Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa)
We know what
Water creates.
Application-orientated research and innovation development for business partners and the municipal sector.
The Institute
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems focuses on applied research and development in the key areas of sponge cities, photonics, and food production.
Research areas
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems conducts research in the areas of sponge cities, photonics and food production as well as sustainability and digitalisation. One focus is on the transfer of knowledge from research results into practice, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and local authorities.
Foundation and development
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences was founded as an independent institute in March 2023, having emerged from the predecessor Institute for Water and Energy Management. With four research groups and around 15 academic staff, the focus is on application-oriented research and innovation development in the water sector for industry and local authorities.
Goal
Research activities centre on application-oriented innovation developments and transfer tasks with partners from trade and industry as well as local authorities and cities - both nationally and internationally. We have our own research networks for individual key topics such as the elimination of trace substances in wastewater.
ktns
Competence and transfer centre for a sustainable sponge city and region
The goals and tasks of the Competence and Transfer Centre for Sustainable Sponge City and Region (ktns) reflect the different needs of municipalities, specialist engineers, architects and urban planners that were expressed in the course of the SPORE project and the certificate course "The Road to the Sponge City - Urban Development in Times of Climate Change" to overcome the challenges posed by the effects of climate change.
Knowledge storage and transfer
Collect existing knowledge on the subject of the sponge city/sponge region in a web-based knowledge repository and transfer it to practice in the form of training courses or similar.
Counselling & Coaching
With the second focal point, we form the link between solutions from the knowledge repository and their preliminary examination for implementation by planning offices.
Research and development
Research groups
With around 20 scientists, inwa develops practical solutions for trade, industry and local authorities to tackle climate challenges.
Water infrastructure and digitalisation (DiWa)
Water infrastructure, digitalisation and knowledge transfer.
Sustainability and project management in water management (NaPro)
Methods for more project sustainability, Sustainability indicators and Instruments for analysing and optimising sustainability.
Resource-efficient food production in integrated aquaculture (ReLe)
Aquatic food production, Integrated aquaculture and aquaponics, Vermiculture, Resource-efficient systems (incl. renewable energy).
Photonics and water (PhoWa)
AOP procedure, Water reuse, Photonic processes, Innovative sanitary systems.
Projects
Further research projects
The research here is tough.
- Current
- Current
- Current
- Current
- Current
- Current
services
Much more than research.
We focus on applied research and offer various services.
Contract research
Monitoring, data collection, scientific evaluation, technical concepts, acceptance analyses and training in areas such as recruiting, sustainability and digitalisation.
Further training
Training and certificate courses in sponge city, skilled labour recruitment, sustainability and digitalisation to support municipalities and companies in extreme weather, skills shortages and digital challenges
Innovation consulting and support
Development and realisation of research ideas, including innovation consulting, procurement of funding, project management and coordination in our own research fields.
Water analysis
The technical equipment in our laboratories enables us to offer a wide range of analytical services.
Provision of research labs
The provision of our laboratory infrastructure and the associated measuring equipment opens up a wide range of possibilities.
Sustainability optimisation
Project management, process analysis and optimisation as well as implementation of sustainability factors.
Water management analysis and signposting for municipalities
Recording, defining and evaluating sponge city measures at different spatial scales.
Free tools
Useful aids and tools relating to the core topics of inwa.
"We have the pleasure of working with inwa as part of a ZIM network and two resulting research projects. We particularly appreciate the high level of expertise and the uncomplicated nature of the cooperation."
- Steffen Richter
Managing Director of Blue Foot Membranes GmbH, Saerbeck
Managing Director of Blue Foot Membranes GmbH, Saerbeck
"Our collaboration with the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences was and is "strange" in the best sense of the word. In addition to a joint ZIM network, we were also able to successfully implement a funding project in the field of wastewater treatment in the pharmaceutical industry in India. The collaboration was fast, efficient and accompanied by a lot of curiosity and joy. "We like it!""
- Ulla Pöschl
Managing Director of up2e! GmbH
Managing Director of up2e! GmbH
Latest news
News and events
News about the inwa and its events.
Free tools
Simply achieve more.
Our free tools support you with a wide range of tasks.
Sustainability in the WaWi
.
