Science Minister Boris Rhein: "The excellent research of Hessian scientific institutions, such as the University of Kassel with its outstanding life sciences, humanities and natural sciences, ensure the future viability of our state. That is why the Hessian Ministry of Science is consistently continuing the success story of our LOEWE research funding program. By the end of 2014, the state will have provided a total of around 520 million euros for outstanding research projects. That is unique in Germany."

One example of outstanding research projects is the new LOEWE focus "Social Link? - Always Online" under the leadership of the University of Kassel (associated research partner: Technische Universität Darmstadt). The Ministry of Science is funding this project with around 4.1 million euros until the end of 2016. The internet and mobile communications are having a lasting impact on the modern information society. Anyone can be available anywhere, regardless of time and place. "Social Link? - Always Online" aims to develop a new model for social communication behaviour with the help of interdisciplinary research and technical, organizational and legal design. The aim is to achieve an optimized work-life balance in order to relieve the burden on people.

The state government is also funding another profile-forming project, the LOEWE priority "Animal - Human - Society: Approaches to Interdisciplinary Animal Research" with 3.57 million euros until the end of 2016. The scientists want to research the interrelationships between humans and animals in society. The interdisciplinary research is based on current debates about the treatment of animals (animal testing, factory farming, animal rights), but also deliberately goes beyond this. One aim is to advance these discussions through systematic fundamental considerations.

"With both projects, scientists at the University of Kassel have a direct impact on society. Anyone who looks at the acceleration of our lives and work will recognize the need for new communication rules, such as those being developed in the context of Social Link. The "Animal-Human Society" project aims, among other things, to shape animal-human relationships in today's world. We are very pleased that our excellent research structures are being further expanded with these LOEWE priorities," explained Prof. Dr. Martin Lawerenz, Vice President of the University of Kassel.

The state of Hesse is also funding seven new collaborative SME projects with a total of around 1.6 million euros. These are collaborations with companies primarily from northern Hesse. They are mainly located in the fields of engineering sciences, mechanical and plant engineering, measurement and control electronics as well as information and communication technology and thus also reflect the regional economic focus.

"With LOEWE, the state government will continue to provide scientific policy impetus in the coming years and thus sustainably promote the Hessian research landscape and Hesse as a business location," said Science Minister Boris Rhein.

The following LOEWE SME collaborative projects (projects involving small and medium-sized enterprises and universities) received funding decisions:

FALTREM: 3D folded structure calculation with boundary element method

Lead partner:

Eisfeld Ingenieure AG, Kassel

Funding amount: € 136,453,

Period: 7/2013 - 12/2014

Resource-efficient and versatile cooling technology for LED luminaires

Lead partner: Seidel GmbH & Co. KG, Marburg

Funding amount: € 420,768,

Period: 7/2013 - 12/2014

translateR - Development of a cloud service for the automatic and interface-controlled translation of SPSS syntax and Base SAS code into R code

Lead partner: eoda GbR, Kassel

Funding amount: 130,163 €

Period: 8/2013 - 12/2014

Friction stir welding kit: Control and machine extension - RüStiG

Lead partner: InTec automation GmbH, Baunatal

Funding amount: € 301,483

Period: 8/2013 - 12/2014

Regio:VK - Optimized integration of renewable generation into the energy procurement of utilities through a regional virtual power plant

Lead partner: CUBE Engineering GmbH, Kassel

Funding amount: € 260,501

Period: 11/2013 - 12/2014

Development and testing of a mobile jet agitator to reduce investment requirements and energy consumption in the homogenization of fermentation product storage facilities

Lead partner: K.E.S. Planungs- und Entwicklungs UG, Morschen

Funding amount: € 33,584

Period: 1/2014 - 12/2014

Service platform for IT-supported collaboration in the provision of wood (SIKO-Holz)

Lead partner: INTEND Geoinformatik GmbH, Kassel

Funding amount: € 264,120

Period: 4/2014 - 3/2016