Tackling Grand Challenges: The future will be good
Our mission for the Adlershof Science City was initially to create jobs. We have fulfilled this mission. Today, more than 35,000 people work and study in Germany’s most modern technology park. And Adlershof has built up an excellent international reputation over the past three decades.
The task now is to make creative contributions to mastering the major global technological challenges together with the people who work here and by making full use of the excellent infrastructure culture. We would like to join the goal of Berlin's three major universities and the Charité, which have set out to “jointly shape Berlin as an integrated research space that is particularly dedicated to addressing global challenges – Grand Challenges”.
To this end, we want to create a network for researchers and companies to cooperate on an interdisciplinary basis. The development and use of new materials and technologies will be crucial to solving such challenges, which include climate change in particular.
Our response to the global challenges
Adlershof is a strong location. But how will the campus develop further?
The five main questions are:
- What are the goals?
- How does Adlershof see itself as part of the Science City Berlin?
- What is the significance of ‘Grand Challenges’?
- How can the coordination of science and politics be improved?
- How to deal with the space?
WISTA Management GmbH, as the operating company of the technology park, sets clear thematic priorities. It remains important for the further successful positioning to attract future-oriented companies that focus on the major societal challenges, the “Grand Challenges”, such as sustainability, climate protection and energy.
A new interdisciplinary competence center for “Grand Challenges”, complementing the existing technology centers, should help in this and also promote internationalization, because the big questions of the future can only be answered with global cooperation. Increased support for start-ups is also an integral part of this strategy for the future.
The Adlershof Mission “Grand Challenges” has begun. Join us!
Focus Topics
Grand Challenges that we are tackling in Adlershof:
>>Climate Protection and Energy
Climate protection requires an international energy turnaround for an efficient and resilient energy system.
The use of ICT infrastructures and digitization tools will be crucial for this.
>>Circular Materials Management
Resource scarcity and environmental consequential damage make intelligent circular economy a requirement of sustainable economics.
>>5G and Digital Infrastructure
We want to turn the Adlershof Technology Park into a real-world laboratory for digitalization. The digital networking in the Technology Park is already unique within a radius of almost 1,000 kilometers.
Grand Challenges: What's going on in Adlershof...?
Articles
Optical innovations for solar modules – which are the most promising?
Experts provide a comprehensive overview of the state of solar research:
In 2023, photovoltaic systems generated more than 5% of the world’s electrical energy and the installed capacity doubles every two to three years. Optical technologies can further increase the efficiency of solar…
Launch of Repower Regions – Transforming Europe's Heating and Cooling Sector
Steinbeis-SIT joins a project focused on decarbonisation, digital skills, and sustainable solutions in Europe’s heating and cooling sector:
Steinbeis School of Sustainable Innovation and Transformation (SIT), affiliated with Steinbeis University GmbH, dedicates itself to delivering exceptional educational programmes and offering guidance in innovation and…
Creative comics against biodiversity loss
BioYouToon, an Erasmus+ project, aims to sensitise young people and raise awareness of biodiversity:
The project consortium of BioYouToon, an EU-funded Erasmus+ project, met at the end of March 2025 to share the results developed during the funding period. The highlight was five Webtoon Comics, available online in…
Catalysis research with the X-ray microscope at BESSY II
Scientists studied changes in catalysts during the synthesis of ammonia from waste nitrates:
Contrary to what we learned at school, some catalysts do change during the reaction: for example, certain electrocatalysts can change their structure and composition during the reaction when an electric field is…
The future of energy: recommendations from science to politics
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin involved in drafting position papers on energy and materials research and circular economy:
Experts from HZB have contributed their expertise to the position papers briefly presented here. The topics include the development of innovative materials for a sustainable energy supply and the circular economy.…
