Page 11 - ILK Research Report 2020

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that transfers the results directly into practice," clarifies point for the future approach of the Free State in the area
Prof. Lothar Kroll, Head of the Department of Lightweight of lightweight engineering.
Structures and Polymer Technology at Technische Univer-
sität Chemnitz. Science minister Sebastian Gemkow adds Saxony's minister of economics and labor, Martin Dulig,
another aspect: "Not only the development of lightweight emphasizes: "Lightweight engineering is a key technology
products or materials is an important concern of Saxon that is particularly important in view of the greater energy
research and companies, but also the disposal and recy- and material efficiency that is being sought in many areas.
cling is increasingly coming into focus. That is why recycling In Saxony, we have the best prerequisites for exploiting
management in lightweight engineering has also become this potential. The master plan shows ways in which this
a key issue. I anticipate numerous new research projects potential can be exploited even better in the future. The
in this area on the part of the Lightweight Engineering exchange between companies, as well as between indus-
Alliance, supported by its partners in non-university re- try and research, is important in order to generate added
search and industry." value in Saxony and create jobs in the medium and long
term as well."
Networking of small and medium-sized enterprises
beneficial More training opportunities for professionals

Around 90 percent of the business representatives sur- As the study also shows, Saxony already lacks skilled work-
veyed as part of the study consider the expansion of the ers with specific lightweight engineering knowledge. In
lightweight engineering product portfolio to be central to contrast, the respondents rate the training of both skilled
opening up new markets. Nevertheless, the mostly small workers and university graduates in the state as compre-
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in lightweight en- hensive. The SME representatives in the sector also agree
gineering identify clear challenges in market access. The that the migration of skilled workers to other regions
respondents see a need for optimization particularly with should be counteracted. They also say that continuing
regard to the application of new findings from research, education programs for immigrants do not yet meet the
but also with regard to central coordination and the ex- needs of the business community.
ternal presentation of the industry. In addition, according
to the study, risks in the company's own research and de- Prof. Hubert Jäger, board member of the Institute of Light-
velopment are difficult to calculate from the company's weight Engineering and Polymer Technology at the TU
point of view, so that the transfer of research results from Dresden, emphasizes that "even in times of high eco-
research institutes and universities plays a special role. logical social orientation, lightweight engineering is not
This, according to the study, represents a central starting a matter of course across all corporate hierarchies and

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