Our fields of research
The IZT stands for the major topics of sustainability and shaping the future, technology assessment and technology design, and is a pioneer in key cross-cutting and integrative fields such as sustainability, digitalisation and resilience.
Education and Digital Media
At the IZT, "Learning" stands for future-oriented media-didactic education with a focus on sustainability and applied, practice-relevant future topics such as artificial intelligence or sustainable nutrition.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2024 – 2027
KEECZ - Climate and energy efficient caterers and central kitchens
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2022 – 2023
The Project Agency Vocational Education for Sustainable Development (PA-BBNE)
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2021 – 2024
KlimaRatSchule - Protecting the climate through democratic participation in schools. School: Change: Act.
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2020 – 2023
Resource competence for the use of raw materials in global value chains: an exemplary analysis using the example of the study programmes in design and engineering sciences
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2020 – 2022
CLIKIS-Network: Reducing GHG emissions from school meals in Estonia and Croatia
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2020 – 2021
KEEKS-Berlin: Climate and Energy Efficient Kitchen at Berlin Schools
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2019 – 2022
go green! The future in your hands! Workcamps for young people for career guidance
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2019 – 2024
BilRess network: Support for education providers in the field of resource efficiency
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2019 – 2020
Land with AI - Land with a future?
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2019
WAVE - Know, Apply, Understand and Experience Artificial Intelligence
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2019
Conceptualisation, implementation and follow-up of an initial and a follow-up workshop on "Sustainable work in the context of the 2030 Agenda/German Sustainability Strategy"
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2018 – 2021
KORN-SCOUT - Of the grain and its many users - Strengthening grain competences for sustainability in the food craft sector
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2018
SLOW Smart Learning - Use of media in online continuing education
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2018
Digitisation of the skilled crafts using the example of eight learning stations
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2018 – 2019
CLIKIS - Climate friendly Kitchen in Schools
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2016 – 2019
KEEKS - Climate and energy-efficient kitchens in schools
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2016
Environmental education for migrants - the development of short videos
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2016
Development of a curriculum for further training for trainees as "resource scouts"
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2015 – 2019
BilRess network: Education for resource conservation and resource efficiency
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2015 – 2019
LehrRess - Support for education providers in the field of resource efficiency
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2014 – 2015
Megatrends in the energy industry
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2014 – 2017
Smart Learning - Use of media in training and education in the crafts sector
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2012 – 2016
BilRess: Identification and development of offers for all educational sectors on the topic of resource conservation and resource efficiency.
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2016 – 2019
BilRess II - Website
-
2009 – 2012
efit - Lifelong qualification in the future field of renewable energies
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2009 – 2013
Renewable energies experience: powerado-plus
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2007 – 2010
BewareE - Reducing residents' energy consumption through behavioural changes
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2007 – 2008
Roadmap Fire Protection 2020+
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2006 – 2009
Solar support for schools - utilising dormant photovoltaic systems for environmental communication
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2006 – 2008
Improving raw material productivity and resource conservation
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2006 – 2008
The world of renewable energies: powerado
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2024 – 2026
Na Klima! (Further) education for natural climate protection (BilNaKlim)
Digitisation
The IZT investigates the causes, interrelationships and effects of digitalisation on the economy and society in research projects and commissioned work.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2020
Data governance and regulation for a sustainable Berlin
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2020 – 2023
CO:DINA - Transformation roadmap
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2021
Supporting the UBA in preparing a report on "Digitalisation and Sustainability" in the Sino-German Environmental Partnership Phase II
-
2021
Policy Paper on Digital Geopolitics in the Global South in a Development Policy Context
-
2021
Digital Transformation in the Global South: Transatlantic principles for value-based cooperation
-
2017
Real-Time Delphi: Digitisation and Sustainability
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2019
Real-time Delphi for the CAIS research incubator "Perspectives on digitisation research"
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2019 – 2020
Land with AI - Land with a future?
Energy, climate and infrastructure
The "Energy" thematic area focuses on research into the energy transition and the transformation of our energy system and energy use.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2022 – 2025
EmPowerPlan - Participation and justice on the ground
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2020 – 2023
Preparation of the content of public participation in the context of updating the National Clean Air Programme
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2019 – 2023
5G-VICTORI - Vertical demos over Common large scale field Trials for Rail, energy and media Industries
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2023 – 2024
Scientific support of a concept, pilot and guideline in the context of energy sharing
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2017 – 2022
Innovative Solutions in Future Stations, Energy Metering and Power Supply (In2Stempo)
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2017 – 2019
NERC Directive: Further development of forecasts for air pollutants for national clean air programmes
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2021
Use of digital technologies in energy communities
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2014 – 2016
Strong female craftswomen Energy + Efficiency
-
2020
Germany on the way to climate neutrality: What opportunities and risks does digitalisation present?
