Rescue for IFO Dresden: Averted closure - future secured!
Rescue for IFO Dresden: Averted closure - future secured!
There is positive news from Saxony: The originally planned grant cuts for the IFO branch in Dresden have now been revised by the state parliament. This averted the impending closure of this important facility, which has been active in the region since 1993. IFO President Clemens Fuest was pleased with the constructive discussions with the Saxon state government and the MPs. These developments are a ray of hope for the 13 employees of the branch who can continue to work for the economic concerns of Saxony and East Germany, as [Oiger.de] (https://ooiger.de/2025/07/wirtschaftsforschung-in-sachsen-geht-aus-fuer-ifo-dresden- deported.
Fortunately, the mood has turned under the pressure of cuts that should lead to closing the branch. The IFO Institute originally planned to close the Dresden branch until mid-2027 after the Ministry of Finance had decided to reduce the financing package in order to save in the budget. Marcel Thum, the managing director of IFO Dresden, described the situation as a "big shock" for the institution, which is brand new for the alignment of the economic conditions between East and West Germany. For the employees concerned, including many doctoral students, there was great uncertainty about their future and the continuation of the business climate index-an important indicator of the atmosphere in the East German economy, as Zeit.dea new way for the IFO branch
Now that the closure plans are off the table, Fuest is planning to continue talks with the state government in the coming months. The aim is to present a holistic concept for the development of the branch from 2027. The managing director Thum underlined the immense importance of the branch for the science location of Dresden and for the economic research landscape as a whole. Saxony has an interest in the continued existence of this facility, which is why the Ministry of Finance recently expressed its regret about the cuts and is open to a possible "change of heart" of political decision -makers, as is also the case Tagesspiegel.de was reported.
How to proceed? The IFO Institute has already developed a financing concept that could guarantee the continued existence in Dresden. However, structural changes are necessary to make the research institution sustainable. The relocation of the branch to Munich is not in discussion, so that the loyal employees, including some doctoral students, will have the opportunity to do their work, which is an important step for many of them.
Overall, it remains to be hoped that future discussions will be fruitful and that the IFO branch in Dresden will remain secured in the long term-an essential part of the German-East German research and business infrastructure. For an exciting time!
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| Ort | Dresden, Deutschland |
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