The two research institutes iTN and IOT at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences have been merged to form a new joint institute.
On January 6, 2021, the two research institutes iTN and IOT at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences became a joint institute, the Joint Institute for Sustainable Process Development, Surface Technology, Peat and Natural Materials Research iTN+IOT. This means that a research facility has now been established in Zittau in Building Z IX at Friedrich-Schneider-Strasse 26, where forward-looking topics of our time are holistically investigated and developed with regard to sustainable processes.
The dynamism and high potential of the joint institute are generated by its more than 30 employees and researching professors. The interdisciplinarity of all those involved offers many opportunities to work on projects in the traditional areas of the formerly separate Institutes for Process Development, Peat and Natural Materials Research(iTN) and Surface Technology(IOT), as well as to exploit newly emerging synergies.
These could be, for example, topics that deal with surface technology in connection with sustainable environmental technologies, as well as research projects that consistently consider aspects of the circular economy from the product idea to the end of a product. This particularly strengthens the importance and potential of the research focus areas "Energy and Environment" and "Materials - Structure - Surfaces" at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.
With its current four working groups
- Sustainable processes and procedures for stock preparation and recycling
- Soil Science, Geoengineering, and Landfilling
- Surface treatment and analytics
- Peat and natural substances
the Verbund Institute is already well prepared for future challenges. The establishment of the new Bioeconomy working group by Prof. Jakob Hildebrandt is a major additional benefit. This has opened up new research potential in this highly topical field.
The joint institute regulations and
structure were adopted at a plenary meeting in fall 2020. These were presented to the Senate of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on 21.12.2020 and put into force by the Rectorate on 06.01.2021. With the election of a presidential system with Prof. Dr. Martin Sturm as Institute Director and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Schoenherr as President in an advisory capacity, the competencies and networks of the joint institute will be further expanded. The name iTN+IOT was chosen for reasons of continuity until 31.12.2021. It will then be replaced by a name adapted to future research activities.
