PRESS RELEASE
MinGenTec network strengthens over 260 Lusatian companies in structural change
The MinGenTec network (Mining & Generation Technology – Made in Germany) provides crucial impulses for the transformation in Lusatia. This conclusion is drawn by the Cottbus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB) at the conclusion of the current STARK funding project realignment of the Lusatian lignite industry (NeLaBra) on June 9, 2026, in Cottbus.
„The MinGenTec network bundles Lusatian competencies and supports small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing new markets. The funding has paid off: Concrete offers and a strong network have opened many new doors and enabled business. It was particularly a pleasure for me to have been the jury chairman of the competition Lausitz Goes International. Through this, I gained many insights into existing and planned internationalization activities of our MinGenTec members. It was very exciting,“ said IHK President Jens Warnken.
„Many Lusatian companies benefit from MinGenTec. With its comprehensive services funded by the federal STARK guideline, it has significantly contributed to strengthening the competitiveness of companies in the structural change by successfully and actively supporting them in developing new business areas and new markets. The networking of companies has also brought crucial impulses for the structural change in Lusatia. We will continue to provide innovation support, which is one of our main tasks in the current project, after its conclusion – utilizing the insights gained from the project – through our regional center in Cottbus,“ emphasized WFBB Managing Director Sebastian Saule.
„The Market Entry Check from MinGenTec has provided us with valuable insights and concrete guidelines for our next steps through a solid market analysis of France. The award within the framework of Lausitz Goes International also confirms that our internationalization concept and the chosen market entry have the right strategic direction and are effectively supported by MinGenTec's offerings,“ said Dr. Marko Burkhardt, Branch Manager Cottbus GICON® - Großmann Ingenieur Consult GmbH. The company, headquartered in Dresden with a branch in Cottbus, has been offering sustainable engineering and planning services domestically and internationally for over 30 years. Emphasis is placed on resource conservation, energy efficiency, and climate neutrality. GICON® supports companies with services ranging from project planning to soil and groundwater solutions to the coordination of environmental and permitting issues. The company is currently realizing the world's tallest wind tower in Klettwitz.
„The Market Entry Check was our analytical starting point to systematically assess opportunities and conditions in the Polish market and to specifically align our planning and software services in the logistics and production environment. The B2B matchmaking at the Polish-German-Czech Cooperation Forum with potential partners effectively complemented this process by creating direct access and thus laying the foundation for sustainable cooperation across borders,“ added Sandro Claus, Head of Sales at LOGSOL GmbH. The consulting and software company specializing in logistics and factory planning is based in Dresden. For years, LOGSOL has been supporting the industrial modernization and future viability of the Lusatian economic location through its expertise and is actively involved in central structural change projects – including the new DB vehicle maintenance facility and the Carl-Thiem-Klinikum in Cottbus.
„MinGenTec is a central partner for our company in the transformation process. The Innovation Check has provided substantial impulses and clearly structured and comprehensible our development potentials. Additionally, the pronounced networking work of MinGenTec has opened up relevant new contacts and strategically interesting perspectives,“ said Felix Götze, Managing Director of G&B Automatisierungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG. The company based in Elsterwerda has been a leading provider of software solutions in automation technology since 1992. Its portfolio includes PLC programming, robotics, safety and visualization technology, as well as retrofit solutions. G&B supports customers from consulting to planning, assembly, commissioning, and project management in special and series machine construction as well as plant engineering – also internationally according to corporate standards. Focus areas include the automotive, metal, building materials, packaging, and wood industries.
MinGenTec has specifically supported the structural change in Lusatia by closely linking innovation, internationalization, and networking. During the project phase from July 2022 to June 2026, over 70 – some international – events, workshops, delegation formats, and company trips were implemented, which opened up new business areas and market access abroad for companies. With these offerings, many of the over 260 companies active in the network were able to utilize innovation potentials, establish new cooperations with science and industry, and tap into international markets. Focus markets include the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Spain, Austria, and Poland. Various industries are addressed, from mining rehabilitation to renewable energies to woodworking and automation.
Eleven companies utilized the Market Entry Check with individual strengths-weaknesses analysis and target market selection. Tailored action plans for the next steps make the offering a central internationalization instrument for companies. In addition, MinGenTec focused on the competition „Lausitz Goes International,“ which was the focus in 2024 and 2025.
The Innovation Check was also well received. The standardized offering for Lusatian companies assesses the degree of innovation, identifies potentials, and provides concrete recommendations for further development. In the current funding phase, development processes were initiated in eleven companies and cooperations were initiated. Additionally, 32 events on innovation topics took place with over 3,500 participants.
In public relations, the competencies of Lusatian companies were made visible through digital channels and international campaigns – including in Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The website recorded over 19,000 visits in 2025, and the LinkedIn community has more than 2,600 followers.
Outlook: The MinGenTec network will remain
The current funding phase ends on June 30, 2026. Even beyond this date, MinGenTec will remain a central component in supporting the transformation in Lusatia. The IHK Cottbus will continue activities in the area of internationalization, while the WFBB will continue to offer its services in the area of innovations through the regional center in Cottbus. Strengthening innovations and the visibility of Lusatian companies, as well as market entry both domestically and internationally, will remain the focus. On the Saxon side, the Economic Development Saxony and IHK Dresden will continue to contribute their expertise in innovative location development and international business initiation.