News and events
News from the Institute
Read the latest news about sustainable water systems here.
Project completion InSchuKa 4.0: Artificial intelligence makes sewer networks climate-resilient
After three and a half years of intensive research, the joint project InSchuKa 4.0 is coming to an end. The aim is to use AI to help sewer networks react better to heavy rainfall and dry spells in the future...
3 November 2025
City lecture: "Münchberg is THE textile training centre in Bavaria!"
In mid-October, around 90 interested people gathered in the newly restored Münchberg Schützenhaus for the city lecture organised by the Institute of Materials Science at Hof University of Applied Sciences (ifm). Even before...
23 October 2025
Craftsmanship meets research: campus tour starts - focus on sponge city and practical innovations
Application meets research: this was the motto of the first campus tour at Hof University of Applied Sciences, which was attended by 42 participants. The new series of events was organised by the IHK...
6 October 2025
The Hof Research University: Webtalk with Anne-Christine Habbel offers insights into research & science (episode 45)
In this podcast we talk about current research topics. Anne-Christine Habbel, Head of Research Marketing, and students from the Marketing Management degree programme talk to the researchers about the latest...
1 October 2025
When artificial intelligence counts dice incorrectly - and science is explained in the middle of the pedestrian zone
The Hof autumn market: the smell of bratwurst in the air, beer fountains in constant use, thick jackets despite almost double-digit temperatures - and in the middle of it all, Hof University of Applied Sciences, which...
1 October 2025
The university's "green oasis" - a project for more conscious use of drinking water
Water is much more than just a thirst quencher. It is a central component of our health and well-being. On the one hand, it ensures basic physical...
17 September 2025
When the toilet flush becomes a pharmacy - paths to a sustainable water cycle
Pharmaceutical residues, household chemicals and other trace substances enter the water cycle via the sewage system and, as an invisible danger, represent a growing toxicological challenge for the environment and health....
14 September 2025
Campus tour "Application meets research": How can we become more water resilient?
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia Bayreuth (IHK), the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia (HWK) and Hof University of Applied Sciences cordially invite you to the campus tour "Application meets Research" on 29....
4 September 2025
"Peace begins with water" - Hof University of Applied Sciences conducts research in Colombia
A new international research project is dedicated to the question of how women in Colombia contribute to peace through environmental protection and resource utilisation. Also involved: the University of...
19 August 2025
"Transferwerkstatt Wasser hoferLand.digital": Hof University of Applied Sciences and the district of Hof drive digital solutions for water and climate protection
The district of Hof and Hof University of Applied Sciences have now launched a joint project on sustainability, digitalisation and future viability with the "Transferwerkstatt Wasser hoferLand.digital". The initiative...
18 August 2025
Enquiry: What is a cooperative doctorate?
If you want to add a doctorate to your academic career after completing your Master's degree, sooner or later you will stumble across the term "cooperative doctorate". We...
18 August 2025
Innovative spirit meets sustainability: Ideationweek 2025 at Hof University of Applied Sciences
Five days, nine creative minds, one common goal: developing solutions for a better future - that's Ideation Week at Hof University of Applied Sciences. Also in 2025...
5 August 2025
Plastic in soil, water & air - causes, effects & solutions
Around four kilograms of plastics per capita end up in the environment in Germany every year - with some serious consequences for nature, people and water. How...
29. July 2025
Rethinking water treatment - Fisheries training centre cooperates with Hof University of Applied Sciences
Scientists at Hof University of Applied Sciences and engineers from the company Hydrotec in Selb want to optimise the treatment of so-called clear water - for example in intensive...
29. July 2025
#kickstart2024: With a financial boost towards your start-up
With KICKSTART, Hof University of Applied Sciences has launched a funding programme that starts at a very early stage of a potential start-up - with the ideas and the...
21 July 2025
Textile floating islands: students develop innovation for the city of the future
Floating islands in the centre of the campus? What looks like an art project at first glance is actually an innovative contribution to sustainable urban development. Students of the...
15 July 2025
Students develop sustainable aid for development projects in Africa
How can we ensure that water and energy systems in developing regions continue to function in the long term and enable the local population to lead a better life in the long term? This question was...
