Lichtgedanken 02

Editorial 7 02 | LICHT GEDANKEN Functional glass The Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) is supporting Slovakian partners in Trenčín in setting up a European research centre for high-performance glass »Centre for Functional and Surface-Functionalized Glas- ses«, or »FunGlass«, is the name given to a project worth €25 million which is to establish a centre of excellence in Tren č ín in Slovakia to research new glass materials. Scientists at the FSU are playing a central role in setting up this centre. Fun- Glass is supported by the European Commission as part of its »Widening Participation« Initiative (TEAMING, Horizon 2020) with €15 million. The Slovakian government is provi- ding a further €10 million. With this funding measure, the EU is aiming to set up po- werful research centres in member states with a weak scien- tific and technological base. Throughout the process, these countries are to be supported by excellent partners from the European centres with the strongest research activity. The FunGlass project team was able to prevail with its concept against stiff competition: A mere 10 centres across Europe are receiving funding in this pilot phase while there were applications from 169 consortia. New functionalities enable new applications — in solar cells or medical engineering Research is focusing on the functional characteristics of glass and its use in new applications. The new centre is primarily to conduct research into how glass characteristics change, for example, by varying its chemical composition, thereby enabling new functionalities to be created. Possible areas of application include solar power and medical engineering. Prof. Dr Lothar Wondraczek from the Chair of Glass Che- mistry II – Laboratory of Glass Science is taking on the lea- ding role in setting up the »Functional Glass« Department which, together with subjects such as Biomaterials, Material Processing and Coatings, forms one of the five departments at the centre. AB The value of the FSU Independent study determines the significance of the university for the regional economy of the Free State of Thuringia Special glass block with special optical characteristics and a grid model on which the glass chemists with Prof. Wondraczek are conducting research. News While private investors have scarcely any chance now of growing their wealth meaningfully, the State has things better. Universities generate €190 bn per year as demons- trated by the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of the Sciences and Humanities in Germany in 2013. A stu- dy conducted by the consultancy company »DIW Econ« belonging to the German Institute for Economic Re- search in Berlin, has now proved the value the Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) has for Thuringia. €1 becomes €2.50 Every euro of state funds invested by the Free State of Thuringia generates economic output in the region worth €2.50. This, in summary, is the result of extensive inves- tigations. The university creates this additional economic output as an employer, trainer and investor. It is therefore an important economic factor in the region and contri- butes emphatically to a very good employment situation. In 2013, the FSU’s direct and indirect value added effect and employment impact (excl. the hospital) totalled €274 million and 5,262 persons in employment in the Free Sta- te. Regional purchasing power also improved as a result with the result that there was greater demand for goods and services. This stimulated additional value added of €79.1 million via so-called »induced effects« which is as- sociated with a further 1,770 persons in employment. The additional tax revenue in Thuringia alone that is due to the FSU, comes to a total of €46.5 million. Central role in the innovation system The important role of the FSU in the Free State, however, goes beyond the direct effects which are relatively easy to quantify in monetary terms. The FSU produces innova- tions and technological progress and – with its smart minds from all over the world – plays a central role in the innovation system in the Jena region. Here, it represents the internationallyvisible anchor point, the effect ofwhich is to inspire the numerous non-university research insti- tutes and companies and to promote spin-offs of innova- tive companies thanks to numerous patent applications. However, as the authors of the study underline, the ef- fects of research and teaching activity at the University of Jena as part of the regional system of innovation, can only be quantified approximately. AB