On 3rd December 2013 the Baden-Württemberg State Minister Winfried Kretschmann accompanied by Theresia Bauer, Minister for Science, Research and Art, visited the University of Stuttgart. The main focus for the visit was informative talks with scientists on the diversity of sustainable research at the University of Stuttgart. In addition current university topics were discussed. Students also participated in the dialogue, which took place in the International Meeting Centre of the University on the Vaihingen Campus.
The members of the Rector’s Office of the University of Stuttgart discussed the university part of the discussion between the university and the State Ministry as well as the Science Ministry with Winfried Kretschmann and Theresia Bauer regarding the Solidarity Pact III, the amendment of the State University Law as well as the university’s capacity to plan, build and finance construction projects. In so doing Prof. Wolfram Ressel, Rector of the University, welcomed the commitment of the Ministry for Science, Research and Art Baden-Württemberg in the field of research funding, in particular with a view to a sustainable development. However, research for sustainability can only be successful if appropriate financial framework conditions are in place. The peak figures for applications at the University of Stuttgart for the winter semester 2013/14 have shown emphatically that a capacity limit has been reached. “Excellent research and excellent teaching are inseparable. A further increase in the number of students can only be accompanied by an additional building extension“, according to Wolfram Ressel.
“Universities bear great responsibility for a sustainable development in all social areas and correspondingly for the innovative capability of the state“, is how State Minister Winfried Kretschmann explained the situation. “They dedicate themselves to urgent questions of our time and act as sources of inspiration. The State of Baden-Württemberg is therefore proving to be a reliable partner of the universities“.
“Increasingly new records in terms of the number of students mean an enormous task that cannot be mastered without the universities being adequately financed. We will take this into account in the negotiations for the successor of the Solidarity Pact II. In future, however, we will pay greater attention to quality rather than quantity aspects", said Minister Theresia Bauer.
Rector Prof. Wolfram Ressel underlined the high level of basic research at the University of Stuttgart compared to international standards and introduced the scientific focal points “ Organisation - Technology - Behaviour“, “Information Processing and Information Transfer“, E-Mobility and renewable energies“, “E-Humanities“ as well as “Cybernetic Methods and Simulation Technology“.
Prof. Ortwin Renn, Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Stuttgart, underlined in his contribution the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation, particularly in research projects requiring sustainable development: “Researching the interactions between technological development, organisational control and individual resp. collective behaviour is important. A new platform has been created within the University of Stuttgart with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Research (ZIRIUS), where basic research and applied research on the interaction between technical and social change have found their home. Another example is the newly created Helmholtz Alliance to research the turnaround in energy policy, an initiative by four Helmholtz centres, three universities and an extramural research centre. Together with KIT in Karlsruhe, the University of Stuttgart the coordinate this major project in which over 80 scientists from around 12 disciplines jointly research the interaction between technology, organisation and behaviour”, according to Ortwin Renn.
Prof. Jörg Wrachtrup, 3rd Institute of Physics at the University of Stuttgart, reported from the
field of Quantum Computing and Communication: “Our research is aiming towards a completely new and
highly efficient method to process and transfer information.
The applications, however, are not only restricted to this area but also cover sensor
technology up to medical diagnostics, imaging as well as early detection of illnesses, such as,
e.g. cancer.“
Prof. Nejila Parspour, Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion at the University of Stuttgart, provided an overview of the latest developments in E-Mobility: “Our Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion, which is growing rapidly at the moment, is researching the development of highly efficient motors and generators as well as cable-free inductive energy transfer systems. Our basic research focuses on modelling and optimising energy converters. The results of this work flow into innovative and practical developments such as, for example, inductive charging systems and wheel hub drives for electrical vehicles as well as energy-optimised, robust drives for wind energy systems and industrial automation“, according to Nejila Parspour.
Prof. Sandra Richter, Institute of Literature Studies at the University of Stuttgart,
reported on the opportunities of the digitalisation of cultural goods in terms of texts: “Texts are
useful, beautiful and worth preserving, most of them anyway. Their sustainable development in their
material and digital, globally visible form is our most important goal.“
Prof. Frank Allgöwer, Institute of Systems Theory and Control Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, subsequently highlighted once again the value of the close link between basic research and applied research and, among others, pointed out the successes of the interdisciplinary excellence cluster “Simulation Technology“. “As a result of the close cooperation between engineers, natural and social scientists in the excellence cluster, questions of sustainability can be observed from a system perspective. This enables holistic solutions, for example in connection with smart energy distribution systems or in the environmental field“, added Allgöwer and also emphasised that cybernetic approaches are also of significant importance in the field of life sciences, health research or medical technology: “The progress in the field of system biology verify this emphatically. The pioneer in this field here in Stuttgart is the Stuttgart Research Centre for Systems Biology.“
Further information:
Dr. Hans-Herwig Geyer, University of Stuttgart, Head of University Communication and Press
Spokesperson,
Tel. 0711/685-82555, Email: hans-herwig.geyer [at] hkom.uni-stuttgart.de