

INATECH: develop sustainable technologies for the future, today
Five Fraunhofer institutes, the University of Freiburg and a common goal: to establish sustainability as the guiding principle in the development of technical systems.
Engineering science for sustainability
The Institute for Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH) researches and develops engineering solutions as driven by current sustainability challenges. Sustainable materials, energy systems and resilience stand at the center of the program.
Today’s needs and future generations are the focus
Together with partners and interest groups from the private and public sectors, INATECH is involved in interdisciplinary research projects: develops methods, models, materials, technologies, demonstrators, and technical systems that will meet the needs of today’s and future generations.
From fundamental research to industrial solutions
INATECH is an equal partnership between the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and the five Freiburger Fraunhofer institutes. This foundation is unique in the research field, a structure that covers the entire spectrum from fundamental research to industrial application.

Sustainable Systems
Engineering
INATECH researches and develops Sustainable Systems.
Its objective is to design systems that use energy and resources efficiently, at a rate that does not impact the environment negatively and so allows future generations to meet their needs.
Its areas of focus are sustainable materials, energy systems and resilience.


Sustainable materials
Research into the efficient use of energy and resources, and the development of materials, machine components and systems

Energy systems
Development of system solutions for sustainably supplying society with renewable, reliable and sufficiently available energies as well as the efficient handling and storage of energy

Resilience
Engineering methods to ensure systems of high social importance are robust and adaptable in the face of short- and long-term changes such as natural catastrophes and climate change
Establishing sustainability as the guiding principle in the development of technical systems
This is the vision of INATECH. To this end, its contribution to international research is headed by a professorial staff of globally renowned, award-winning scientists.
Figure: The interaction of the main research areas along the value-creation chain. While the study of Sustainable Materials is focused on basic materials and machine components, Energy Systems and Resilience Engineering cover issues around systems, infrastructures and networked infrastructures.

Research examples
Current research at INATECH

Studying engineering science sustainably
Master's and Bachelor's degree programs: INATECH combines technology with sustainability and educates engineers who will change the world!
Chairs

Prof. Dr.
Frank Balle
Walter and Ingeborg Herrmann Chair for Engineering of Functional Materials (EFM)
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Prof. Dr.- Ing. habil.
Stefan Hiermaier
Director INATECH,
Gips Schüle Chair for Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE)
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Prof. Dr.
Rüdiger Quay
Fritz Hüttinger Chair for Energy-Efficient High-Frequency Electronics (EEH)
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