Saxony's universities under cost pressure

Science is to remain a priority of Saxon politics in the future and yet, like all other areas, is under cost pressure. "The budget of the Ministry of Science will have to contribute to the overall consolidation. This requires the solidarity of all institutions," Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU) told the German Press Agency. The government's draft budget is to be adopted on March 18 and passed on to the state parliament. Until then, no concrete figures have been determined.

At a closed meeting, the government agreed to spend around 25 billion euros in 2025 and 2026. In order to close the funding gap of around 4.3 billion euros, Saxony is dissolving the budget equalization reserve and reducing allocations to the generation fund, among other things. Cuts in personnel and material costs are also planned. Employees in research and teaching are to be exempt from cuts - "because education, research and teaching are a mainstay of Saxony's development", as was stated after the meeting.

According to the ministry, the pay rises for employees at universities, medical faculties and the Saxon University and State Library alone will mean additional expenditure of 117 million euros in the science department this year and next. Inflation-related cost increases, for example in construction projects, would also play a role. For example, the construction of the new radiation clinic at Leipzig University Hospital is included in the ministry's budget. "It remains a priority of the Free State to equip the science sector well and make it fit for the future. However, we must maintain cost discipline."

Saxony wants to make full use of EU funds

Gemkow assumes that individual investment projects will have to be stretched out over time. However, the aim is to continue with all major projects. The co-financing of federal and EU funding is also an issue. So far, the Free State of Saxony has been able to co-finance every euro of funding. Theoretically, the institutions themselves could also raise the money - for example from reserves or other budgeted funds. "We want to continue to take as much EU funding as possible in the future. That's why we're considering how institutions can co-finance this on their own. However, this is still the subject of internal discussions."