-
Taiwanese delegation visits the HTWD
11.09.2026On 10 September, the HTWD welcomed a delegation from Taiwan for discussions on university cooperation, technological developments and opportunities for technology transfer. The programme included a presentation on the HTWD, discussions with Taiwanese partner universities, and insights into start-up support and current research and technology topics. To kick off the event, Professor Kathrin Harre, Vice-Rector for Research, Sustainability and Technology Transfer, welcomed the guests from Taipei – representing the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and National Taiwan University (NTU) – and introduced the HTWD and its key areas of focus. Sophie Tietze, Head of Technology Transfer Networks and Start-ups, supplemented this with an insight into HTWD’s start-up and technology transfer activities. Discussions on university cooperation and Taiwan The initial focus was on student exchanges between HTWD and the TaiTech universities. Professor Anne-Kathrin Haubold from the Faculty of Business Administration, who represents HTWD’s international partnerships with Taiwanese universities, provided insights into existing and future forms of cooperation. Chin-An Edie Wang from the Commercialisation and Industrial Service Centre of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) reported on Taiwan’s technological and industrial development. This also highlighted points of connection between the Taiwanese innovation and industrial system and HTWD’s research, technology transfer and start-up activities. From the start-up incubator to applied research Following a brief tour of the U Building, Susann Bladwell from the start-up incubator presented the support services available to aspiring entrepreneurs at the university. The start-up culture at HTWD was particularly vividly illustrated by the presentations from the start-up teams: Morik Nikolić and Ken Bittner presented their start-up idea, RobDog; Benjamin Ernst introduced COBACK; and Hong-Ly Nguyen presented INSTANT, a portal for Taiwanese students coming to Germany to study. During the subsequent campus tour, the guests gained insights into current projects and key areas of research. In the laboratory, Professor Uwe Kühsel and Professor Mathias Jäckel from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering demonstrated the university’s application-oriented expertise in robotics. Marco Steinhauser then demonstrated the use of virtual reality in joining technology. The event concluded with a presentation on luminescent organic molecules (OLEMS) and their applications. Dr Radic Mametov presented the research area on behalf of Professor Stefan Schramm from the Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Chemistry. Developing perspectives together “The visit to HTWD was very informative and inspiring for our students. In particular, the insights into the laboratories and the exchange with the start-up teams impressively demonstrated how research, innovation and entrepreneurship interact in practice,” said Olivia Gu from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), summarising the visit.
-
Cooperation with Mongolia in engineering education
11.09.2026Joint degree programme in Mongolia and Dresden The planned study programme combines training at both universities: students begin their studies at GMIT in Mongolia and transfer to HTWD for the later semesters. There, they deepen their knowledge of Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering and gain practical experience. The programme concludes with a work placement and an application-oriented Bachelor’s thesis. “With these degree programmes, we are strengthening the collaboration between HTW Dresden and GMIT and setting new standards in cooperative engineering education,” says Rector Professor Gestring. Part of a long-standing university partnership The agreement was signed during a visit by the Head of the Saxon State Chancellery, Dr Andreas Handschuh. He was accompanied by a delegation from the worlds of politics and academia, which included not only the HTWD but also the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Discussions with the Mongolian Ministry of Education and the GMIT focused, amongst other things, on the expansion of existing cooperation programmes and the Mongolian ‘1,000 Engineers’ programme. This programme enables Mongolian students to study at Saxon and German universities and is also intended to help attract qualified skilled workers. The HTWD and the GMIT have been working together for several years. Since 2024, the Saxon Science Liaison Office in Ulaanbaatar has also been supporting academic exchange and the recruitment of prospective Mongolian students for Saxon universities.
-
Interim Library closed: We are here to help via email and telephone until we reopen!
27.08.2026From 31 August, the service desk in the Z Building will be closed whilst preparations are made for the library’s reopening.
-
Changed opening hours during the semester break
20.07.2026Please note our revised opening hours between 27 July and 25 September.
-
New book return box now available in Pillnitz
20.07.2026You can now return items to our branch library at any time, even outside opening hours!