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2017 – 2018
HERBIE - Comparative Evaluation of Vegetation Control and Management Methods for European Railways
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2016 – 2020
Evaluation of the National Efficiency Label for old heating systems
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2020 – 2022
More quality of life, less environmental consumption - user-oriented development of sufficiency policy project outlines in the environment ministry
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2017 – 2019
Evaluation of the project "Market Monitoring Support" in the framework of the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE)
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2016 – 2017
SUSTAIN - Best Practices, Benchmarking and Recommendations for Sustainable Stations
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2013 – 2016
VerNetzen: Social-ecological, technical and economic modelling of development paths of the energy transition
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2019 – 2020
TRISTRAM - TRansItion STRategy on vegetAtion Management
-
2018 – 2019
Research map on coupled, climate-resilient, sustainable infrastructures in Europe
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2017
Prospects for citizen participation in the energy transition, taking distribution issues into account - BuergEn
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2018 – 2021
City of the future: Climate-resilient urban-rural cooperation. Innovations of regional biomass production, circular economy and governance
-
2017
Ukrainian Railways: Energy efficiency, energy policy and organisation
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2018 – 2019
Recycling in the age of digitalisation: Specific recycling targets for metals and plastics from small electrical appliances in the ElektroG: Regulatory approaches
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2016 – 2019
KliReX - Identifying and evaluating the greenhouse gas reduction potential of resource efficiency policies
-
2017
Comparative economic and ecological evaluation of innovative, stationary energy storage technologies in industrial production
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2013 – 2014
Implications of the amended reporting obligations for EU ETS and greenhouse gas inventories due to the Effort Sharing Decision
-
2010 – 2013
"Automated green laundries": Investigation, adaptation and evaluation of a rational technology for the holistic recycling of a novel RFID transponder used in flat linen
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2010 – 2012
Key elements of electromobility in the electricity industry: storage, grids, integration
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2008 – 2010
Development of a module with measures to increase the acceptance of organic waste collection by the municipal waste collection service
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2007 – 2009
CARRIVA - Dynamic carpooling for commuters at Frankfurt Airport via "carpooling clubs"
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2009 – 2012
Scientific advice to the European Parliament on energy issues
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2006 – 2010
Advanced Thin Film Technologies for Cost Effective Photovoltaics
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2024 – 2025
Evaluation of the Competence Centre for the Municipal Heat Transition
Health and well-being
Meeting structural challenges through active future design, transdisciplinary dialogue and transformation
Selected projects and publications
Projects
-
2021 – 2023
Crisis radar - Strengthening the resilience of society, politics and the economy through crisis prediction
-
2022
Expertise on the establishment of an interdisciplinary and multigenerational competence centre for social digitalisation
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2020 – 2021
Crowd Process Audiovisual Storytelling on the Problematic Use of Electronic Media
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2017 – 2020
Norms in demographic change. Health and illness, solidarity and justice
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2019 – 2024
Status and perspectives of telemedicine
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2017 – 2019
LogMySelf - Opportunities, risks and future of lifelogging and self-measurement in discourse with young people
-
2016 – 2017
Quantified Self - between lifestyle and medicine
-
2016 – 2017
Health apps
-
2014 – 2016
New electronic media and addictive behaviour
-
2014
Co-production in the welfare mix of work with the elderly
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2021 – 2024
SpringLight learning with an intelligent pen in augmented reality
Communication and publicity
The research field includes, in particular, investigations into how private individuals can be informed in a target group-related manner and motivated to discuss scientific and technological developments.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2020 – 2023
Citizens' dialogue on nuclear energy (1974-1983) - State action in the debate on nuclear waste disposal and its significance for today's site selection procedure
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2021 – 2022
Investigation into the usability of Citizen Science to obtain data on indoor radon concentrations
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2018 – 2020
BioDisKo-Bioeconomic Use Paths - Discourse and Communication
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2019 – 2020
Possibilities of tailoring risk information in radiation protection to different target groups on the Internet
