Adlershof Journal May/June 2023
Come on in! How attractive are we to bright minds?:
Welcome succession: the next generation takes the helm // The networker: Adelina-Elisa Olbrich organises scientific exchange // Adlershof in your ears: a FluxFM podcast showcases the Science City …
From the Editors
With open arms
“Welcome”. This is easily said. It only becomes apparent later how much seriousness and real interest were attached to the statement. When that same person, greeted so enthusiastically in the beginning, needs a bit more help to really arrive somewhere. When more of one’s own time must be invested into turning an arrival into finding a home. The fact of the matter is that we must work hard to win over and retain talent for our high-technology location. Mind you, the conditions could be worse: We offer a very exciting work environment and an opportunity to pursue meaningful work. What else do you need?
You also need people who take the initiative, who care, and become trailblazers because of it. We would like to present some of these people in this May edition of Journal. Take Adelina-Elisa Olbrich, for example, a chemist who provides a stage for her research colleagues in Adlershof and thus supports their networking activities at the student café MoPS. “Everything is in flux”: As the dean of Humboldt-Universität’s faculty of the natural sciences, Caren Tischendorf is not only responsible for calculating flow processes but also for supporting women on their path into the natural sciences.
Two other people who help people arrive are Alexander Ney, manager of Adlershof’s international guest houses, and Helge Neumann, who helps refugees on a volunteer basis. In our cover story, we took the practice test and had high-skilled professionals from other countries have their say.
How can one manage to let go and hand over responsibility to others? Not an easy feat, to be sure, but vital when the future of a company must be put in the hands of the next generation. We check in with two companies about this, Legler OK and Ahlberg Metalltechnik GmbH. Mental health is frequently a cause of illness in today’s world of work. At Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, a specially trained mental health team is now supporting its colleagues and is confronting the taboo subject head-on.
Sincerely,
Peggy Mory
Editor-in-chief
Articles
How welcome are foreign skilled workers in Germany?
A personal retrospective after 10 years of life in the country of Goethe, Einstein, and Mercedes-Benz – Essay by Olga Aktas:
Allow me to briefly introduce myself. My name is Olga Aktas and that already tells you I have a so-called migration background. My first name is Russian, my last name is Turkish, and my ideas and values are most…
In conversation with Alexander Ney
The manager of the IGAFA guest houses supports academics from all over the world in Adlershof:
Who could be better suited to be the manager of Internationales Begegnungszentrum (IBZ), a meeting centre and guest house for academics from all over the world, as someone who has travelled extensively himself and got…
The networker
Adelina-Elisa Olbrich hosts an event for scientific exchange in Adlershof:
There should be more networking. A place where “one can talk about research in an unconventional way.” Beyond the boundaries of one’s own professional world. This is particularly important in Adlershof, which unites…
You are welcome!
How easy is it for foreign workers to settle in Germany? Three examples from Adlershof:
Without their employees from all over the world, the institutes and companies on the campus would not be where they are now. They are part of their success. What’s it like to settle down in a strange country? Are…
Everything is in flux
Dean Caren Tischendorf uses complex calculations to predict flow processes – and supports other women in finding their path into the natural sciences:
Caren Tischendorf of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) makes sure everything stays in perfect flux – both women in the natural sciences and electrons, gases, and chemical substances in materials, supply networks,…
Mental Health Lab: First responders of a different kind
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin wants to support the mental health of its employees:
If the mere thought of going out to work is enough to send shivers down the spine, dedication has hit rock bottom, and the general well-being is off, this should set off the alarm bells. If this then leads to burnout,…
Welcome succession
The next generation takes over the management of Ahlberg Metalltechnik and Legler Objekt & Konzept:
Mario Ahlberg and Heike Legler have created two very successful companies, Ahlberg Metalltechnik GmbH and Legler Objekt & Konzept GmbH. They are both stepping back to let the next generation take the helm – and…
A veteran of Adlershof
Biophysicist Helge Neumann says goodbye – the long-standing head of the WISTA International Office has carried the Adlershof model out into the world:
There are countless issues that Helge Neumann has addressed during his time in Adlershof. The biophysicist has been part of WISTA now for over 30 years. As different as his projects were, they were all characterised…
Fresh and warm: hot dogs from a vending machine
MeiCook, a team from the Adlershof Founder’s Lab, wants to drive forward the development of the food industry:
With support from the Berlin Startup Scholarship, an international team made up of people from Armenia, Germany, and Turkey is developing the city’s first hotdog vending machine. The prototype is already in the…
Adlershof in your ears
The Science City in Adlershof is showcased by the FluxFM podcast “Weiß der Adler – Zukunft made in Adlershof”:
On an area covering 4.6 square kilometres, 28,000 people conduct research and work at the Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof. It is virtually impossible to keep track of all the innovation and new research…
News in brief
Annual press conference of the Technology Park Berlin Adlershof
On March 27, 2023, WISTA Management GmbH published its figures for 2022 on the development of the Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof. The news was a new record growth despite the skilled workers shortage and multiple crises. Revenues and budget funds rose to 3.63 bn. euros (2021: 3.21 bn. euros), which is a 13% increase compared to the previous years. It is particularly remarkable that over 28,000 people now work in the Science City (2021: 24,500). This is 14% more than in 2021. In the core area, the revenues of the roughly 580 companies rose by 6.3% to 1.13 billion euros. The number of employees rose by 6.8% to just under 9,100. Adding to this were 330 apprentices. After the number of companies in the core area saw a slight decrease in the previous year, the number is now increasing again.
www.adlershof.de/en/adlershof-in-numbers
Jelbi is expanding its service in Adlershof
Jelbi is coming to Berlin’s Southeast: The network of Jelbi stations for car sharing and micromobility as well as the Jelbi points for sharing bikes connect the Science City, the new residential areas, the landscaped park, and the Adlershof S-Bahn station. Starting at the end of May, there will be many sharing cars, transport vans, rental bikes, e-bikes, and scooters available there. Using the Jelbi app, all sharing services are bookable with just one account – over 90% of sharing vehicles in Berlin are already available. Digital no-parking zones around the Jelbi locations prevent wild parking on the sidewalk.
Career Orientation Day of Ausbildungs-Allianz-Adlershof
On 1 June 2023, students from 9th grade and above will have the opportunity to get to know the companies offering apprenticeships and the occupational areas available at Technology Park Adlershof. They will visit two companies in small groups and learn more about job profiles, apprenticeship programmes, typical activities, and work processes. The event will be complemented by a job fair.
Diversity Festival Adlershof
WISTA celebrates diversity! Under the motto “Every human counts”, WISTA Management GmbH (WISTA) is hosting the “Diversity Festival Adlershof” on 7 June 2023. The aim is to create awareness of the topic of diversity in society, especially in the context of university and business, among the stakeholders of the Adlershof site. There will be keynotes, panels, and workshops with role models and couches. The programme will be complemented by art and cultural events. Everybody is invited to come by and contribute their own ideas to the festival.
Long Night of the Sciences
On 17 June 2023, visitors of Adlershof can look behind the scenes of outstanding research institutions and immerse themselves into the world of science between 5pm and 12pm. The motto is “Experience. Understand. Know.” The organisers invite you to take part in experiments, intriguing presentations, science shows, and guided tours. This year’s Long Night programme will be made public on 5 May 2023. The presale for tickets kicks off in May 2023.
