Construction of the Sustainability Center Freiburg (IZN) has begun
Freiburg, 23/07/2025
In the new building on the airport campus, the University of Freiburg and the five Fraunhofer Institutes in Freiburg will conduct joint research on sustainability issues.
With a festive groundbreaking ceremony on 22 July 2025, construction of the Sustainability Freiburg (IZN) began on the Freiburg Airport Campus. In the new building, researchers from the University of Freiburg and the five Fraunhofer Institutes in Freiburg will work together on topics related to sustainability. The IZN is part of the joint Department for Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH).
Breaking ground together for the new Engineering Center for Sustainability (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Karsten Buse (Fraunhofer IPM), Prof. Dr. Andreas Bett (Fraunhofer ISE), Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay (Fraunhofer IAF), Christopher Höfler (Sacker Architekten GmbH), Dr. Patricie Merkert (Fraunhofer IAF), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein (University of Freiburg), Martin Horn (City of Freiburg), Michael Kleiner (Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism Baden-Württemberg), Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Stefan Hiermaier (Fraunhofer EMI), Prof. Dr. Chris Eberl (Fraunhofer IWM), Prof. Dr. Alexander Reiterer (Fraunhofer IPM), Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Henning (Fraunhofer ISE), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Balle (University of Freiburg). Photo: Kai-Uwe Wudtke
From fundamental research to industrial application
“The collaboration between the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institutes within the framework of INATECH enables us to jointly shape the entire process from fundamental research to industrial application. This enables us to gain new scientific insights and contribute to genuine innovations in the future-oriented field of sustainable engineering systems – a core topic of our research focus ‘Pathways to Sustainability’,” says Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector at the University of Freiburg. “The IZN is thus becoming an important building block on our path to a vibrant, networked and innovative transfer ecosystem.”
The new three-storey IZN building will offer excellent technical infrastructure, a modern working environment and sustainable architecture across approximately 2,700 square metres. The investment of €36 million is being jointly funded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (and thus the German federal government) and the state of Baden-Württemberg. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft owns the building.
“The collaboration between the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institutes within the framework of INATECH enables us to jointly shape the entire process from fundamental research to industrial application.“
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein
Rector, University of Freiburg
Technical innovations for sustainability goals
Seven professors jointly appointed by the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will work in the new IZN building to develop technical innovations that contribute to achieving sustainability goals and promise economic opportunities – for example, through the more efficient use of solar energy, measurement technology for more resource-efficient production and lower-cost infrastructure maintenance, as well as energy-efficient electronics and high-tech materials. Another building for INATECH professorships is already planned in the immediate vicinity as a university building. “The white LED, an invention of the Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg, has saved millions of tonnes of CO2 worldwide and ensured greater safety; at the same time, it has created many jobs. Such innovations demonstrate how important Freiburg is as a research hub,” emphasises Fraunhofer President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka. “And that’s just one example of the many Fraunhofer innovations from Freiburg that are making the world a better place. The improved networking between the University of Freiburg and Fraunhofer and the close cooperation between the five Fraunhofer Institutes in Freiburg are now making even more things possible.”