German Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow as well as Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President Dr. Reiner Haseloff and Science Minister Prof. Armin Willingmann visited the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry in Delitzsch on November 2. The key aspects of the federal-state agreement on funding the CTC were signed there. “This is important to ensure that the work here can proceed quickly,” said Stark-Watzinger. In addition to the main location on the site of the former sugar factory in Delitzsch, a second location is planned in the Saale district.

This is how the costs will be distributed

The following cost distribution is planned: The Free State of Saxony and the State of Saxony-Anhalt will bear the costs for the purchase of land, development, removal of contaminated sites and any monument protection costs at each location. The federal government will bear 90 percent of the construction and equipment costs for the buildings to be erected, while the federal states will contribute 10 percent at each location. From the transition to institutional funding, the basic funding for the operation and ongoing investments of the respective locations will be borne at a ratio of 90 percent (federal government) to 10 percent (state).

“We urgently need to get started”

CTC founding director Prof. Peter Seeberger explained: “Chemistry is omnipresent in our daily lives – and it is essential for our economy. But it is highly dependent on fossil fuels. In order to secure the long-term future of the chemical industry in Germany and Europe, chemistry must undergo fundamental change. It must rely on renewable resources and recycling and needs new materials, processes and procedures to do so. With the CTC, we want to tackle this monumental challenge in cooperation with industry and science. Their great support shows us that we urgently need to get started. We are therefore delighted that we are now another step closer to founding the CTC in the near future.”

Saxony’s Minister President Kretschmer emphasized: “The CTC is an important factor in structural change and in the scientific and economic development of the closely networked regions in Central Germany. The research opportunities here will shape the economic development of the region for decades and generate additional momentum and boost economic development in the chemical industry.” Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President Haseloff added: “The change in the chemical industry towards the use of natural resources and the circular economy is essential, especially for a chemical state like Saxony-Anhalt. It is therefore important to push ahead with research in this area.”

After the signing ceremony, the delegation of ministers, CTC founding director, district administrator, mayor, members of the Bundestag, CTC team and media representatives toured the site of the former sugar factory – unfortunately in the drizzle typical of November.