The Science Day of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region attracted around 550 visitors under the motto “Resources for resources for tomorrow and today – a roadmap for a secure future” attracted around 550 visitors to the Hof University of Applied Sciences. Representatives from the worlds of science, business and politics discussed hot topics relating to resource efficiency, sustainability and innovation.
The program highlighted the region’s innovative strength and showed the way to a more sustainable future more sustainable future. Hof hosted the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region Science Day for the second time. The event highlighted the region’s scientific expertise and showed different perspectives on the topics of the future. The event was hosted by Hof University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Sciences for the Civil Service in Bavaria together with the city of Hof and the districts of Hof and Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, President of Hof University of Applied Sciences, was visibly satisfied:
The Science Day at Hof University of Applied Sciences was a complete success. Together, we were able to make it clear how the challenges of the present can be met and the foundations laid for a resource-oriented future for humanity. I would like to thank everyone involved in the organization, but above all the many visitors who made this day a memorable date in the history of our university.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, President of the University
The exchange of science with politics and business is a central building block for the region’s Innovative strength of the region, which was recently confirmed by the EU Commission’s award as an “EU Regional Innovation Valley”.
With around 100,000 students, 21 universities, more than 50 research institutions, numerous global market leaders and hidden champions and close links between industry and research, the metropolitan region is one of Europe’s leaders when it comes to innovation. The Science Day here in Hof has once again proven to be a crystallization point for exchange and initiatives.”
Dr. Oliver Bär, Political Spokesman of the Science Forum of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region
and District Administrator of the District of Hof
What are the resources of tomorrow?
The ability to innovate was one of many facets, alongside other promising aspects such as digital knowledge or Sustainability skills, was one of many facets of the topic “Resources of tomorrow and today” today”. This also became clear in the other presentations at the opening, where different Perspectives were highlighted in three high-caliber keynotes. The Bavarian Science Minister Markus Blume focused in particular on innovative strength:
From the Beheim globe to the MP3 format – what earth-shattering development will come next from the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region? One thing is certain: it will come! Because great passion meets great ideas here. The innovative strength of the metropolitan region is twice as high as the German average. Challenges meet solutions here. And we are giving this spirit a strong tailwind: almost one in three professorships in our Hightech Agenda Bayern is based in the metropolitan region. We are investing more in science and research than ever before. Because one thing is clear to us: innovation is the key to a bright future.”
Markus Blume, Bavarian Minister of State for Science and the Arts
The keyword innovation was also addressed by Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry Association, also picked up on innovation in her keynote speech on the future of the German automotive industry:
The future of mobility will be climate-neutral, digital and networked. The German automotive industry is working hard, investing heavily and showing great commitment to achieve this. At the same time, politicians are failing to create the right framework conditions. Among other things, we need more speed in expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, lower energy prices, more commodity agreements and energy partnerships as well as a nationwide 5G network.”
Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry
Another highlight was the keynote speech by Dr. Martin Radenz, a native of Hof, who is investigating influences on cloud formation at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Leipzig and spent a year at the German polar station Neumayer III to do so. With the data obtained, his team is trying to understand how clouds form and how they influence our weather and climate:
The ocean around Antarctica has absorbed much of the additional heat, while at the same time, less sea ice was observed in 2023 than ever before. So far, there is hardly any data on how clouds and snowfall behave in the Antarctic winter. The observations we have collected allow us to gain detailed insights into these processes for the first time.”
Dr. Martin Radenz, climate researcher
In the afternoon, the audience was able to experience the full diversity of the topic in six specialist panels. The panels introduced different fields of action and research and answered questions such as Questions such as: What infrastructure measures are necessary for a rapid energy transition? How can universities contribute their knowledge even better to society? How can Innovations become even more effective through internationalization? How can current research trends have a practical impact? Why can the goal of tomorrow’s resource efficiency only be achieved through research? And how can sustainability be incorporated into municipal budgets?
Eva Döhla, Mayor of the City of Hof, also emphasized the diversity of the panels and looked back on the successful event:
‘The specialist panels successfully reflect the multi-faceted scientific landscape in Hof as well as the metropolitan region. In order to translate these scientific findings into innovative applications and products, exchange and encounters are very important. The Science Day offers exactly the right platform for this and the city of Hof will be happy to host it again in the coming years.”
Eva Döhla, Mayor of the City of Hof
At the end of the Science Day, there was the opportunity to discuss the day’s topics at the pub quiz organized by the metropolitan region projects Cleantech-Kompetenz, transform_EMN and Climate Pact2030plus in a playful way. Afterwards, the proverbial baton was handed over by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Lehmann to the next hosts: The 18th Science Day will take place in Amberg on Friday, July 11, 2025.
