Greater Lafayette hosts german delegation

The visit came about through a past connection with Purdue.

Prof. Dr. Volker Wittberg, vice president for research and development at the private Fachhochschule des Mittelstands University of Applied Sciences, told those at a reception Wednesday at the Lafayette Country Club that he suggested Greater Lafayette when Düren District leaders suggested exploring transatlantic partnerships with similarly situated communities.

Prof. Dr. Wittberg had done graduate-level work at Purdue’s Krannert School of Management more than 30 years ago. He said the German district, near the border with Belgium with a population of roughly 280,000, is focusing on a shift in its economy, moving from being a coal mining region to meet the country’s decision to move toward emerging energy technologies including hydrogen development by 2030. He said he suggested Greater Lafayette and Purdue from his personal experience, comparing the similarly sized communities situated between major metropolitan areas – between Indianapolis and Chicago here and near Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen in Germany.

Prof. Dr. Wittberg said: “There’s so much which they have in common, I appreciate this as a kind of beginning of much more intensive conversation.” The two-day visit included tours at Purdue and Greater Lafayette industry. Dennis Carson, Lafayette’s economic development director, said no firm plans or proposed projects: “This is more of a get to know each other thing right now.”

“I think everybody in this community knows how we do really like to build relationships and build those relationships around the globe. That's how we're successful, by being able to do that in cultural exchanges of information, not only just business, but on more personal things. I’m very excited about what this collaboration could mean for us.” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski.