The Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) are calling on member companies that provide apprenticeships to ‘throw in the towel’. This is purely symbolic, as part of a major social media photo and video campaign to mark the start of the summer holidays. Many companies are still looking for interested young people to start apprenticeships, even at the last minute before the training begins. The “Towel Challenge” is designed to provide wide-reaching support to the local economy in its search for new recruits.

A new chief conductor, new formats, a new ‘Artist in Residence’ from the Berlin Philharmonic: the Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt and its new General Music Director presented the 2026/27 season on 24 June. It is a concert season featuring internationally renowned guests. 

The Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners Working Group is once again looking for committed entrepreneurs this year who have successfully brought their business ideas to fruition. The Start-up Award comes with prize money of up to 2,500 EUR, which can be divided between two winners. The closing date for applications is 31 August 2026. 

Anne Rabe will be in conversation with Prof. Dr Benjamin Lahusen, a legal historian at Viadrina University, under the title ‘Democracy is being saved in the East’, discussing political experiences, democratic culture and social change in eastern Germany. Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend the discussion in the Logensaal at Viadrina, Logenstraße 11, Frankfurt (Oder). 

The Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce are calling for a new leap in quality in the cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg. At the 2026 Metropolitan Area Conference held today, key priorities for action were defined with a view to securing competitiveness, growth and quality of life in the long term.

Last week, representatives from European institutions and EGTCs (European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation) from 13 different countries gathered in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. They wanted to give the twin city a boost in its efforts to establish an EGTC and to share their experiences. 

Twelve companies are in the running to win the most prestigious business award in the state of Brandenburg. The final of the 2026 ‘Brandenburg Future Prize’ will take place on 20 November at the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Centre in Schönefeld. The six winners will be announced there.

Across Germany, towns, districts and local authorities are taking part in the ‘Local Authorities at Breaking Point’ day of action to draw attention to the dire financial situation at local government level. The umbrella organisations representing local authorities – the German Association of Cities, the German Association of Districts and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities – have jointly called for this day of action and are demanding decisive measures from the federal and state governments to stabilise local authority finances.

The Oder-Spree District Administration is expanding its range of digital services: from 3 June 2026, the AI-powered chatbot “FragLOS!” will be available on the district’s website. This will enable residents to receive quick answers around the clock to frequently asked questions about administrative services, responsibilities and the services offered by the district administration.

On 1 June, a new co-chairing arrangement will come into effect at the Brandenburg State Conference of University Presidents (BLHP). For the period from 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027, the President of the University of Potsdam, Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., will now chair the body. The Deputy Chair is Prof. Andreas Wilms, President of the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences. For the period from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, Professors Günther and Wilms will swap the roles of Chair and Deputy Chair.