Visit by State Secretary Sebastian Scheel

At the beginning of the exchange, PTS Managing Director Dr. Thorsten Voß highlighted the central role of our science and technology location for the Saxon, national, and European paper industry. PTS sees itself as a link between research and industrial application and, through its work, makes a significant contribution to the innovation and competitiveness of the industry.

Heiko Zien, Managing Director of the Verband Nord- und Ostdeutscher Papierfabriken (VNOP), then gave an overview of the current situation and prospects for the industry. Topics discussed included economic conditions, transformation processes, and the importance of reliable innovation policy structures.

The following dialogue on economic, research, and innovation policy issues was valuable for all participants. The focus was particularly on the specific requirements and opportunities of a research-intensive location in a structurally weak region. It became clear how important long-term planning security, targeted funding instruments, and close networking between politics, research, and industry are.

During a tour through our pilot plants, laboratories, and Development of Measuring Systems, State Secretary Scheel gained comprehensive insight into our technical infrastructure, our current research projects, and our services for industrial partners.

We would like to thank the State Ministry for visiting and taking an interest in our institution.