Students:Day Six - regional development and sustainability

Marcus Falke - Lueneburg Innovation Incubator: knowledge and regional development in the convergence region of Lueneburg. New central building planned and currently being constructed. Completed by 2015. University education model: four core areas - cultural sciences (digital media, etc), sustainability sciences (natural or social), management and entrepreneurship, education (teacher education, etc) Innovation Incubator: large scale EU project for regional economic development mainly financed by European Regional Development Fund (EUR 98m) consisting of 16 distinct activities. Runs from 2009 to 2015. Luneburg distcit struggles with low economic production, demographic problems, stagnation and below average new business start-up rates. Main aim is promote region through scientific input from university based on Lisbon Strategy to help EU become the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world. Strategic goals e.g. expansion of research force through attracting international scientists. Involves a lot of cooperation with SMEs in the individual Lueneburg regions research such as projects with visiting professorships, consultancy projects, etc. Sarah Velten: Starting points at the local and regioanl for realizingthe transition towards sustainable agriculture. Questions addressed: What is sustainable agriculture? Which factors on teh local adn reigonal elvel make the realisation of SA favour or impede it in general? Issues include the fact that there's no all-encompassing defintion of SA possible, conflicting view about SA, and alternative framing/circumscribing of SA.