Research and Transfer
Digital, low emissions, autonomous: This is the vehicle of tomorrow. Ostfalia is providing the impulses for new ideas in the field of electromobility, for greater vehicle safety and for innovations in lightweight construction – through the interplay of many forces.
When a task is addressed from several perspectives, then this can only be advantageous for its resolution: this is the working principle of the researchers in the ZuFOR project. Together, researchers from the Faculties of Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering and Transport-Sports-Tourism-Media at Ostfalia are working to answer technical, economic and social questions – in view of intelligent systems for mobility.
The research topics range from vehicle systems for active and integral security to the range extension of electric vehicles to innovative polymers for lightweight automotive construction.
Not only the disciplines are overlapping: Ostfalia integrates the experience and know-how of partners from industry, administration and society into the project. What do the research results mean for the development of the region and its businesses? Do they have the potential for new business models? The integration of many different actors in an Open Region Lab aims to bring ideas to maturity – and ensure that they are applied. The integrative cross-sectional project is investigating precisely these regional network structures.
The ZuFOR project (" Zukünftige Fahrzeugtechnologien im Open Region Lab") is funded by the Niedersächsisches Vorab Programme (Volkswagen Foundation) and the Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony.
Prof. Bikker talks about the research project ZuFOR
Prof. Dr. Gert Bikker, vice president for research, development and technology transfer:
"In a few years, the vehicle will look very different than we know it today. The project gives us the opportunity for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary reflection on the future of intelligent mobility. And also on how the region can play a crucial role in the development of new vehicle technologies."
Matthias Brandt, IAV GmbH:
"For our company a good relationship with Ostfalia is important because here experienced experts conduct application-oriented research – for example, in the field of mechatronics. The ZuFOR project gives us and Ostfalia the opportunity to learn from each other. In the coming years, fewer individually used vehicles will be on the road, while the mobility of people will increase. Our joint project should bring to light which mobility solutions we need for this future."