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2018 – 2019
Evaluation of the BfS messages and texts from the area of electricity grid expansion
-
2017 – 2019
Substitutes for food: technology assessment, sustainability, future orientation in discourse with young people
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2016 – 2017
Stakeholder surveys in the municipalities of the BMBF Energy Efficient City competition
-
2016 – 2017
Handbook on the inter- and transdisciplinary integration of humanities, social and cultural sciences (GSK) in research projects at the Viennese Universities of Applied Sciences
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2015 – 2016
Discourse ELSA: Young people and how they deal with ethical, legal and social issues of performance enhancement through brain doping
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2015 – 2016
Discrimination risks in Germany related to boys and men, their prevalence and public perception as well as possible protection gaps
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1999
Conception and organisation of an information and communication event "New self-employment on the net"
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2000 – 2002
Technological and economic structural change: spatial effects and regional adaptation strategies
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2009 – 2010
Investigation of the change in the information culture of the authorities responsible for food and feed monitoring as well as the companies active in this field due to the entry into force of the Consumer Information Act (VIG)
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2008 – 2009
Effects of government risk communication on risk perception and risk understanding
-
2007
Discourse forum for young people on the Internet: Genetic research interactive
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2005
Expert workshops "Healthy living"
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2024 – 2026
Discourse history of EMF criticism in Germany - actors and positions
Mobility and urbanity
Embedded in social, economic, technical and regulatory developments, our mobility and transport system is experiencing an accelerated transformation process. The focus of this research field is on helping to shape this change in the sense of increasing resilience and social justice in the context of climate neutrality.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2024 – 2027
Mobile Elbe Valley - Future lab
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2021 – 2023
Crisis radar - Strengthening the resilience of society, politics and the economy through crisis prediction
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2022 – 2023
Shaping the mobility transition fairly
-
2021 – 2022
Henriette Kiez Cruiser
-
2017 – 2022
Innovative Solutions in Future Stations, Energy Metering and Power Supply (In2Stempo)
-
2021 – 2022
micromobility expo 2022
-
2020 – 2022
DIGNITY - Digital Transport in and for Society
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2020 – 2021
Resilient mobility - approaches for a crisis-proof and social transport system
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2020 – 2021
Potential analysis in the innovation field "New Ways
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2020 – 2021
Public transport between the common good and commerce. Changing value creation structures through new mobility services
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2020
How COVID-19 working routines can save emission in a post-Covid-19 world. An estimate of the emission saving potentials through home-based telework
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2019 – 2020
micromobility expo digital 2020
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2019 – 2020
T4 For Under 2° - The Global Foresight Project on Transforming Mobility by Mid-Century
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2019 – 2020
Mobility Foresight Study China & Germany. Within the framework of the BMU IKI-Project "Sino-German Cooperation on Low Carbon Transport" (CLCT)
-
2019 – 2020
TRISTRAM - TRansItion STRategy on vegetAtion Management
-
2019
Mobility services - employment, distribution effects, access opportunities
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2018 – 2019
Mobility as a Service in the Graz City Region
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2015 – 2018
Innovative Intelligent Rail - In2Rail
-
2017
Ukrainian Railways: Energy efficiency, energy policy and organisation
-
2016 – 2017
SUSTAIN - Best Practices, Benchmarking and Recommendations for Sustainable Stations
-
2016
Environment and scenario analysis: The future of the global motorbike market in 2030
-
2023 – 2024
Resilient mobility in Baden-Württemberg
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2000 – 2001
U.MOVE - Youth and Mobility. Mobility style research for the development of target group-specific intermodal mobility services for young people
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2000 – 2002
Moabit freight sub-centre
Publications
-
2025
Mobility justice as a guiding concept of transport policy
-
2025
Henriette Kiez Cruiser
-
2025
How COVID-19 working routines can save emissions in a post-COVID-19 world
-
2025
Resilient mobility. Approaches for a crisis-resistant and social transport system
-
2025
The impact of digital platforms on public transport. New strategies for the design of mobility.
-
2025
Potential analysis in the innovation field "New Ways" for the joint project "Wendland-Elbe Valley - Sustainable Elbe Valley. New Work - New Paths - New Forms of Living".