8 July 2025
Ukrainian-German cooperation: INWA develops sustainable water technologies
At the end of June, Dr Harvey Harbach, Research Group Leader at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa), welcomed a new member of the team as part of the project "Integrating the concept of the 'sponge city' to develop a...
7 July 2025
Development company honours long-standing trailblazers
At the general meeting of the Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Hochschule Hof e.V. (Society of Friends and Sponsors of Hof University of Applied Sciences), the focus this time was on special personalities in addition to...
2 July 2025
Doctoral thesis at Hof University of Applied Sciences soon possible: Participation in doctoral centre opens up new career paths
It is a scientific milestone for Hof University of Applied Sciences: from 2026, it is expected that the educational institution, which was founded in 1994, will be able to conduct its own research in some...
6 June 2025
Ukrainian-German cooperation for sustainable water technologies
As part of the project "German-Ukrainian Strategy for Phosphorus Reduction in the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent (DeUS-Phor)", three Ukrainian researchers were guests at the Institute for Sustainable...
3 June 2025
With the city of Hof: research project for climate-resilient development area launched
The city of Hof is launching a forward-looking research project with the Institute for Sustainable Water and Waste Management INWA, among others. The aim is to lay the foundations for a water-...
19 May 2025
Young, committed, successful: Talisa Salik impresses at "Jugend forscht"
The 18-year-old from Kulmbach had very special support from Dr Harvey Harbach from Hof University of Applied Sciences. [more]
7 April 2025
Project completion: Cooperation project strengthens skilled labour base in the water industry
The second round of the "ITTQ" project recently came to a successful end with a small closing event. The project makes an important contribution to securing skilled labour...
4 April 2025
Now we're talking! The machines at Hof University of Applied Sciences: The gas chromatograph (episode 4): "I'm a super nose!"
And again the machines speak! Today we are talking about a gas chromatograph that has not been at Hof University of Applied Sciences for very long. It is used to analyse...
1 April 2025
Digital & competence-orientated testing - findings from the ii.oo project
The ii.oo project develops innovative concepts for examinations with their finger on the pulse of the times and encourages teachers to try out new approaches in their subject disciplines. [more]
25 March 2025
Hof district and university cooperate on "Transferwerkstatt Wasser hoferLand.digital"
As part of its Smart City programme "HoferLand.digital", the district of Hof is entering into a new research collaboration with Hof University of Applied Sciences on the topic of water management. The district committee...
21 February 2025
Rotary bend technology: climate-resilient duct management is being further developed
Hamburg engineer Günter Kupczik's rotating bend technology was first installed in the Dresden sewer system 30 years ago. Now this unique solution for intelligent sewer management is being...
6 February 2025
5000 for the university: VR Bank Bayreuth-Hof supports two innovative projects in 2024
VR Bank Bayreuth-Hof has been committed to Hof University of Applied Sciences for many years and thus to the educational prospects in the region. The donation from the...
7 January 2025
Tapping water, protecting the environment - "drinking culture" as a hands-on project!
Hof University of Applied Sciences is calling on its students and staff to actively participate in the "Drinking Culture" project. The research project uses a local example to investigate how drinking water stations...
17 December 2024
Master "Sustainable Water Management and Engineering" visits Hof wastewater treatment plant
Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan, head of the study programme, showed the most important devices, wastewater treatment processes and the SCADA control system during a tour. [more]
17 December 2024
Sustainable plant production: substrate made from sheep's wool to replace peat in horticulture
Under the leadership of Dr Harvey Harbach, a research group is working with regional and industrial partners to investigate how sheep's wool as a natural material can replace peat and plastic in...
16 December 2024
Sustainable water management: theory meets practice
At the end of November, students on the "Sustainable Water Management and Engineering" Master's programme had a practical learning experience as part of the "Smart Water" course. [more]
10 December 2024
Water Symposium online: How can water resources be secured?
The fourth edition of the Hof Water Symposium, which is organised by the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa), went online this year...
