In 2026, the group sharpens its focus, accelerates ongoing work, and prepares new projects for mid-year launch.

A new year often feels like a clean start, and we want to begin 2026 with that spirit in mind. We wish everyone a healthy and energizing start, with curiosity for what lies ahead. The quieter holiday break offered room to recharge, reflect, and return with clearer priorities for the months to come.

This year, the research group aims to push existing projects forward with full momentum. We will also work systematically to increase our publication output across key topic areas. To support that goal, we plan a tighter thematic focus that strengthens our core competencies and reduces dispersion across too many subtopics. This shift does not mean less ambition in applied research. Instead, it creates deeper expertise, clearer scientific narratives, and stronger positioning within the field.

At the same time, we see 2026 as a year of careful expansion. A central challenge lies in designing new projects that can start around mid-year. That requires strong concepts, realistic timelines, and early alignment of methods, resources, and partners. We want these projects to connect to our established strengths while also opening fresh perspectives for applied research and teaching at Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena.

We expect the year to bring new impulses, active discussions, and meaningful progress on several fronts. Change will remain part of our daily work, but we approach it with confidence and a clear plan. If we combine focus with collaboration, 2026 can become a year of visible scientific output and durable team development.