The Merseburg Innovation and Technology Centre, mitz, was founded in 1990. It serves to support economically and technologically the local business section around Merseburg, that is mainly characterized by chemical and mining industry.

Traditionally, the region of Merseburg is known for its chemical industry. In the 1990s this industry was restructured and changed at the location of Leuna into a chemical park, where large-scale and middle-class enterprises work side by side. One of the biggest plastic production lines of Germany has been established in Schkopau. Comprehensive efforts were taken in the fields of environmental protection and of total quality management.

The mitz intends to support founders of new businesses and task forces, as well as smaller-sized and middle-class technology orientated enterprises during the start- and settlement phases. A special emphasis is placed on the transfer and use of results from basic and applied research for industrial purposes. The mitz is supported by the federal state of Saxonia-Anhalt. Innovative young entrepreneurs, existing middle-class firms, and interested companies will have convenient start conditions in this industry area of middle Germany.

In July 2005, the mitz started operating the extension mitz II with the integrated Fraunhofer - pilot facilities for polymeric synthesis and processing. The net investment of 8.3 Mio € has been provided by the partners of the mitz ltd., the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, and the European Union. The mitz II offers spatial ideally conditions, technical equipment, laboratories, office space of approximately 870 sqm., and direct access to competent partners from research, science, and economy in central Germany. It therefore operates as a tie between plastics research, production, and application.

By creating this demonstration centre for polymer synthesis and processing in the ValuePark Schkopau, the mitz ltd., in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IAP, created a new model for effective innovation by businesses in the chemical and plastics processing industries.

The demonstration centre's particular specialism and its modern technical equipment reflect the structure of the chemistry park. Focusing on services for the value creation chain ranging from monomers to polymer components, Fraunhofer IAP and Fraunhofer IWMH are combining their expertise in polymer materials and process development and polymer processing under a single roof. The objective is to optimise processes in both polymer production and component manufacturing.
With the support of Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, modelling and simulation will be used to integrate new research approaches in the areas of process engineering and polymer reaction engineering.

You will find further information concerning the Pilot Plant Center on the website:

 www.polymer-pilotanlagen.de (german).

Merseburg is situated near the international airport Leipzig - Halle and some important highways. It belongs to the metropolitan area Leipzig – Halle – Merseburg, which is forecasted to be the region with the biggest developmental opportunities of Eastern Germany, besides Berlin.

Distances to:

The city has with the University for Applied Sciences Merseburg on the college campus and close-by the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg located, excellent education and research locations within Saxonia-Anhalt.

Merseburg is situated on a hill at the eastside of the “slab of Querfurt” in the intersection of the scenically charming greater Harz-Thuringia and has a mild climate.

The ground plan of Merseburg consists of four settlement centres from the earlier medieval times. The “crown of the city” is formed by the cathedral with one of the biggest organs of the world, significant sculptures, as well as the castle which was built in the time of renaissance.

The valley of the river Geisel, known for its famous palaeontological findings in connection with the brown coal mining, has been extended to one of the largest artificial lake areas in Germany.

The cities of Leipzig and Halle, as well as the surrounding areas suggest always new cultural opportunities with their varied offerings e.g. the Goethe-Theatre in Bad Lauchstädt.

Shareholders of the mitz ltd. are the city of Merseburg, the Kreissparkasse Merseburg-Querfurt, the administrative district Saalekreis, the Merseburger Innovations- und Technologiezentrum Foundation, the Polykum Foundation and the township of Schkopau.

The mitz e.V. foundation consists of private large scale manufacturers as well as municipal and local administrative corporations. The Polykum e.V. (supporting association for polymer development and plastics technology in central Germany) coordinates local enterprises in the chemical and plastic manufacturing industry, persons running a chemical industry park, as well as institutions of applied research.

Another economical profile of this region should be reached through convenient general conditions for founders of new businesses, in fact for the settlement of innovative, technological orientated enterprises and task forces.

The well-designed infrastructure of the mitz facilitates the start of young enterprises into autonomy and the expansion into new business fields.

According to the demands of this region, to the profile of the University of applied sciences of Merseburg, and to the university departments, we have the following:

mitz I is offering the following services:

• provision of business areas with modern office and laboratory rooms to customary conditions.
• use of central secretary and paperwork services including photocopier, telefax, postal and e-mail-services.
• use of communal facilities e.g. central reception in secretary, meeting and conference rooms according to your requirements.
• counselling in cases of starting up a new business (concepts for managment, finance, marketing), as well as in options of demand of promotinional programs under the leadership of the federal state of Saxonia-Anhalt, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the European Union.
• sponsorship of technology transfer through conveyance of the newest knowledge in research and development of the neighbouring University of applied sciences Merseburg and the university institutes.
• negotiation of cooperations, minimizing of communicational distances, as well as support of profiling in the regional business section – among other things through the mitnet (central German innovation and technology network).
• realization and organization of seminars, informative events, as well as communal booths on fairs.

mitz II is offering the following services:

• Assistance with basic problems relating to synthesis, modification, processing, and analytics.
• Assistance with varied questions on molecular and over molecular modifications of polymers.
• Assistance with questions of specific characterisation or analysis of various polymer material.
• Intermediation of cooperation with knowledge and research institutions.

Please contact us, if you are interested in one of our offerings.

Adress:

Merseburger Innovations- und Technologiezentrum GmbH

Fritz-Haber-Straße 9

06217 Merseburg

Fon: 0049 3461 / 2599 100

Fax: 0049 3461 / 2599 909

Internet:

E-Mail:  infomitz-merseburg.de

Homepage:  www.mitz-merseburg.de