-
2025
The value of public transport between the common good and commerce
-
2025
Sustainable data regulation for the Berlin transport sector
Resources, economies and resilience
Investigation of innovations and future markets for the success of a social-ecological transformation of the economy
Selected projects and publications
Projects
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2019 – 2024
Agro-Northwest. Experimental field for digital transformation in agricultural crop production
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2021 – 2023
Roadmap Future of Water Management
-
2021 – 2023
Crisis radar - Strengthening the resilience of society, politics and the economy through crisis prediction
-
2020 – 2021
Public transport between the common good and commerce. Changing value creation structures through new mobility services
-
2020
CiBER: Circular City Berlin - Pathways from Potential to Implementation
-
2019
Concept for the implementation of a qualified repair network in Berlin
-
2019 – 2020
Ad papers and sustainability
-
2021
bio:fictions. Co-creative design fictions of the bioeconomy with innovators, stakeholders and influencers
-
2017
Comparative economic and ecological evaluation of innovative, stationary energy storage technologies in industrial production
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2015 – 2018
Evolution2Green - Transformation Pathways to the Green Economy: Shaping the Path Change
-
2001 – 2002
Ecological optimisation of used appliances - Technical solutions for energy-efficient upgrading of used washing machines
-
2015 – 2018
Peer-to-peer sharing - Internet-based business models for collaborative consumption as a contribution to sustainable economic activity
-
2014 – 2017
Substitution as a strategy to reduce the criticality of raw materials for environmental technologies - potential identification for second-best solutions
-
2018
Feasibility study on the establishment of a repair quality community in Berlin
-
2016 – 2019
From pioneers to urban practice - potentials of communal living to solve demographic and social challenges. Laboratory City Potsdam
-
2013 – 2016
Sustainability 2.0 - Modernisation approaches to the guiding principle of sustainable development
-
2019
Economies of Transformation. Approaches to sustainable economic development
-
2016 – 2019
KliReX - Identifying and evaluating the greenhouse gas reduction potential of resource efficiency policies
-
2020
[bio'nd] Outlooks into biobased futures
-
2020
Re-Use Berlin 2020: Actions and measures to strengthen the reuse of second-hand goods in Berlin
-
2018 – 2021
Environmental opportunities and risks of digitalised public services in suburbanised areas - A concept study of the district of Wolfenbüttel
-
2019
Re-Use Berlin 2019: Actions and measures to strengthen the reuse of second-hand goods in Berlin
-
2023 – 2025
Rebound effects through digital services and products
-
2014 – 2015
Evaluation of energy research funding in the building sector
-
2013 – 2015
Mobicheck - Mobile tips for climate protection
-
2013 – 2015
Integrated Roadmap Automation 2025+ "Sustainable raw materials supply"
-
2012 – 2013
Workshop discussion "Intergenerational Nuthetal"
-
2012 – 2013
Supply Chain Management - An explorative literature study
-
2012 – 2013
Innovation roadmap for the food industry
-
2012 – 2014
Horizon scanning: early detection for environmental policy
-
2011 – 2012
Intergenerational housing and living - strategies for local authorities
-
2010 – 2013
Green IT concepts for schools and green IT consumer information
-
2010 – 2013
Potential analysis for optimised software development and use to conserve resources
-
2010 – 2012
Comparison of print media and electronic media from an ecological perspective
-
2008 – 2011
Conserving resources in the field of information and communication technology
-
2008 – 2009
Product-related approaches in information and communication technology (computers, internet & co. - saving money and protecting the climate)
-
2008 – 2011
Material efficiency and resource conservation
-
2008 – 2010
From consumer to prosumer - developing new forms of trade and auction cultures to support sustainable consumption
-
2008 – 1970
Integrated technology roadmap Automation 2020+
-
2007 – 2008
Roadmap Urban Technologies 2030
-
2007 – 2008
Futures and visions of Forest 2100
-
2006 – 2008
Wood turnaround 2020+
-
2006 – 2007
Environmentally friendly innovation processes in the display industry
-
2005 – 2006
Automation 2015+
-
2024 – 2025
Conception and planning of digital solutions to promote sustainable consumption for a circular economy
-
2024 – 2025
Expertise and future workshop "Biodiversity parameters"
-
2021 – 2024
Konnekt - Inter-communal cooperation and transformation as the basis for a regional circular economy and sustainable regional development in the district of Saarlouis
-
2023
Evaluation of the project "Support for market surveillance, part 2" as part of the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE)
-
2024 – 2025
Evaluation of the dialogue network for sustainable agriculture
-
2021 – 2024
zirkulierBAR - Inter-municipal acceptance for sustainable value creation from sanitary by-product streams
-
2023 – 2026
Technical evaluation and monitoring of the Land.Funk model and demonstration projects
-
2020 – 2021
Effect of state funding measures on the implementation of radon remediation measures in the residential sector - an analysis of potential
