1. OPEN INNOVATION CALL

Apply now until 09.01.2026

The Instituto de Tecnologías Limpias (ITL) in Antofagasta, Chile, is a leading research and innovation center for CO₂-low mining and energy transition. With the „First Open Innovation Call 2025“ ITL is looking for national and international organisations that develop innovative solutions for 17 industry challenges.

Thematic Focus Areas:

Sustainable copper mining
Tailings management
Efficiency improvement of flotation and leaching
Emissions and dust control
In-situ leaching and primary sulfide leaching
Decarbonization of energy-intensive processes
Digital energy management
Storage and charging systems
Electromobility and hydrogen technologies
Operation, cleaning of PV systems, and grid stabilisation through retrofitting fossil power plants

Objective: Development, testing, and scaling of new technologies for resource- and climate-friendly value chains.

Eligibility: Organizations and legal entities worldwide.

Application: exclusively online via the ITL website: https://itlchile.com/en/desafios/

Application deadline: January 9, 2026, 11:59 PM

For inquiries, please contact with the subject "ITL Open Innovation Call" in English or Spanish at contacto@itlchile.com

The BTU receives a center for structural change and regional development

At the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Center for Structural Change and Regional Development (ZeStuR), funded by federal resources from the Structural Strengthening Act with 16 million euros, will begin its work in November 2025. There, research will be conducted on how economic and social structural change can succeed.

PRESS RELEASE: MinGenTec honours winners of "Lausitz Goes International 2025"

At this year’s MinGenTec networking event, the winners of the “Internationalisation Oscar” were honored:

1st Place (€ 15,000): Wankel Aviation GmbH from Cottbus, specializing in hybrid-electric propulsion systems for drones and light aircraft.

2nd Place (each € 10,000): GICON®-Großmann Ingenieur Consult GmbH from Dresden, providing sustainable engineering and planning services domestically and internationally, and

G&B Automatisierungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG from Elsterwerda, a leading provider of automation software and international projects.

The prize money is intended to specifically support the winners in their international initiatives.

2nd Cottbus Procurement Conference: “A blockbuster" for public contracts.

Companies receive a quick overview in pitch mode of around 400 planned public contracts for 2026 in Cottbus and Spree-Neisse.

Additionally, the Brandenburg Contract Advisory Centre provides information on new procurement regulations from 2025 and is available for questions. The conference offers transparency, compact knowledge, and direct contact with contracting authorities – a valuable opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises to secure contract opportunities in Lusatia at an early stage.

The 2nd Procurement Conference Cottbus & SPN is an event of EGC Economic Development Cottbus & Partner IHK Cottbus, Economic Development Land Brandenburg GmbH, and HWK Cottbus.

Register now - places are limited!

New Markets. New Opportunities. For Your Company.

PRESS RELEASE

The Lusatian network initiative MinGenTec aims to attract companies for internationalisation, innovation, and networking through a marketing campaign. The network seeks to advance structural change in the region.

Brandenburg Innovation Award 2025

Brandenburg Innovation Award 2025: Five innovative projects have been honoured with the prestigious award

On Thursday, 10th July 2025, the Brandenburg Innovation Award was presented during the "Cross Cluster Conference on Sustainable Production 2025" at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Minister of Economic Affairs Keller awarded three companies for their innovations.

Female Energy Award

The Female Energy Award (FEA) powered by enviaM will be awarded for the first time this year as part of the Tech-Convent Decarbon Days in Cottbus/Lausitz. It honors women from the new federal states with special professional commitment to clean energy and industry. The award stands for innovation, commitment, and creativity and is part of the Decarbon Days 2025. Applications are possible until June 9, 2025 !

Happy winners in the competition "Lausitz Goes International" announced

The three winners of the competition "Lausitz Goes International," which was announced by the MinGenTec network ("Mining and Generation Technology") in the autumn, have been determined: the companies Drohnen Expertise Solutions GmbH from Finsterwalde (1st place), pyropower GmbH from Cottbus (2nd place), and CESS Clean Energy System Solutions GmbH from Berlin (3rd place) impressed the five-member jury with their concepts for tapping into foreign markets and will receive prize money totaling 30,000 euros. The awarded companies focused on markets such as Poland, Great Britain, France, the USA, and the United Arab Emirates.

PRESS RELEASE: MinGenTec Ideas Competition 'Lausitz Goes International'

MinGenTec calls on small and medium-sized enterprises in the network to participate in the ideas competition 'Lausitz Goes International' for entry into foreign business: There are three prize amounts of 15,000 euros for 1st place, 10,000 euros for 2nd place, and 5,000 euros for 3rd place.

PRESS RELEASE 'MinGenTec strengthens companies in the Lusatia region'

The MinGenTec initiative (Mining & Generation Technology – Made in Germany) supports companies in the Lusatia region in their international orientation against the backdrop of the lignite phase-out. The first market entry check was successfully completed at the end of May. This enables G & B Automatisierungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG to realize its potential in the French market.

PRESS RELEASE: "MinGenTec Initiative Sets Standards at 'MINGENTEC MEETS SCIENCE' at Hannover Messe 2024"

On April 24, 2024, the Mining & Generation Technology Initiative (MinGenTec) invited attendees to an event at Hannover Messe 2024: 'MINGENTEC MEETS SCIENCE' drew the attention of over 40 industry professionals to the competencies of Lusatia in the field of innovation during a pitch session at the joint exhibition stand of the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region, ahead of a partner exchange focused on technology and process innovations.

PRESS RELEASE: "Shaping the Future through Innovation" - Lusatian Networking Meeting of the MinGenTec Initiative was well attended

About 60 participants from South Brandenburg and Saxony attended the 16th networking meeting "Shaping the Future in Lusatia - through Innovative Thinking and Action" organized by the Mining & Generation Technology Initiative - Made in Germany (MinGenTec) on April 11, 2024. Experts and companies presented ideas and proven examples that promote innovations and internationalization processes.

1. OPEN INNOVATION CALL

The BTU receives a center for structural change and regional development

PRESS RELEASE: MinGenTec honours winners of "Lausitz Goes International 2025"

2nd Cottbus Procurement Conference: “A blockbuster" for public contracts.

New Markets. New Opportunities. For Your Company.

Brandenburg Innovation Award 2025

Female Energy Award

Happy winners in the competition "Lausitz Goes International" announced

PRESS RELEASE: MinGenTec Ideas Competition 'Lausitz Goes International'

PRESS RELEASE 'MinGenTec strengthens companies in the Lusatia region'

PRESS RELEASE: "MinGenTec Initiative Sets Standards at 'MINGENTEC MEETS SCIENCE' at Hannover Messe 2024"

PRESS RELEASE: "Shaping the Future through Innovation" - Lusatian Networking Meeting of the MinGenTec Initiative was well attended

Support for consortium formation for climate-friendly energy projects

Article about MinGenTec in the FORUM

Our contribution in the Lausitz Magazine, issue 24 | Winter 2022/23

Lausitzer Rundschau reports on the work of the MinGenTec initiative

IHK Forum March 2024

Article about MinGenTec in the FORUM | Issue 5/2023

Our contribution in the Lausitz Magazine, issue 24 | Winter 2022/23

Lausitzer Rundschau November 15, 2022

Report on MinGenTec in the magazine insight asia-pacific