07.09.2009: Knowledge creates the future - City Vision 2030

Visions of Rhineland-Palatinate as a living location for science

What questions will concern people in the future? What challenges will we have to face in the future with respect to social environment, family, the workplace, or urban development? What contribution can science make to answering these important questions?

Doris Ahnen, Science Minister, opened a Future Conference on Monday, along with Jens Beutel, the Mayor of Mainz, Professor Georg Krausch, the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Professor Gerhard Muth, the President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Approximately 100 participants from business, science and administration, as well as residents, students and young people, have all agreed to come.

"The goal of this Future Conference is to identify as a group the research policy strengths and opportunities, as well as a vision for the Rhineland-Palatinate location using an interdisciplinary approach. The conference will also attempt to predict future requirements with respect to demographic change," said Minister Ahnen.

"Rhineland-Palatinate is already well established as a location for science with a broad profile. Particular strengths directly in the areas of science, business and a very efficient administration have to be better networked, and we have to use those networks to make them ready for the future. It is particularly important to involve residents in this process," emphasized Minister Ahnen.

The Ministry for Education, Science, Youth, and Culture used the occasion to hold an innovative event called the "Open Space Conference." It is characterized by its openness with regard to content and structure - only the central theme is fixed. Specific topics are defined by the participants of the conference themselves. The results of the Future Conference will subsequently be documented and made available to participants.

"Obviously we also want to make use of the compiled results. The City of Mainz's application to be the 'City of Science 2011' is particularly suited to this purpose," said Science Minister Ahnen. The main conference conclusions and results will be included in the City of Mainz's application.

The Mayor of Mainz, Jens Beutel, declared that, "The state capital is an attractive, internationally respected university town. We want to develop this good image and turn it into an important competitive advantage. The high proportion of students makes Mainz a young city and a challenge for future decades. The main aim is to find out how research and regional politics concerning city development, business and culture can cooperate even more closely. I am looking forward to the exchange of ideas at the Future Conference."

"The City of Mainz boasts an impressive diversity, density and excellent standard of knowledge-based institutions known far beyond the region, and presents itself as a science city at both national and international levels. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is not just an active component of the state capital - it aims to contribute to a dynamic location for science in the Rhein-Main area in the most diverse way possible, as defined by its namesake. We welcome the opportunity to join with residents in thinking about knowledge as a resource in our region, and about further stimuli for social development and economic growth in our country," said Professor Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Professor Gerhard Muth, The President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, added that, "Mainz University of Applied Sciences is committed to using its diverse fields of competence to develop visions for the future of our city in 2030."

The Future Conference will also provide important ideas that can be disseminated all over the country by its participants, said Minister Ahnen.