The district and city of Altenburg have undergone massive structural change since reunification. This has led to vacancies, the departure of residents and a changed economic employment structure. However, in view of demographic change, migration and the necessary social-ecological transformation, the city and region have further challenges to overcome. Due to these comprehensive and permanent changes, Altenburg is confronted with the question of which social and spatial-structural identity can be preserved and how it can be further developed. Existing traditions and elements that create identity, such as the landscape and the associated agricultural way of life, but also the history of the residence and the pride in the beauty of the city, are part of Altenburg's self-confidence. The question arises as to how new impulses can be gained from this historical and scenic wealth for shaping the future of Altenburg and the Altenburger Land.

In this regional lab, local actors will explore how traditions worth preserving can be preserved in specific places such as empty buildings or farms, but at the same time they can also be used to create new tasks. Specifically, individual locations will be used to research how the energy transition and decarbonization, and the challenges of demographic change can be combined with the existing spatial and social identity through new economic, social, cultural and artistic uses.

The regional lab is initially intended to explore the question of which places are suitable to establish a living lab and what perspectives the actors associate with it. In order to be able to carry out this field research, the basics of qualitative social research are taught and important methods for the work are taught in more depth. These are developed together in the lecture courses. In a second phase, based on certain topics that emerged from the survey, the students will form thematic working groups that are suitable for systematic research leading to ideas or examples for the transformation of selected places. Finally, own ideas will be developed as to how the regional lab can contribute to the realization of different project ideas in the future.

The project provides a deep insight into the complexity of structural change using the example of Altenburg and the Altenburger Land.