Become part of the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems
Career and academic theses
Job offers and project, Bachelor's or Master's theses - you've come to the right place.
- Development of textile-based green facades (2 internship positions and Master's topics)
The development and testing of textile-based green façades is planned as part of a new research project. In preparation for the tests, the test setup and test implementation are to be developed with the help of two Master's theses including the associated internship.
a) Topic 1: In this project, the structural design for the textile green façade is to be developed, including a proposal for installation on a concrete wall and connection to the ground. The result is to be presented as a CAD 3D drawing and a list of materials is to be drawn up. At least 3 variants for attaching the green façades are to be designed and evaluated.
b) Topic 2: In this project, the irrigation system for the textile green façade is to be developed. This includes the creation of a scenario analysis for the water requirement under different climatic conditions, the development of a water storage concept for the calculated worst-case scenario, a technical irrigation unit for irrigating the green façade and an IoT-based irrigation control system incorporating weather data.
Topics 1 and 2 are to be worked on together. The Master's students entrusted with the task must discuss it with each other and create a common knowledge base so that the results of both topics are harmonised. - Creation of a guideline for sponge concepts in German industrial and commercial areas
This thesis analyses the state of the art/science in the field of sponge cities. The aim is to analyse whether there are already special sponge solutions for industrial and commercial areas. In addition, existing sponge city concepts are to be analysed to determine which of them are suitable for the special requirements in industrial and commercial areas or how identified sponge city concepts can be adapted. The results are to be checked for suitability in a case analysis of real industrial and commercial areas. To this end, selected industrial and commercial areas are to be examined in on-site visits.
Two Master's theses and internships will be awarded.
The Master's students entrusted with the task have to discuss with each other and create a common knowledge base so that the results of both topics are harmonised.
3. preparation of an in-depth risk analysis of the sponge stadium and development of solutions to improve teaching
As part of the Risk Management lecture in the summer semester 2025, various risk analyses were carried out at the sponge stadium and initial suggestions for improvement were drawn up. The subject of two Master's theses and an internship will be an in-depth and scientifically sound analysis of the existing study results. Two topics will be analysed for this purpose.
Topic 1: Technical risk analysis - in addition to analysing the existing study results, the existing technology of the sponge stadium is to be completely analysed and a detailed inventory of the technology drawn up. To this end, every technical detail must be recorded and checked for functionality. A comparison with the actual state of the art must then be drawn up for all functional units and it must be established how up-to-date the technology used in the sponge stadium is, what is missing and what needs to be added. To complete the task, a PID of the existing technology must be created in CAD and a second PID for an optimised state. As a result, a functional description is to be created for an optimised sponge stadium as well as a material list of the parts and components to be changed and added.
Topic 2: Risk analysis of the learning environment - in addition to analysing the existing study results, the learning environment of the sponge stadium should be examined. This includes, for example, the room situation, the available exercise units, the organisation of the learning units or the transfer of learning to reality. A comprehensive literature analysis will be used to find out what the learning environment looks like in comparable learning systems, what advantages and disadvantages are described here and what can be transferred to the sponge stadium(t)ion.
Topics 1 and 2 are to be worked on together. The Master's students entrusted with the task must discuss it with each other and create a common knowledge base so that the results of both topics are harmonised.
Students who are interested in working on the topics offered can send their application to martina.monien-zeh.2@hof-university.de send. The application must be accompanied by informative documents which clearly show that the applicant has sufficient interest and expertise in the desired topic. In addition, a cover letter must clearly explain why the applicant considers him/herself suitable for the selected topic.
Contact us
Contact person
The inwa is managed by an institute management consisting of all research group leaders. One member of the institute management takes on the role of spokesperson for the external presentation of inwa and represents the organisation of the institute.
Prof Günter Müller-Czygan
Institute Director; Research Group Leader
Water infrastructure and digitalisation (DiWa)
Prof Dr Manuela Wimmer
Deputy Head of Institute; Research Group Leader
Sustainability and project management in water management (NaPro)
Dr Harvey Harbach
Research group leader
Resource-efficient food production in integrated aquaculture (ReLe)
Prof. Dr Tobias Schnabel
Research group leader
Photonics and water (PhoWa)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
EN 
DE