Dialogue as Equals: 'University Meets Industry' Explores New Approaches to Working Time
For the 13th time, the event “University Meets Industry” took place on 26 June 2025 at the Forest Campus of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). Around 80 participants from regional businesses, institutions, and the university community came together to discuss current developments at the intersection of academia and practice.
Exchange between Entrepreneurs and Researchers
Anja Stache and Dr Christine Hobelsberger present workshop findings
Dialogue and Exchange are the focus of the Event
The Winners of the Start-up Awards
InnoSupport – Translating Research into Practice
Tour of Our Technical Centre
This year’s focus was on the topic “Working Time Models – Between the Time Clock and Trust-Based Work.” How working hours are structured not only impacts productivity and competitiveness but also significantly influences employee satisfaction and motivation. Flexible working arrangements, trust-based working time, and a healthy work-life balance are regarded as key elements of the so-called New Work culture.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Elisa Lopper from Humboldt University of Berlin. As an expert in occupational and health psychology, she presented the latest research findings and offered a scientific perspective on the challenges facing both employers and employees.
Regional businesses also shared practical insights: representatives from P&R Gerätetechnik (Schwedt/Oder), ENERTRAG, Sparkasse Barnim, and GJP Steuerberatung spoke about their experiences with various working time models. These industry perspectives were complemented by the results of a workshop conducted with HNEE students, presented by Anja Stache and Dr Christine Hobelsberger.
As in previous years, the event also featured the presentation of the Start-up Award from the Barnim-Uckermark Entrepreneurship Network. The winners received special recognition in the form of individually designed trophies, created by students from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and crafted at HNEE.
Bringing fresh energy to the stage once again were two HNEE students: Charlotte Hillemann and Jule Lindfeld, who are studying Sustainable Economics and Management and co-founded the student consultancy Agency N. They guided the audience through the programme with confidence and flair.
The event is a joint project between HNEE, the Barnim Business Association, the Uckermark Entrepreneurs' Association, the BVMW e.V. SME association, the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Regional Centre of the Brandenburg Economic Development Agency (WFBB) and the City of Eberswalde.