29 October 2024
Qualification of refugees for the water industry: next course from November
A total of 19 participants gained further qualifications for tasks in the Bavarian water industry. The 15-week course is aimed specifically at people with a refugee or migrant background.
26 August 2024
4th Hof Water Symposium: How we can secure our water resources! (CANCELLED!)
The 4th Hof Water Symposium will take place on 15 and 16 October 2024. The focus will be on securing both global and regional water supplies....
26 August 2024
"InSchuKa" project: Sustainability award for intelligently controlled channels
Climate change and extreme weather conditions pose major challenges for water management. As part of the InSchuKa research project and in collaboration with the Hof University of Applied Sciences, among others, the JenaWasser...
18 July 2024
Cooperation with India expanded: Wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry is purified
As part of the pharmIn2 project, representatives of the Bavarian-Indian Centre for Industry and Higher Education (BayIND) and the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) at Hof University of Applied Sciences travelled to...
12 July 2024
Green hydrogen as a core technology of the energy transition - partnerships with Namibia
Namibia in particular is recognised by many experts as one of the most promising countries for the cost-effective production of green hydrogen and its derivatives such as methane,...
11 July 2024
#kickstart2024 - Introducing: Mobile measurement test station for analysing soil moisture
With KICKSTART, Hof University of Applied Sciences has launched a funding programme that starts at a very early stage of a potential start-up - right from the idea or the...
3 July 2024
Hof University of Applied Sciences qualifies refugees and migrants for the water industry
A new type of further training programme started at the beginning of April: a total of 19 participants came together to gain further qualifications for tasks in the Bavarian water industry. The course is aimed...
25 April 2024
"Learning Bites 2024": How the university can learn from itself "bite by bite"!
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) aims to improve methodological expertise, for example in project management, with a new format aimed purely at scientists from its own university.
22 March 2024
Smart sewer network with AI: Intelligent management system protects against heavy rainfall & water pollution
The development of an intelligent management system for sewer networks is the aim of a research project involving Hof University of Applied Sciences. This is to be achieved through the use of innovative...
29 February 2024
Pollution from pharmaceutical residues - university strengthens wastewater treatment in India
The purification of toxic wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry in India is to be improved - this is the aim of a research project at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at the...
30 January 2024
5000 € donation: VR Bank Bayreuth - Hof supports water research
VR Bank Bayreuth-Hof has been committed to Hof University of Applied Sciences for many years and thus to the educational prospects in the region. With a donation in...
21 December 2023
#kickstart2023 - Introducing: "Kat-Energy" - Energy from micropollutants
With KICKSTART, Hof University of Applied Sciences has launched a funding programme that starts at a very early stage of a potential start-up - with the ideas or prototype development....
11 December 2023
Topic "Sustainable urban development": Visit from Mongolia
The International Department of the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (bbw) gGmbH organised a specialist seminar back in October. An 18-strong delegation from Mongolia therefore spent a week in the...
11 December 2023
Sustainability at Christmas and during Advent - where it can be found everywhere
. How can you make the Advent and Christmas season more sustainable and yet beautiful, delicious and cosy? Here are our tips from the university family: [more]
8 December 2023
Upper Franconian teachers' health day during the TAO theme year
As part of the TAO Health theme year, which focuses on networking the players in the health sector in Upper Franconia and informing society about health issues, the...
28 November 2023
"We want to become the central contact point for the sponge city/region in Bavaria!"
The new Competence and Transfer Centre for a Sustainable Sponge Region (ktns) was recently launched. Prof Günter Müller-Czygan, Head of the Institute for Sustainable Sponge...
27 November 2023
"What was it actually like back then?"- The birth of the iwe in the big Campuls interview
With the construction of the Centre for Water and Energy Management (ZWE), a vision that was conceived 15 years ago by university president Prof. Lehmann is coming to fruition.
9 November 2023
TAO theme year ends: The exciting new world of healthcare
The TAO Health Congress, organised by Hof University of Applied Sciences, was the final event of the Health theme year of the Technology Alliance of Upper Franconia (TAO). [more]
2 November 2023
Searching for synergies: Sustainability at the centre of the 4th Institute Colloquium
The 4th colloquium of the research institutes ibp, ifm, inwa, iisys and iwe once again impressively demonstrated the full breadth of research at Hof University of Applied Sciences. The...
