Within the capital of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate there is a remarkable concentration of institutes of higher education, research facilities and research-driven organizations whose activities extend over a wide range of research and technological sectors. Affiliated since 2008 in the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE, these research centers are responsible for the transfer of knowledge and technology that forms the essential driving force behind the dynamism of the City of Science that is Mainz. On 1 October 2011 the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Professor Dr. Georg Krausch will be handing over the office of Coordinator of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE to the President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, Professor Dr. Gerhard Much.

Lights, music, magic and a podium discussion set against a breath-taking backdrop accompanied the construction site party hosted to kick off the year promoting "Mainz - City of Science 2011". The ceremony was officiated by Jens Beutel, the Mayor of Mainz, Doris Ahnen, the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister for Education, Science, Youth and Culture, Mainz University President Professor Dr. Georg Krausch, Speaker of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE, and Professor Dr. Andreas Schlüter, Secretary General of the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany.