Construction of the new Sustainability Center Freiburg (IZN) has begun
Photo: 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

Construction of the new Sustainability Center Freiburg (IZN) has begun

New Impetus for INATECH and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Freiburg

With a festive groundbreaking ceremony on July 22, 2025, construction of the Sustainability Freiburg (IZN) began on the Freiburg Airport Campus. The new research facility will serve as a central hub for collaborative work between the University of Freiburg and the five Freiburg-based Fraunhofer Institutes in the field of sustainable technologies. The Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH) of the Faculty of Engineering will play a key role in this initiative.

Collaboration between science and application
The IZN represents a close alliance between academic research and application-oriented work outside the university. The physical and thematic proximity of the involved parties will create a dynamic innovation environment aimed at accelerating the transfer of technology to industry and society.

A future-oriented research location
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.

Interdisciplinary, application-oriented research
Seven professorships will be based at the IZN, jointly appointed by the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The focus is on developing technological innovations that contribute to achieving global sustainability goals—such as advances in solar energy utilization, resource-efficient production processes, high-tech materials, and energy-efficient electronics.


Link to original press release:
https://uni-freiburg.de/en/construction-of-the-sustainability-center-freiburg-izn-has-begun/


Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Balle
University of Freiburg
Faculty of Engineering, Dean
Georges-Köhler-Allee 101
Phone.: 0761/203-8080
E-Mail: dekan-tf@uni-freiburg.de

Kerstin Steiger-Merx
Representative Marketing & PR
Faculty of Engineering
University of Freiburg
Tel.: 0761/203-8056
E-Mail: steiger-merx@tf.uni-freiburg.de