-
Students win the First Year Student Challenge with their ‘Semi-Automatic Gate System’
15.07.2026The parking barrier developed can be opened for parking using registered NFC tokens. When the vehicle leaves the space, an ultrasonic sensor detects it and opens the barrier automatically. In addition, the ‘barrier open’ and ‘barrier closed’ operating modes can be set manually. For the presentation, the team integrated their project into a richly detailed LEGO landscape, which attracted numerous visitors. “I was impressed by the dedication with which the students Mawanane Hewa Chamindu, Mohammad Abdur Rahman, Michael Mhona and Kevin Akuamoah Boateng presented their project at the Long Night of Science. Although German is not their mother tongue, they presented their development to a wide audience, answered numerous questions and engaged in conversation with visitors. This impressively demonstrates how motivation, team spirit and academic curiosity contribute to a successful degree project,” says Programme Director Professor Julia Engelbrecht. Hardware development and programming in the first year of study The foundations for the winning project were laid as early as the first semester. In the ‘First Year Project and Study Skills’ module, students on the international Bachelor’s programme acquire fundamental skills in hardware development and programming. Working in small teams, they carry out their first microcontroller project, thereby strengthening their ability to collaborate – an important prerequisite for a successful degree and their future careers. A similar course is also offered on the German-language Bachelor’s and Diplom programmes in Electrical Engineering/Information Technology. In the ‘First-Semester Project and Study Skills’ module, students pursue the same objectives and gain practical experience in the development of technical systems at an early stage. Personal project in the First Year Student Challenge The First Year Student Challenge builds on these courses. It invites all first-year students to further develop their projects from the First Year Project or the First-Semester Project throughout their first year of study and to submit them to an internal faculty competition. The Challenge promotes independent work, creativity and the application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations. Support from industry partners The best projects were honoured during the Long Night of Science. The winning team received a hardware package donated by PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme GmbH, comprising a high-performance microcontroller and various sensors. “The support of our industry partners is a key component of the First Year Student Challenge. It not only enables us to offer attractive prizes to the participating teams, but also provides our students with valuable contacts to potential employers at an early stage. Our special thanks go to PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme GmbH, which has provided significant support for the challenge through its commitment and the donation of the hardware package,” said Professor Kristina Kelber, who supervises the First Year Student Challenge.
-
From an Erasmus semester to a DAAD prize
10.07.2026When Lea Koncekova came to the HTW Dresden on the Erasmus+ programme during the 2024/25 winter semester, she had planned to stay for two semester. Two years later, the Master’s student from Slovakia has been awarded the 2026 DAAD Prize. With this award, the university honours students who excel academically whilst also demonstrating a commitment to their university or to society. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in the German-bilingual International Management programme at Comenius University in Bratislava, Lea Koncekova made a conscious decision to return to Dresden. She is now studying for a Master’s degree in German Business Culture and International Management. Why she returned to the HTWD “To be honest, the decision to return to Dresden was very easy for me,” says Lea Koncekova. She cites the personal atmosphere at the HTWD, the close supervision and the direct contact with lecturers as the decisive factors. “The lecturers make time for the students and treat you as an equal.” At the same time, she values the university’s international character and the programme’s strong practical focus. The fact that Dresden is not far from her family in Bratislava also played an important role. Even during her Erasmus placement, the student made a name for herself at the Centre for Foreign Languages (ZFS). As a research assistant, she organises the language lab, supports lecturers and students, develops teaching materials and prepares events. She also helps with the centre’s public relations work. Commitment that shines through Many prospective students first meet Lea Koncekova at Open Day, the Long Night of Science or the Dies Academicus. There, she answers questions about studying at the HTWD and shares her experiences as an international student. Since June 2025, she has served as a student representative on the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Business Administration, where she represents the views of all students in the faculty. In the jury’s view, Lea Koncekova combines outstanding academic achievement with intercultural engagement and a strong sense of responsibility towards the university community. The decisive factor for the award was not only her academic success, but also her commitment beyond her own studies – as a research assistant, in university communications and as a student member of the Faculty Council. Her career path demonstrates the potential that international mobility can unlock: within a short space of time, she went from being an Erasmus student to a Master’s student, a research assistant and a committed student representative. Receiving the DAAD Prize now came as a surprise to Lea Koncekova. “I never would have expected it,” she says. “For me, this prize is far more than just an award for academic achievement. It shows me that commitment, initiative and a willingness to play an active part in university life really do pay off.” She also sees the award as an incentive: “Having my commitment recognised in this way means a great deal to me and motivates me to continue on my path at the HTWD with just as much passion and dedication.”
