Media and ICT: Interconnected Sectors

Information and communication technology is a key to creating new, high-calibre jobs in competitive industries and efficient public agencies.

The German Capital Region is on course to become a top location for ICT innovations. Meanwhile, more than 12,000 highly qualified specialists work in over 1,800 companies from the industry in Brandenburg alone, while ICT products made in Brandenburg are in use on every continent and even in space. Together with the media and creative industries, ICT forms a cluster with about 48,000 companies and more than 240,000 employees from a wide range of fields: from media businesses, service-providers, publishing houses and advertising agencies to telecommunications providers and software developers.

Among the IT-related R&D facilities that give the region an outstanding position at international level, the following institutes are particularly worth a mention: Fraunhofer-Institut (seven facilities in the region), Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik (Potsdam), Ferdinand-Braun-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (Berlin), Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum (Berlin), Institut für Mikroelektronik (Frankfurt (Oder)).

Practically all the universities in the German Capital Region offer media and IT-related degree courses. The Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam-Babelsberg) is a shining example of the region’s future-oriented media training facilities. With over 22,000 students of ICT, film and media, Berlin-Brandenburg is regarded as the location for budding creative talent.

Thanks to this outstanding R&D and education landscape, and with the support of “business angels” and various public institutions, a wealth of networked start-ups was founded in the region using venture capital from all over the world.

GEOkomm
Objectives: Aside from representing the interests of its members, GEOkomm helps understand the technical, economic and social relevance of geoinformation. The network promotes active and continuous development of the market of geodata through constructive dialogue between the economy, administration, politics and science, which primarily covers the following topics:

• Setting up networks between geodata market players to encourage innovation
• Drawing up strategies to further the development of the geodata market
• Measuring the potential added value geodata could bring to fields of application specific to sectors or spanning several areas
• Establishing a suitable framework for cooperation between the economy, science and administration, as well as for resulting business models
• Promoting continued progress of science, research and development in Berlin and Brandenburg scientific institutions
• Promoting regional, national and international exchange of experiences

Activities: The organisation’s on-going priority is to launch networks which focus on innovation within their field of expertise. It primarily supports SMEs in gaining new research partners and in receiving funding to help implement R&D projects. It also provides essential support to help implement projects. At present, five of these networks exist, incorporating altogether 64 companies and research partners:

• iP4GNSS (innovation platform for GNSS technologies)
• 3D-Punktwolke (development of technologies to help use 3D point clouds efficiently)
• SiBeL (security and user-friendliness of unmanned non-military aeroplanes)
• ProWear (development of functional equipment combinations for creating efficient work, production and medical processes)
• MOVIA (navigation technologies and services for optimising pedestrian routing in public areas and in buildings)

In addition, events are organised regularly to exchange experiences and gain political support. Along with the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Potsdam, the organisation serves as a ‘Copernicus Relay’, a point of contact and support for the use of satellite data from the EU’s Copernicus Programme (the only business-based establishment in the federal state).

Number of network partners: 82

media.connect brandenburg
Berlin-Brandenburg boasts an outstanding creative and media landscape with a wealth of companies that operate successful facilities in the region. The structure of the media network perfectly matches the requirements of the sector. Cross-media use of content facilitates collaboration between companies active in the film, TV, publishing, Internet, computer game, mobile telecommunications and IT industries.

This network, run by the association media.net berlinbrandenburg, is aimed at supporting the region’s media SMEs in the long term. Network members benefit from excellent contacts and a wealth of events for communication with companies in various industries and regions. media.connect Brandenburg generates synergies through cooperation with other networks and several institutions, including state agencies and educational institutions in Brandenburg.

The network is aimed at promoting the region in the long term through networking, communication events and activities tailored to the needs of the media and ICT industries. Its priorities are as follows:

• Preserving and developing the viability and competitive edge of the media and ICT industry in Berlin and Brandenburg.
• Consolidating and broadening the industry’s added value.
• Sharpening the profile of the German Capital Region as a media and ICT location.

SIBB region
SIBB region is the network for the IT and Internet sector in Brandenburg. It aims to connect up the sector in Brandenburg and thus increase visibility beyond state borders. The network promotes exchange, cooperation and knowledge growth at numerous events. Special events such as the SIBB region Roadshow or after-work meetings bring together companies in different regions of Brandenburg.

SIBB region is part of SIBB e.V., the association for the IT and Internet sector in the capital region.

Further Networks:

• Creative Brandenburg
• media.net berlinbrandenburg e.V.
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
• Media Innovation Centre Babelsberg
• Silicon Sanssouci e.V.

Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Departments at the Institute of Computer Science and Information/Media Technology:
Departments:
Database and Information Systems, Data Structures and Software Dependability, Graphic Systems, Internet Technology, Programming Languages and Compiler Technology, Computer Networks and Communication Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Theory of Computer Science, Systems, Distributed Systems and Operating Systems, Security in Pervasive Systems

Hasso Plattner Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik GmbH an der Universität Potsdam
Research topics:
Enterprise Platform and Integration Concepts, Internet Technology and Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Graphics Systems, Operating Systems and Middleware, Business Process Technology, Software Architectures, Information Systems, System Analysis and Modelling, School of Design Thinking

Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
With focus on: film and TV directing, writing, camera, editing, acting, sound, animation, set design, media science, digital media culture, film and TV production.

Fachhochschule Brandenburg
Faculty of Computer Science and Media
With focus on: intelligent systems, network computing, digital media, media production, image processing, e-learning solutions, medical informatics.

Fachhochschule Potsdam
Faculty of Design
With focus on: communication design, interface design, product design, management of design and product development processes using digital tools.

Technische Hochschule Wildau
Faculty of Business, Computing, Law
With focus on: databases, ERP systems, software development, EJB-based application servers, geodata systems, mobile computing, e-business, dynamic internetworking.

Faculty of Engineering
With focus on: the development of systems and software for mobile IT applications (robotics, software engineering, RFID technology, car-to-car und car-to-infrastructure), software engineering.

Universität Potsdam
Institute of Computer Science
With the following departments:
Operating Systems and Distributed Computing, Bioinformatics, Didactics of Computer Science, Machine Learning, Complex Multimedia Application Architecture, Service and Software Engineering, Technical Computer Science, Theoretical Computer Science, Knowledge Processing and Information Systems

Department of Media Theory and Media Science
With focus on: philosophical and historical approaches to relationships between the media and mediation as a basis of cultural practice.

Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), Forschungsstelle Potsdam
Focus on: geographic studies on continental glaciers and in permafrost areas, research activities on atmospheric processes in polar zones using models and experiments.

Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum – GFZ
Remote Sensing Department
The Remote Sensing Department develops disaster control and environmental safety applications that use microwaves, infrared technology, high-resolution spectroscopy and SAR interferometry.

GPS/Galileo Department
The GPS/Galileo Department focuses on high-precision navigation and measurement, remote sensing of ocean and ice shelf surfaces, and research for future satellite-based early-warning systems.

Geoinformatics Department
The Geoinformatics Department focuses on geodata management and interactive geovisual analysis.

Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP GmbH)
Circuit Design Department
The Circuit Design Department focuses on RF components and WLAN transceivers, auto radar circuits, ultra-broadband frontends with low power consumption, A/D and D/A converters, and power electronics based on integrated RF-LDMOS and HBTs.

Systems Design Department
The Systems Design Department focuses on middleware, wireless Internet applications and optimised processors for TCP/IP, MAC and innovative wireless protocols.

Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK)
Earth Systems Analysis research unit
The Earth Systems Analysis research unit focuses on models of anthropogenic climate change and scenarios of current and future climate change.