Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa)
We know what
Water creates.
Initiation and implementation of application-orientated research and innovation development for partners in industry and the municipal sector.
The Institute
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems focuses on applied research and development in the key areas of sponge city, 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 with partners from trade and industry - both nationally and internationally. There are separate research networks for key topics such as the removal of trace substances in wastewater. As the topic of water has a strong municipal focus, local authorities and cities are increasingly becoming partners in research activities.
KTnS
Competence and transfer centre for a sustainable sponge city and region
The needs of local authorities, specialist engineers, architects and urban planners expressed in the various individual SPORE projects form the basis of the ktn's content. In addition, new services and offers are being developed in response to requests from companies in Upper Franconia and Bavaria from the certificate course "The road to the sponge city - urban development in times 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
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Water infrastructure and digitalisation (DiWa)
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Sustainability and project management in water management (NaPro)
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Resource-efficient food production in integrated aquaculture (ReLe)
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Photonics and water (PhoWa)
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Projects
Further research projects
The research here is tough.
- Completed
- Completed
- Completed
- Completed
services
Much more than research.
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Contract research
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Further training
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Innovation consulting and support
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Water analysis
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Provision of research labs
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Sustainability optimisation
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Water management analysis and signposting for municipalities
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Free tools
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"The collaboration with the university on our project has been incredibly beneficial."
- Florian Schaller
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
"The collaboration with the university on our project has been incredibly beneficial."
- Florian Schaller
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
"The collaboration with the university on our project has been incredibly beneficial."
- Florian Schaller
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
First Mayor, Town of Schauenstein
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.
Digital pilot water
DRhochN goes digital
Sustainability in the WaWi
Become part of the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems
Career and academic theses
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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 Tobias Schnabel
Research group leader
Photonics and water (PhoWa)
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)
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