The basic idea and goal of our research
Prepare technology transfer with foresight and thereby trigger innovation impulses
For more than 35 years, we have been supporting companies and public institutions in translating new information technology findings in the fields of computer science, engineering and economics into innovative products, services, business and production processes.
Our research is dedicated to eight application fields of computer science. In doing so, we always work pragmatically, interdisciplinarily, cross-sectorally, methodically and competently.
Each year, we set research focuses on across the application fields.
Production
How can a high degree of flexibility in production be guaranteed given short product lifecycles, a high number of variants, complex customer requirements, and increasing time and cost pressures in a globally competitive environment?
Healthcare
How can information and communication technologies (ICT) contribute to a sustainable healthcare system? How does the comprehensive view of health alter the use of ICT, shifting from purely administrative aid to integrated support for diagnosis, therapy and care with the goal of increasing efficiency and quality?
Supply and Disposal
What will future technologies and markets for a stable and sustainable water, heat, and energy supply look like? How can waste management in the future solve problems stemming from production and consumption while supporting waste prevention and recycling?
Education, Research
and Administration
How can we process big data efficiently in the fields of education, research and administration or government? How do we offer new analytical perspectives, for example, for better decision making or innovative services? What can we do to make research results, data and infrastructure freely and publicly available?
Buildings and
Public Space
How – with their high demand for energy, mobility and communication – can buildings and public spaces be managed with the help of intelligent systems? How can our cities of the future, also with the help of digital technologies, be made more efficient and at the same time more environmentally and socially sustainable smart cities?
Mobility, Transportation
and Logistics
How can we further develop mobility as a basic need and a driving force behind the economy and society? How do we sustainably transform transportation and logistics? In what way can highly automated
and connected mobility systems – from autonomous vehicles to new concepts for public transport – advance individual mobility while guaranteeing safety?
Services and Commerce
How are IT-based, intelligent systems changing services and commerce? And how can we use IT and data analysis to benefit customers and improve services?
Information and Communication Technology
How is information and communication technology (ICT) changing the economy and society? What impact does ICT have on the production of goods and private and public services and value chains in general? And how is it changing social interaction?
Whether directly commissioned or in cooperation with research institutions and companies: In our research projects, we develop practical and excellent solutions.
Trends 2023
Artificial intelligence
The coming year will see a huge leap in the use of artificial intelligence methods in a wide variety of application fields. The FZI is well prepared for the resulting challenges and will be an excellent technology partner especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mobility
I see 20223 as a major challenge, especially for medium-sized companies in the mobility industry. But in this crisis there is also the opportunity to reposition yourself, especially with us as a research partner, and to emerge stronger.
Digital Citizen Participation
Particularly in the current times, I see it as urgently necessary, both economically and socially, to let people participate in important decisions – be it in the workplace, in social life, in the cultural sector and, above all, in political matters. That's why we need to understand much better how we can use digitization for this purpose as well. We call this "digital citizen participation".
