For the third edition of its “JTC Meets the Region” networking event, the Just Transition Center hosted an event at the Saline in Halle on June 10, 2026. The refurbished “South Saltworks Boiling Hall” at the Saline provided an inspiring setting for more than 100 participants, who gained fresh insights from research and academia and made extensive use of the opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange. The Saxony-Anhalt NETWORKING OFFICE for the New European Bauhaus (NEB) was represented at the Market of Opportunities and received a great response: in discussions about the NEB_INITIATIVE #NeueBauhäusler, its NEB_PROJECTS, and the NEB_VALUES: BEAUTIFUL. SUSTAINABLE. TOGETHER.
JTC. These three letters stand for the Just Transition Center, which, under the umbrella of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), addresses so-called "questions about the day after tomorrow for a just, sustainable, and climate-neutral transition" in times of transformation. Everyone agrees that this requires collaboration between academia, society, and the business sector. And that is precisely why the JTC launched the format of regional network meetings. It regularly invites stakeholders from government, business, and civil society to hear about interdisciplinary scientific work for sustainable regional development, to be inspired, and to engage in dialogue together: Get out of the bubble!
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Jonathan Everts of the JTC emphasized that the focus here is specifically on communicating research findings in a way that is accessible to everyone. And this was immediately illustrated by the first project presenter: Dr. Torsten Hölscher from the “New Materials for Photovoltaics” innovation team with “A PV Burger, Please!” By comparing the structure of a burger to that of a solar cell, he effortlessly captured his audience’s attention regarding the latest developments in materials and technology research.
Other innovation teams presented their work, including on "The Development of Open Source in Public Administration" from the City of Halle (Saale)'s Smart City project, on the "ASGLA Calculator – Digital Family Law Support Services for Saxony-Anhalt," and on "New Paths to Social Engagement in the City – Staying Connected in Times of Change." Particularly impressive was the project presentation by Hermine Bähr from the "Structural Change & Participation" innovation team, which focuses on transformation as an everyday experience in rural southern Saxony-Anhalt. She interviewed twelve women for this project, gave their voices a platform in an exhibition, and thus brought to light the diverse, and above all, volunteer-driven engagement in this region undergoing structural change.
While it is not uncommon for participants to disperse quickly after conferences, there was no sign of that at the JTC network meeting that day. A lively, intensive exchange ensued, with the “Market of Opportunities” featuring around 20 exhibitors providing the perfect setting. Among them was the NEB_NETWORK OFFICE, offering information on NEB_PROJECTS funded by the European Just Transition Fund (JTF) as well as publications, including the latest FAZ feature on “100 Years of the Bauhaus.” Included in it: the fascinating interview about the #NeueBauhäusler with Bauhaus Director Dr. Barbara Steiner and NEB_NETWORK OFFICE Director Katrin Kanus-Sieber. The booklet was immediately out of stock.
Impressions
