HALLE, CENTRE OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
The ZIK SiLi-nano is located on a very attractive scientific campus, the technology park weinberg campus. The development of this park has been vigorous during these past years, and continues at a dynamic rate. weinberg campus in Halle as a research site has accumulated a potential for further breakthroughs in the areas of research and development, which is remarkable even by international standards. This guarantees ideal preconditions for the success of SiLi-nano program.
The high concentration of innovative potential is almost second to none in the new federal states of Germany. More than 5500 jobs exist at present. Adjacent to the weinberg campus, a large selection of attractive real estate well suited for building purposes is for sale.
The whole quarter is accessible by public and individual transport and contains many green areas open to the public. Adding to these positive features of the weinberg campus, the city of Halle as a whole has been continuously improved by urban development measures and thereby has undergone a very positive transformation during the past years. There is increased visual attractiveness of many areas of the city to begin with. This is complemented by opportunities for shopping, which are now also very attractive in the city centre, and a host of cultural, culinary and leisure activities. Moreover, the housing market boasts a large array of attractive properties, the price level of which is moderate compared to other cities.
As is typical of Central Germany, an ample provision of child care facilities is available. This marks a further important attraction for potential employees of SiLi-nano, should they already have a family. It is the declared goal of local and state politics to improve the still relatively weak economic structure of the city of Halle. The steps envisioned to reach this goal include attracting cutting-edge technology companies in the medium term as well as expanding Halle as a centre for science- and high-technology enterprises.
The SiLi-nano program will thereby fit ideally into the field of materials sciences, which is a major funding priority of Saxony-Anhalt. Next to life sciences, orientalism and enlightenment studies, the MLU has designated materials sciences as one of their core areas. Since two years, Saxony-Anhalt has supported the core area materials sciences with research grants in the area of nanostructured materials. All three of the applying institutions are part of this core area.
For the support and further extension of these activities, the European Union contributed about 30 million Euro to build the Technologie- und Gründerzentrum III (TGZ III) - technology and start-up centre - on the weinberg campus. The TGZ III has been completed, featuring a cleanroom for the production and characterization of nanostructures. The state of Saxony-Anhalt has provided research grants for the equipment of the nanofabrication cleanroom. There, all three applying institutions will carry out research within the framework of SiLi-nano program.