Facing challenges – leveraging strengths

Launch Event for the JSEC Friends and Patrons Draws Large Crowd

The Friends and Patrons of the Schumpeter Center celebrated its founding on April 20 with a well-attended launch event. The event began with opening remarks by the association’s first chairman, Mr. Tobias Wolfrum of Stadtwerke Jena, followed by a welcome address from Wilfried Röpke, a representative of Jena Business Development.

Prof. Christoph Ohler, a member of the Schumpeter Center’s Board of Directors, presented an introduction to the Center’s work and highlighted the importance of the newly founded Friends and Patrons Association. He emphasized that both the Schumpeter Center and the members of the Friends and Patrons Association can benefit from the partnership.

Thuringia’s Minister President, Mario Voigt, delivered the keynote address titled “Shaping Change—Thuringia in a Complex Environment.” He highlighted the challenges facing Thuringia, particularly demographic change, and emphasized the need to make better use of existing strengths.

Following this, the Minister President participated in a panel discussion. Together with Prof. Dr. Daniela Gröschke (Chair of Intercultural Human Resources and Organizational Development), Prof. Dr. Anika Klafki (Chair of Public Law, Administrative Sciences, and Comparative Law), and Prof. Dr. Matthias Menter (Chair of Corporate Development, Innovation, and Economic Change), they discussed opportunities and challenges in Thuringia. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag (Chair of Economic Policy).

Following this, the Minister President participated in a panel discussion. Together with Prof. Dr. Daniela Gröschke (Chair of Intercultural Human Resources and Organizational Development), Prof. Dr. Anika Klafki (Chair of Public Law, Administrative Science and Comparative Law), and Prof. Dr. Matthias Menter (Chair of Business Dynamics, Innovation, and Economic Change), they discussed opportunities and challenges in Thuringia. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag (Chair of Economic Policy).

Following the panel discussion, further topics such as education, administrative processes, and corporate development in Thuringia were explored in dialogue with the audience. A reception afterward provided an opportunity for further discussion and networking in an informal atmosphere.