Honor for Andreas Jakob: 70 years of old town history in Erlangen!

Honor for Andreas Jakob: 70 years of old town history in Erlangen!

October 28, 2025 is a very special day for Andreas Jakob, the former head of the Erlangen city archives, who is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Mayor Florian Janik sent him warmest congratulations. Jakob, who headed the city archives from 2007 to July 2024, made significant contributions during this time. He initiated the move of the city archives from the city museum to the new premises on Luitpoldstrasse in 2011 and has left lasting traces through numerous publications on the city and university history, as well as on the time of National Socialism. He is also co-editor of the Erlanger City Lexicon, which has been considered a valuable source of knowledge since its publication in 2002. For his achievements, he will receive the Academy Prize of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences in 2024.

What happens next in Erlangen is not just the focus when looking at the infrastructure. There is currently a lot of work being done on an important infrastructure project in Kosbach. A biogas-powered heating network is being expanded here, which will grow from just 15 to 115 buildings. Older existing buildings in particular that still use oil central heating benefit from this new system. With a flow temperature of up to 80 °C, the heat is generated, among other things, by burning regional wood chips and waste heat from a biogas plant. In the best case scenario, around 2.3 million kWh of primary energy and 290 tons of CO₂ should be saved annually by the end of 2026. The total length of the new route is around 4.5 kilometers and the costs amount to almost five million euros net, which are covered by government funding.

Broadband coverage in Erlangen

At a time when digital connectivity is becoming increasingly important, a high-performance broadband infrastructure is a crucial location factor for companies. Erlangen appears to be comparatively well positioned here, with Erlanger Stadtwerke providing active support. Currently around 70 percent of Erlangen addresses have a gigabit-capable connection. That represents approximately 43 percent of households and businesses in the city. Nevertheless, there is a standstill in some urban areas where expansion cannot keep up with growing demands. For this purpose, the city has carried out a market research process to find out about the actual supply situation and to intensify exchanges with telecommunications companies. A look at the Federal Broadband Atlas (https://erlangen.de/aktuelles/breitbandbedarf) shows that there is still potential here.

In the midst of these everyday developments, an important event is coming up: On October 30th, a lecture on the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM/C) will take place in the city library, given by cultural interpreter Rahma Abdi. This event is part of the project “Strengthening Human Rights – Countering FGM/C” and aims to draw attention to an issue that affects over 100,000 women worldwide and 17,000 girls at risk in Germany. The event is free of charge and is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Health, Care and Prevention.

Commitment day next year

Another highlight will be the “IN ACTION” engagement day, which will take place on June 16, 2026 in Erlangen. Non-profit institutions and associations can submit projects here until December 31, 2025. These are designed to implement ideas with the support of company employees - a great example of solidarity in business life. Organizations that are interested can contact the doors open (iska gGmbH) directly to report their projects. Subsidies for materials can amount to up to 500 euros per project.

However, a restriction has also been announced in the city: Karl-Schall-Straße in Röthelheimpark will be closed from October 31st to the end of July 2026 while a construction site set-up area is created here. Until then, we can only hope that the infrastructure and digital opportunities in Erlangen will continue to develop positively and that the city will steer well into the future.