May, it is precisely these collaborations that are promoted. What is your aim with the event?
In contrast to the Maker Faire, we primarily want to promote young academics at the Day of Industry and Science. We go directly into the university environment to establish close contact. Among other things, we award ten Germany Scholarships at the evening event. These not only include financial support, but also access to our network. This gives the scholarship holders the opportunity to meet managing directors and board members in person. In addition, the TUConnect company contact fair will take place at the same time in the Orangery of Chemnitz University of Technology. Companies from Central Germany will be offering jobs and advice there. We as the Saxony Industry Association will also be offering speed dating from 11 am to 1 pm: Students and entrepreneurs will talk for three minutes to get to know each other and make initial contact. Perhaps one or two students will even find their first job there.

At the evening ceremony, you will announce the winner of this year's "Richard Hartmann" award. Can you already tell us something about the prizewinner?
The prize has been awarded for 14 years and is endowed with €5,000. It honours a scientific achievement that has a very high practical relevance. It is best if the scientific results have already been put into practice and have a high degree of novelty. We have already selected a winner, but I won't reveal who. But I can say this much: it's a piece of work that has a very strong practical relevance, which has even led to the development of a new company.

How do you currently rate the relationship between industry and science in Chemnitz?
Cooperation between industry and universities and colleges generally works very well in Saxony. In Chemnitz, too, there are numerous collaborations and research projects between the university and industrial companies. The Saxon economy also benefits from the many start-ups that develop primarily from the university sector. Networking between young and established companies is therefore particularly important to us: established companies can see what is happening on the market in terms of innovation, while young companies can utilise the experience and advice of "older" companies. Ultimately, the aim is to turn young start-ups into established companies that are and remain local. The driving force must come from the city itself.

Chemnitz is a suitable size for the start-up scene: there are the well-known advantages of a large city, such as a well-developed infrastructure, but at the same time the city has only a few of the disadvantages of a large city. There are, for example, the short distances - both in terms of space and content. The city also offers plenty of room for new ideas. "Good conditions for start-ups," says Katrin Hoffmann. "The Smart System Campus is a good example. The young companies benefit from the close proximity to the university and the Fraunhofer Institutes." Hands-on industry. Despite all the digitalisation and social media possibilities, direct communication is still very important. Katrin Hoffmann's wish for the future of industry in Chemnitz is therefore not surprising.

Chemnitz is applying to be European Capital of Culture 2025, what would you like to see by then?
A science park in the city centre that would enable many people to work together would be very good for Chemnitz. A kind of Fab Lab on a grand scale. A space with a wide variety of machines and devices that not everyone buys themselves, but which can be used jointly to perhaps produce prototypes, try out new technologies and develop new products from them. Creative people, engineers and artists can come together and work together. This can create a productive link between art, creative industries and industry. That would suit Chemnitz well.