4R Institutes at the Parliamentary Evening of the Leibniz Association in Berlin

Bringing together science, politics and research administration - this is a major objective of the Parliamentary Evenings of the Leibniz Association. The title of this year's event which took place in Berlin on May 11, 2005 was "Research for and in Europe - The Leibniz Association in the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission." About 200 guests, among them many members of the German Bundestag and representatives of ministries, were welcomed by Hans-Olaf Henkel, the president of the Leibniz Association. The evening was an opportunity for the guests to talk to scientists, to exchange ideas about research perspectives and above all, to get to know the institutes of the Leibniz Association including their research and service facilities. Twenty institutions of the Leibniz Association had the opportunity to present their main research areas and projects at exhibition stands.

Gäste am 4R-Stand
Picture: Guests at the 4R exhibition stand.]
The four Leibniz institutes involved in spatial science (ARL, IfL, IOER and IRS) took part in the Parliamentary Evening and organised a joint exhibition stand. Each of the four institutions presented a project which was related to Europe or to spatial development on a European scale or that is financed by the EU - e. g. by the 6th Framework Programme. The ARL presented results of the joint work group "Chances of the EU enlargement for East Germany" consisting of work groups of the Federal States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It was clearly stated that the EU enlargement does not only mean risks but above all chances for regional development in East Germany. The presentation was a plea for an activating economic policy - particularly in border regions. Furthermore, potentials and chances of cross-border planning procedures were illustrated. The projects of the other 4R institutes were concerned, among others, with the use of bio mass as a driving force of sustainable development and with methods and instruments to improve quality of life in town districts with major environmental, economic, social and town-planning problems. Another project dealt with the restructuring of large housing estates in connection with recent demographic changes.

In their speeches Hans-Olaf Henkel and Dr. Peter Dröll, Head of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Science and Research, praised the effectiveness and achievement potential of the Leibniz Institutions. Leibniz Institutes were an indispensable part of the scientific community and convinced with their thematic breadth and a network that connects basic with application-oriented working methods. They would cover topics of social relevance on the highest level. The visitors of the parliamentary evening in Berlin convinced themselves of these abilities of the Leibniz Association.

Andreas Klee, ARL
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