-
Visit by KIIT founder Prof. Achyuta Samanta to HTW Dresden
11.06.2026The exchange focused on cooperation between the two universities. Prof. Samanta praised the existing ties and emphasised the potential for further strengthening the partnership. Since 2023, the Faculty of Business Administration at HTWD and the School of Management at KIIT have been linked by a cooperation agreement. Six KIIT students have already completed a semester abroad at HTWD since then. Both institutions plan to further expand academic exchange in the coming years. In addition to providing further opportunities for students, teaching staff are also to be more closely involved in joint activities and exchange programmes in future. With around 40,000 students, KIIT is one of India’s largest universities. It is located in the metropolis of Bhubaneswar, which is known for its significant temple landscape and is one of the country’s most dynamically growing cities. A further link between the two universities is provided by the international university network GE4, of which both KIIT and HTWD are members. This shared membership creates additional opportunities for international cooperation and mobility programmes.
-
HTWD professor elected president of the International Society for Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence
08.06.2026Schramm thus takes the helm of a professional association that has been connecting researchers from academia and industry worldwide for more than three decades. The focus is on research into light generation from chemical and biological processes – a field whose applications range from medical diagnostics and bioelectronics to the study of luminous organisms such as fireflies, deep-sea fish and certain species of fungi. “I am delighted by this appointment. I also see it as recognition of the intensive work I have been carrying out with my group for over a decade on bioluminescence and chemiluminescence,” said Schramm. In his research group, the team develops new luminescent materials and translates fundamental scientific findings into application-oriented sensor technology. The group is currently involved, among other things, in the Biotronis research consortium, which focuses on transferring bioluminescent reactions to biosensor technology and bioelectronics. The eMatInnoHub consortium project is developing bioluminescent sensors for the detection of pathogens. The team is conducting basic research into the mechanism of bioluminescence in the marine firefly Cypridina hilgendorfii in cooperation with the Japanese research institute AIST. Further projects are in preparation or under application. As President, Schramm will, together with the Council, coordinate the activities of the international professional association, represent the research field to politicians, industry and the public, and shape the strategic direction of the ISBC. The focus of his two-year term will be on recruiting new members – particularly from the next generation of researchers – building bridges between science and industry, and raising public awareness of the subject. “The applications of bioluminescent and chemiluminescent phenomena range from medical diagnostics to novel materials for bioelectronics. Highlighting this social and economic significance is a particular priority for me, especially as a researcher at a university of applied sciences,” said Schramm. For HTW Dresden, Schramm’s election as President of the ISBC provides an additional international platform. The university is thus clearly positioning itself within a dynamic field of research at the interface of chemistry, biology, materials science and bioelectronics. Schramm’s network and his international mandate open up new opportunities for collaborations, joint research proposals and professional exchange with institutions and industry partners worldwide. About the Schramm Lab at HTW Dresden Prof. Schramm’s research group at HTW Dresden investigates bioluminescent and chemiluminescent phenomena and develops new luminescent organic materials. A particular focus is on translating this basic research into application-oriented sensor technology for biomedicine, environmental analysis and bioelectronics. The group is currently involved in several externally funded collaborative projects and cooperates internationally with institutions in Japan, the United States and Europe.
-
HTWD is expanding its university partnership with Nigeria
27.05.2026The visit focused on joint activities in teaching and research, as well as on further developing international opportunities for students and academic staff. During their stay, the guests led courses and gave lectures on their respective fields of research. The delegation included Professors Victoria Fatokun and Johnson Fatokun, as well as research staff members Deborah Aleburu and Samuel Ifeanyi Okoro. The visit was accompanied by Prof. Ralf-Dieter Rogler and Prof. Julia Engelbrecht, who coordinated the exchange together with the International Office at HTWD. The close partnership between the two universities is also evident in everyday student life: two Nigerian students are currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at HTW Dresden. A return visit by representatives from HTWD to Anchor University of Lagos is already planned for September 2026. The cooperation is supported and funded by the Leonardo Office Saxony.