20 October 2023
Closing event for the TAO theme year "Health" in Hof
On Friday, 20 October 2023, the closing congress for this year's "Health" theme year of the Technology Alliance of Upper Franconia (TAO) will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the iisys building at...
16 October 2023
"Learning by doing": an innovative learning method challenges students
The digitalisation of research and teaching is a major topic at the Hof University of Applied Sciences. A new learning and teaching method is...
19 September 2023
The Hof Research University - the webtalk with Anne-Christine Habbel (episode 43)
In this podcast we talk about current research topics. Anne-Christine Habbel, Head of Research Marketing, and students from the Marketing Management degree programme talk to the researchers about the latest...
11 August 2023
"inwa" successfully launched: Focus on securing water resources
Four months ago, the newly founded Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) began its work. Prof Günter Müller-Czygan, spokesperson for "inwa", provides information on the...
26 July 2023
Sustainability at Hof University of Applied Sciences: the campus as a place to live, learn, research and transfer
Hof University of Applied Sciences wants to develop sustainability into one of its most important principles of action in the future. To this end, Anja Grabmeier was recently appointed as the university's new sustainability...
22 May 2023
The university's new sustainability manager: Anja Grabmeier
Sustainability is to become the guiding principle for the use of resources at Hof University of Applied Sciences. In order to drive the topic forward with all our might, ideas...
28 April 2023
Grand ceremony: Hof University of Applied Sciences bids farewell to over 350 graduates
Last Saturday, the graduates of 2022 took centre stage at Hof University of Applied Sciences. They received their Bachelor's and Master's degrees at a ceremony...
3 April 2023
"iwe" and "inwa" take the place of the Institute for Water and Energy Management
The strong growth in the research sector has led to a significant change at Hof University of Applied Sciences: The former Institute for Water and Energy Management at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iwe)...
30 March 2023
Major meeting of the water industry: iwe presents at the DVGW-Wassertreff Hof
The Freiheitshalle in Hof will be the meeting place for decision-makers in the water industry from 26 to 27 April 2023. The DVGW regional groups for Central Germany and Bavaria are inviting...
3 March 2023
University competition: Dr Harvey Harbach's food project wins award
Dr Harvey Harbach's research into sustainable food production at Hof University of Applied Sciences is one of the award-winning projects in the university competition for the "Science Year 2023...
22 February 2023
Free further training: Attracting and retaining skilled workers
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, attracting and retaining qualified employees is becoming an increasingly important challenge....
24 January 2023
Green hydrogen: New research focus at Hof University of Applied Sciences
With funding from the Hightech Agenda Bayern, Professors Tobias Plessing, Tobias Schnabel and Jörg Krumreich and Deputy Institute Director Andy Gradel are currently finalising...
7 December 2022
Water in the mirror of climate change and sustainability
On 12 and 13 October 2022, the Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with the Water and Energy Competence Network...
24 October 2022
Better food for humans and fish: iwe seeks sustainable alternative to fishmeal
With a new research project, a team at the Institute for Water and Energy Management at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iwe) wants to develop more sustainable food for fish. [more]
19 October 2022
Free further training: How do companies attract skilled labour today?
The Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is making it possible for smaller companies to gain further qualifications as part of the "Digital Recruitment high-N"...
14 October 2022
2nd Hof Water Symposium: Participants can expect an interactive and innovative programme
On 12 and 13 October 2022, the Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is organising the 2nd Hof Water Symposium. Registration is still...
9 September 2022
In the service of water management: travelling in the Mekong Delta - including an emergency landing
Dr Harvey Harbach, a water scientist from the Institute of Water and Energy Management in Hof, recently went on a research trip to Southeast Asia. The aim of the trip was to exchange...
9 August 2022
The region as a "water sponge" - How to respond to climate change?
Climate change and its often devastating consequences are omnipresent worldwide. A project at Hof University of Applied Sciences will now focus on the specific consequences of...
