Recycling gets a new coat of paint
A new joint research institute is being formed from the two research institutes, iTN and IOT, at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.
On January 6, 2021, the two research institutes iTN and IOT at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences merged to form a joint institute: the Joint Institute for Sustainable Process Development, Surface Technology, Peat, and Natural Materials Research (iTN+IOT). This has created a research facility in Zittau, located in Building Z IX at Friedrich-Schneider-Straße 26, where forward-looking topics of our time related to sustainable processes are holistically investigated and developed.
The dynamism and high potential of the joint institute are driven by its more than 30 staff members and research professors. The interdisciplinary nature of all those involved offers many opportunities not only to work on projects in the traditional areas of the formerly separate institutes for process development, Peat and Natural Products Research (iTN), and Surface Technology (IOT), as well as to capitalize on emerging synergies.
Future Research Topics
These may include, for example, topics dealing with surface technology in conjunction with sustainable environmental technologies, as well as research projects that consistently incorporate aspects of the circular economy from the initial product concept through to the end of a product’s life cycle. This particularly reinforces the significance and potential of the research priorities “Energy and Environment” and “Materials—Structure—Surfaces” at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.
With its current four research groups
- Sustainable Processes and Methods for Material Processing and Recycling
- Soil Science, Geotechnical Engineering, and Landfill Management
- Surface Treatment and Analytics
- Peat and Natural Materials
The joint institute is already good at preparing for future challenges. The establishment of the new Bioeconomy working group by Prof. Jakob Hildebrandt has provided a major additional benefit. This now opens up new research opportunities in this highly topical field.
“With the iTN+IOT joint research institute, we are now in a position to conduct futures research in areas such as environmental process engineering, thereby making a decisive contribution to structural change in Upper Lusatia and beyond, and supporting developments at our university,” says the new director of iTN+IOT, Prof. Dr. Martin Sturm.
”At a general assembly in the fall of 2020, the joint institute bylaws and
-structure were adopted. These were presented to the Senate of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on December 21, 2020, and put into effect by the University Executive Board on January 6, 2021. With the adoption of a presidential system—featuring Prof. Dr. Martin Sturm as Institute Director and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Schoenherr as President in an advisory capacity—the joint institute’s capabilities and networks are being further expanded. The name iTN+IOT was chosen for reasons of continuity until December 31, 2021. It will then be replaced by a name tailored to future research activities.
