The year 2021 was anything but boring. Despite the pandemic-related circumstances, we were able to take many steps forward and to develop further our research, teaching and transfer activities. We have expanded our scientific team with Susanna Bolz and Kehinde Medase. Our apprentice, Ferhad Slivi, successfully passed his exam as an office administrator, and Burak Tas followed him. Tobias Wendler received the Kellner & Stoll Foundation Campus Award for his dissertation in spring. Jessica Birkholz was finally able to realize her research stays at the University of Maastricht and the University in Zaragoza. Mariia Shkolnykova, Tobias Wendler, Matheus Leusin and Toby Law made a lot of progress with Jutta Günther in teaching and supervising students. Most of the international conferences were virtual, we were represented in large numbers: DRUID, EAEPE, EAERE, ERSA, Schumpeter Conference, Scottish Economic Society, Verein für Socialpolitik, Statistical Week. Publications and new ierp Papers have appeared, the project Neo-Indicators, initiated by Muhamed Kudic, has been successfully completed. Jarina Kühn and Mareike zum Felde represented our research network Mod-Block-DDR with presentations at an international conference in Gdansk. Our research on climate and sustainability issues was extended by the projects hyTracks (regional hydrogen economy) and AIMS3 (CCS at the ocean crust). Ann Hipp obtained a DFG grant for her international network. Nora Albu successfully defended her PhD, and Katharina Friz handed in her dissertation a few days ago. A highlight of the year was the Thiessow seminar on innovation research together with our colleagues from Jena and Ilmenau. Jutta Günther participated as a member of the climate enquete, which recently presented its final report. As always, Marcel Lange took care about data management and overall coordination. We can only report here selectively. Unmentioned are the many informal and spontaneous discussion rounds and talks, new project applications, media reports and much more.
We would like to thank all sponsors and cooperation partners and wish you a Merry Christmas and a good start into the next year!