17 June 2022
Register now: Recruitment of skilled labour - digital, sustainable and practice-oriented
With a newly launched programme, Hof University of Applied Sciences wants to enable small and medium-sized companies throughout Bavaria to recruit skilled workers free of charge with the help of digital recruiting and...
31 May 2022
Aquaponics facility inaugurated: Sustainability can now be experienced at Hof Zoo
The Hochfranken Zoological Society and the Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences have launched the environmental education project "Aquaponics at the zoo - living sustainability". In the process...
25 May 2022
Interview: 2nd Hof Water Symposium focusses on climate change and sustainability
On 12 and 13 October 2022, the 2nd Hof Water Symposium will be a top event in the water and wastewater industry. We discussed the concept with...
13 May 2022
University support organisation elects new treasurer
At the general meeting of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of Hof University of Applied Sciences, Dr Michael Braun from Rödl & Partner was elected to the...
11 May 2022
"InSchuKa4.0": Arming the wastewater network against the consequences of climate change
As part of the "InSchuKa4.0" research project, a consortium of six partners, including the Institute for Water and Energy Management at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iwe), aims to make the wastewater network...
13 April 2022
Attracting and retaining skilled workers - digital, sustainable and practice-orientated
The Hof University of Applied Sciences has now launched a programme to enable small and medium-sized companies to attract skilled workers with the help of digital recruiting and marketing measures. [more]
22 February 2022
How to counter heavy rainfall: Looking for alternatives to channel expansion
In recent years, heavy rainfall events and flooding have been on the increase. Against this backdrop, there is a massive need for action in dealing with concentrated water masses in order to minimise their...
16 February 2022
Wastewater reuse - the way out of global water scarcity?
In large parts of the world, water is extracted from groundwater or surface water to meet the water needs of the population. However, these water resources are not available in unlimited...
15 February 2022
Aquaponics: Ecological water purification in aquacultures - with less effort!
Researchers at Hof University of Applied Sciences want to reduce the amount of labour and materials used in the management of closed aquaculture facilities, among other things. This is to be achieved with the help of biodegradable,...
12 January 2022
Make concrete suggestions for improvement with "Change it!
Make your university even better! With "Change it!-Stud", a new portal is now online on the Hof University of Applied Sciences website, where students can...
1 December 2021
About fish, hydropower and children's cooking: the new podcast from Hof University of Applied Sciences
In the latest podcast, you can find out why the university is conducting research into fish, among other things. Dr Harvey Harbach answers Anne-Christine Habbel's questions about...
10 November 2021
Producing food safely and sustainably in state-of-the-art aquaponics
In a two-year research project, Hof University of Applied Sciences is investigating sustainable food production in aquaponics without any microplastics. [more]
11 October 2021
Aquaponics for beginners - schools teach sustainable food production
"Aquaponics for beginners - fish and vegetables at school" is a current environmental education project that enables schools in the Hofer Land region to...
14 July 2021
Sustainable power generation in aquaculture, sewage treatment plants and wastewater channels
A new research project by the Institute for Water and Energy Management at Hof University of Applied Sciences aims to promote the potential and utilisation of hydropower in existing water systems and...
12 May 2021
Environmental project with Hof Zoo supports homeschooling: Experience sustainability!
A new joint project between Hof Zoo and Hof University of Applied Sciences aims to strengthen the environmental education of schoolchildren. The "Aquaponics at the zoo - experiencing sustainability" project...
7 May 2021
Production of sustainable food in aquacultures - without microplastics
Sustainable food production in aquacultures without any microplastics - that is the long-term goal of a new research project that will run for two years. [more]
1 March 2021
Water management as a solution to a question of human destiny
With a new Master's degree programme in sustainable water management, Hof University of Applied Sciences will be offering a qualification that combines management and technical skills in a unique way from the winter semester 2021/22...
16 February 2021
Digitalisation in the water industry: WaterExe4.0 meta-study launched
In a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) entitled "WaterExe4.0", researchers at the Institute of Water and Energy Management (iwe) at the University of...
10 February 2021
EN 
DE