Lusatia, in the heart of Europe

Lusatia is a region that spans two German states – Saxony and Brandenburg. It continues to be influenced by the urban centers of Cottbus and Dresden.

With the coal phase-out by 2038 at the latest, it faces a deep cut in its economic and cultural history.

In addition to the energy industry, traditional industrial sectors include the chemical and food industries.

Structural change offers the opportunity to reorient Lusatia economically. WIR! wants to play an active role in shaping this development.

In our eyes, Lusatia has the potential to play a pioneering role in onshore aquaculture.

What advantages does Lusatia offer for aquaculture?

  • High number of natural waters as well as above-average number of sunshine hours compared to the rest of Germany

  • Spacious areas for industrial use

  • Central location in Europe

  • Innovation and industrial culture in Lusatia

  • Available skilled workers from nearby excellent educational locations.

  • Strategically favorable proximity to research facilities

What do we want to contribute?

  • Build infrastructure for aquaculture research and development.

  • Developing value networks and business models

  • Establish a start-up culture for new entrepreneurial ideas and actively accompany them to commercial implementation (mentoring and consulting)

  • Train young professionals in innovative aquaculture technologies

Our contribution creates opportunities in Lusatia for:

  • the food industry – through a sustainably produced, regional and healthy new raw material

  • the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries – through highly effective biobased active ingredients

  • the bioplastics industry – by providing new basic building blocks for biomaterials

  • machine and plant engineering and process automation – by opening up new labor markets in the field of aquaculture

  • Companies seeking opportunities to use their industrial waste streams (e.g., heat, CO2, nutrient-rich wastewater) as a resource for additional value creation

  • inland fisheries and aquaculture operators – through the possibility of developing circular systems