On May 28th of this year, the "Polish-German Meeting on the Future" took place at Startblock B2 in Cottbus, with the participation of 90 representatives from business, academia, administration, and politics. The meeting focused on the potential of the border region and the possibilities for dialogue and networking on both sides of the Neisse River.

Lubusz Voivode Marek Cebula emphasized the importance of the regions, while Dr. Klaus Freytag, Commissioner for Lusatia for the Brandenburg Prime Minister, Jobst-Hinrich Ubbelohde, State Secretary for European Affairs in Brandenburg, and Tobias Schick, Mayor of the City of Cottbus, highlighted the need to develop the border region with a 360-degree perspective.

Faced with challenges such as moving away from coal, demographic changes, healthcare, and climate neutrality, the meeting focused on three key areas of the future:

Key technologies in Lubusz and Lusatia - presented by Prof. Dr. Michael Hübner from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and Prof. Dr. Justyna Patalas-Maliszewska from the University of Zielona Góra. A model region for cross-border healthcare - discussed by Sebastian Scholl from the Carl-Thiem Hospital in Cottbus and Dr. hab. Mariusz Naczka from the Collegium Medicum of the University of Zielona Góra. Securing skilled workforce on both sides of the Neisse - presented by Thomas Berlin from the Lusatian Economic Region (WRL) and Jarosław Nieradka from the Employers' Organization of the Lubusz Land (OPZL). Proposals included a shared transfer database, more joint doctoral programs, final theses and internships, coordinated simulation centers, strengthening cooperation in rehabilitation, rescue services, and physiotherapy, as well as exchanging experiences regarding skilled workforce.

The potential of the "Net Zero Valley" at the border and the EU project INTERREG "Lubusz-Brandenburg INTERCONNECTION" were presented during a panel discussion. The event was supported by the Lusatia Commissioner, Dr. Klaus Freytag, the Lusatia Economic Region, Europe Direct Zielona Góra, and the Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober.

Photographs: A. Franke