Greetings: Dr. Karin Thelen, President of the German Geothermal Association; Prof. Dr. Jörg Steinbach, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy of the State of Brandenburg; Partner Country France: Maximilien de Maisonneuve, Geodeep Delegate; Keynote Kerstin Deller, Head of Subdivision IIA: Fundamental Issues of Energy Efficiency and Heating, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass (GFZ) “Geothermal energy between application and research”; Presentation of the “Best Young Scientist” award and awarding of the Patricius Medal; Congress opening: Prof. Dr. Horst Rüter, Head of the Scientific Committee