Day One - Tuesday 25th of June 2019

Solemn but also entertaining the congress started with the Opening Ceremony on the eve the scientific programme. About 300 guests watched the ceremonial handover of the IULTCS flag from Thomas Yu, current IULTCS President, to Dietrich Tegtmeyer, Congress President, who then together raised the flag as sign of the Congress Opening. This formal procedure was accompanied by the Dresden Young Symphony Orchestra of the Heinrich-Schütz-Konservatorium, Dresden, under the direction of Professor Milko Kersten. About 50 excellent young musicians showed their talent when playing the IULTCS anthem: “Air” from Friedrich Handle's Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, much applauded by the audience.

Welcoming addresses of Thomas Yu and Dietrich Tegtmeyer introduced to the general purpose of the congress and the congress theme “Benign by Design”. Dr Beate Haaser, Vice President of the host society VGCT, welcomed her guest in Dresden/Germany before introducing Maria Strohe, Saxon State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport, and Eva Jähnigen, Mayor of the City of Dresden for Environment and Municipal Economies, who welcomed our guests warmly and delivered interesting facts and figures on the economic and scientific location of the State of Saxony and the Capital City of Dresden. Dr Luis Zugno, Vice President of IULTCS and Dr Michael Meyer, Chair if IUR commission, announced the recipient of the YLS (Young Leather Scientist) Basic Grant and the recipient of YLS Sustainability Grant: Cathrine Ann Maidment and Shahruk Nur-A-Tomal

The Opening Ceremony grew emotional when Thomas Yu asked Jakov Buljan on stage to receive the IULTCS Merit Award for Excellence in the Leather Industry. The IULTCS Merit Award is given biennially by the IULTCS Executive to an individual, whose past or current endeavours have had an extraordinary impact on our industry and provide an example for others to follow. Jakov Buljan fits this profile perfectly. With his Words of Acceptance he gave some thoughtful but also inspiring insights of his work life and an evocing message to the leather and tanning industry. We like to share Jakov´s Words of Acceptance with you. Read here

The official Opening Ceremony merged then into a Welcoming Reception on Terrace Level of the Dresden International Congress Center for an informal get together to explore the venue and meet fellow participants. August the strong, former Duke of Saxon and King of Poland, together with his mistress Countess Cosel, entertained the participants at their tables with gossip and chatter from baroque Dresden. The warm summer temperatures invited also to stroll outside at the terrace and to take in the view of the historic city centre of Dresden.