Discussion with the President of Aalto University

Dear Professor Teeri,
Dear Professor Seristö [Vizepräsident],
Dear Professor Laukkanen [Vizepräsident],
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you very much for this invitation and the opportunity to discuss university cooperation between Helsinki and Hamburg.

Finland boasts one of the most intensive research sectors in the world, and Helsinki in particular, with its outstanding scientific environment, is an especially exciting discussion partner for us.

Because Hamburg has a long tradition as a merchant city, in which the exchange of goods with countries all around the world has always been the highest priority, our university was founded relatively late. Serious endeavours in this context were not initiated until the beginning of the 20th century. And it was not until the city legislature became democratically elected that it finally adopted in 1919 the Preliminary Act on a Hamburg University and Adult Education Centre”.

But we caught up very quickly: even before the national socialists seized power in 1933, our young university enjoyed its first period of fame with its renowned physicists in particular. But many distinguished scientists lost their freedom and even their lives under the Nazi regime: terrible crimes, appalling losses also for the universities who could never really compensate for these serious losses.

Our city felt an urgent need after the second world war to catch up again with the global scientific elite. The creativity and commitment of countless scientists at state or state-approved universities which now number 19 as well as the University of Cooperative Education, have again established Hamburg as an internationally respected scientific location.

For instance, the basic research being done at the Centre for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), and the climate and environmental research undertaken at the German Climate Computing Centre and the Earth System Research and Sustainability Centre (CEN) to mention just a few institutes focussed on research in the natural sciences.
Plus, of course, those two that will take centre stage in a minute. They maintain particularly close cooperations with their Finnish partners: the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and the HarbourCity University (HCU) which emphasizes research and exchange programmes concerning the Baltic area.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Science means working meticulously. Always in the search for something new, without ever really finding the ultimate answer an activity which demands well above average curiosity and persístence.

The cooperation between our universities to be initiated today by the signing of two memorandums of understanding, strengthens both sides in pursuing these goals. On behalf of the senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, I would therefore like to thank all those that made this step possible.

Es gilt das gesprochene Wort.