Specialisations, research, partners

The goal to expand a competitive and employable economy formulated in the German government's high-tech strategy is described by the future-oriented project Industry 4.0. This area is closely linked to digitalisation, digital transformation and the Internet of Things and is the focus of the research field.

The Digital Transformation field of research is registered with four laboratories as a test environment in the BMBF's "Industry 4.0 Test Environments - Mobilising SMEs for Industry 4.0" funding programme and is listed on the Industry 4.0 map.

The Vehicle Construction, Plastics and Materials Science field of research focusses on future's automotive construction. Important aspects are sustainability and reduction of CO₂ emissions. The same applies to weight-reduced structures, increased use of natural fibre composites (bioplastics), lightweight composite and concept construction, recycling and simulation using FEM (finite element method).

The field of research Intelligent Systems for Energy and Mobility focuses on intelligent systems for the management of integrated system components in the areas of energy management and supply, driving dynamics, electric drives, driver assistance and integral vehicle safety. In the field of energy, the focus is on the utilisation of renewable energy sources.

The field of research participation and care research is characterised by interdisciplinary research in the areas social affairs, technology, health, law and economics. Special research focuses on healthcare provision (structures, processes and results), as well as technical and social solutions to support the participation opportunities of vulnerable people and organisations.

The purpose of the Centre for Hydrosystems and Health (CHH) is to promote research and development in the field of regional, national and international climate impact and environmental research with regard to water-related topics and their significance for health. One focus is the mutual transfer of knowledge with stakeholders from this field in order to develop socially relevant solutions. By pooling expertise from the faculties of Civil and Environmental Engineering (B), Computer Science/IT (I) and Health and Health Care Sciences (G), the CHH offers a forum for cooperation, interdisciplinary exchange of information and experience, the formation of research alliances and the joint preparation and implementation of larger and cross-faculty projects in research and development.

The Centre for Energy and Mobility (formerly the Ostfalia Centre for Electromobility) joins interdisciplinary, application-oriented projects. These projects are assigned to the subject areas of energy or mobility or deal with mutual interdependencies. A central component is electromobility in combination with renewable energy.

Researchers from six faculties work and teach at CEMO on the overall system of energy and mobility, which is viewed from a technical, social and economic perspective.

The aim of the interdisciplinary Centre for Social Innovation(ZEGI) is to bundle research activities of the social sciences and humanities faculties at Ostfalia. The ZEGI establishes co-operations between research and development facilities, between economy as well as institutions and networks in the region in order to strengthen the topic of social innovation.

The Centre for Scientific, Interdisciplinary Risk Management and Sustainability(ZWIRN) combines the expertise of twelve engineering, social science and humanities faculties at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences and other colleges and universities in Germany and abroad. The aim of ZWIRN is to promote research, development and teaching in the field of risk management and to promote sustainability in companies and institutions.