-
2025
Field of action analysis on the topic of biodiversity and the economy
Technology Assessment and Participation
By technology assessment we mean scientific and forward-looking studies that identify and assess potential technology impacts at an early stage.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
-
2013 – 2028
Parliamentary technology assessment with extended foresight process
-
2019 – 2020
Opportunities of digital administration
-
2017
Risk Analysis Emergency Data Management (NFDM)
-
2019 – 2020
Petitions to the German Bundestag - Awareness and use of the right to petition
-
2019
Guidelines for humane work in the digital world
-
2017 – 2019
Algorithms in digital media and their influence on opinion forming
-
2014 – 2016
Online citizen participation in parliamentary work
-
2016 – 2017
Health apps
-
2017 – 2019
LogMySelf - Opportunities, risks and future of lifelogging and self-measurement in discourse with young people
-
2014 – 2016
New electronic media and addictive behaviour
-
2018 – 2019
Potential benefits of innovative and participatory methodological procedures for the German Bundestag
-
2013 – 2022
Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag
-
2021 – 2023
Crisis radar - Strengthening the resilience of society, politics and the economy through crisis prediction
-
2016 – 2017
Quantified Self - between lifestyle and medicine
-
2013 – 2016
Strong female craftswomen Energy + Efficiency
-
2013 – 2014
Megatrends and intralogistics
-
2013 – 2014
Preliminary study: Online citizen participation in parliamentary work
-
2013 – 2014
Evaluation of the energy transition measures
-
2013 – 2014
Technology assessment "Child and youth media protection"
-
2009 – 2010
Ideation Workshop "Voice"
-
2009 – 2012
Localisation technologies
-
2009 – 2010
Trend study "Future of the German intralogistics industry 2020+"
-
2008
Future infectious disease threats in the European Union: Identification and assessment of infectious disease threat scenarios for the European population
-
2006
Networking e-health companies regionally
-
2005
Expert workshops "Healthy living"
-
2004
Risks and opportunities of the use of RFID systems
-
2004
EU enlargement in the context of increasing internationalisation - effects on tourism
-
2004 – 2006
Success factors of virtual companies
-
2021 – 2022
IKKRITI - Integral consequence analysis for critical infrastructures
-
2021 – 2024
SpringLight learning with an intelligent pen in augmented reality
-
2019 – 2021
Energy-saving effects and cost-benefit ratios of energy-efficient building refurbishment
Futurology and Transformation
In a world increasingly characterised by complexities and uncertainties, orientation knowledge is needed, which is what futurology at the IZT provides.
Selected projects and publications
Projects
-
2022 – 2023
Turning point: Scenarios for Germany's role in international relations in 2040
-
2020 – 2022
DIGNITY - Digital Transport in and for Society
-
2019
Dit is Berlin! The capital and its living conditions
-
2015 – 2018
Evolution2Green - Transformation Pathways to the Green Economy: Shaping the Path Change
-
2016
Environment and scenario analysis: The future of the global motorbike market in 2030
-
2014 – 2016
Berlin Sustainability Profile
-
2017 – 2018
NAT Thuringia
-
2016 – 2019
MENARA - Middle East and North Africa Regional Architecture: mapping geopolitical shifts, regional order and domestic transformations
-
2019 – 2020
T4 For Under 2° - The Global Foresight Project on Transforming Mobility by Mid-Century
-
2019 – 2020
Mobility Foresight Study China & Germany. Within the framework of the BMU IKI-Project "Sino-German Cooperation on Low Carbon Transport" (CLCT)
-
2018 – 2019
Study on the future of Human Machine Interfaces (HMI)
-
2017
Future workshops at garden exhibition (IGA)
-
2017 – 2018
HERBIE - Comparative Evaluation of Vegetation Control and Management Methods for European Railways
-
2019
Mobility services - employment, distribution effects, access opportunities
-
2017 – 2021
Trend radar resource policy
-
2016
Global trends and scenarios: Compass Agenda 2030. More Policies for Sustainable Development
-
2015 – 2018
Innovative Intelligent Rail - In2Rail
-
2020 – 2021
Resilient mobility - approaches for a crisis-proof and social transport system
-
2022 – 2023
Scientific preparation and monitoring of four expert workshops on the topic of "mobility transition"
-
2023 – 2026
WIR! - Elbe Valley: Region as a campus
-
2021
School of the Future - Futures of Education. Transformation processes at schools in Germany
-
2023 – 2024
Resilient mobility in Baden-Württemberg
-
2013 – 2015
Sustainability 2.0 - Modernisation approaches to the guiding principle of sustainable development
-
2013 – 2014
"How to keep the EU power sector on track to decarbonisation"
-
2012 – 2013
Conference and congress of the future
-
2012
Demographic change and municipal environmental protection
-
2011 – 2012
Institutions and procedures of parliamentary sustainability policy (2nd phase)
-
2010
Overview of institutions and procedures of parliamentary sustainability policy
-
2022 – 2023
Shaping the mobility transition fairly
-
2022 – 2025
SF4S - Strategic Foresight for Sustainability
-
2024 – 2027
Mobile Elbe Valley - Future lab
-
2025 – 2028
Sustainability transformation in times of crisis: Using foresight methods to support forward-looking policy making