Mission and profile of research at the HSCG

Why do we do research? What contribution does our research make to the region, to society and to teaching?

Why we do research: Mission & Profile

Research at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) is application-oriented and aimed at solving real-world social and technological challenges. It combines scientific work with a commitment to the Upper Lusatia region and a spirit of international openness.

Our mission statement

The university operates on the principles of openness, transparency, and participation. We see ourselves as a cosmopolitan, regionally rooted, and responsible employer.

Our research pursues clear goals:

  • Sustainability: We conduct applied research for a sustainable world.
  • Third Mission: In addition to teaching and research, knowledge transfer and social responsibility form the third central pillar of our work.
  • Synergy: We view the collaboration between our two campuses in Zittau and Görlitz as an opportunity.

Impact & figures

Our consistently high performance metrics demonstrate the effectiveness of our application-oriented research. HSZG is among the universities of applied sciences with the highest levels of third-party funding. A large number of concurrent projects and numerous doctoral programs underscore our research strength and our close ties to the professional world.

To the current key figures

Our Research Focus: The Research Priorities of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences

The research focuses on three main areas with clear topics.

Research focus on energy and the environment at the HSZG
Research focus: Energy & Environment
Research into energy conversion, optimization of power plant processes, automation, biotechnology and social aspects of the energy transition. The aim is to develop practical solutions for climate protection and resource efficiency.
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Research focus on transformation processes in business and society
Research focus: Transformation processes in the economy and society
Research on demographic change, post-socialism, social ecology, education, and regional development. The goal is to understand and shape social change with a focus on Upper Lusatia and comparable regions.
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Research focus on materials, structure and surfaces
Research focus: Materials-Structure-Surfaces
Research into lightweight and high-strength materials, energy-efficient manufacturing processes and surface coatings. The aim is to transfer new material and process technologies into industrial applications.
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Where we do research: Places & structures

Our research is organized in institutes, faculties and laboratories.

  • Institutes: Central institutes such as GAT, IPM, TRAWOS and ZIRKON combine expertise, infrastructure and cooperation.
  • Faculties & laboratories: The faculties anchor research in teaching, while modern laboratories provide the equipment for application-oriented projects.
Discover institutes & laboratories

How we promote & network: Transfer & impact

Transfer connects the HSZG with business, local authorities, associations and civil society. We strengthen the innovative power of Upper Lusatia and support structural change.

  • Impact: We create measurable benefits through projects, publications, intellectual property rights and collaborations.
  • Cycle: Our aim is to effectively disseminate findings to the outside world and to bring impulses from practice back into research questions.
For more information, see "How We Support and Connect Research"