HTWK Leipzig receives around one million euros from the German Research Foundation for new large-scale research equipment
As one of sixteen universities of applied sciences in Germany, the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) will receive large-scale equipment funding of around one million euros from the German Research Foundation (DFG) from January 2022. Among other things, this will fund a scanning electron microscope and a computer tomograph. "The two devices enable analyses on different size scales from the macro to the nanometre range," says Robert Böhm, Professor of Lightweight Construction with Composite Materials and co-initiator of the Competence Centre for Materials Research at HTWK Leipzig.
New, environmentally friendly high-performance materials are a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change. Materials research for the construction industry, mechanical engineering and energy technology has therefore played an increasingly important role at HTWK Leipzig for years. In June 2021, the Competence Centre for Materials Research was founded to facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation in the field of materials research and the cross-faculty use of existing equipment technology for analytical and material-diagnostic issues.
New materials to reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings
Professor Robert Böhm is also researching innovative materials. For example, he is working on the EU research project iClimaBuilt together with his colleague Klaus Holschemacher, Professor of Reinforced Concrete Construction at HTWK Leipzig, to optimise the carbon concrete construction method with the aim of reducing its CO₂ emissions to almost zero. To achieve this, the researchers want to produce the necessary carbon fibres from renewable raw materials, for example. The new large-scale research equipment will help to test the material's performance.
To ensure that the new large-scale research equipment becomes part of HTWK Leipzig's equipment in the long term and that further research projects can be supported, the university is providing additional staff, further funding and the necessary rooms.
Prof Ralf Thiele, Vice-Rector for Research at HTWK Leipzig: "We are extremely pleased with our success in the DFG call for proposals. With the approval of the two large-scale facilities, we have further consolidated materials research as a research focus at the HTWK across all faculties. This will enable our university to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly materials in various interdisciplinary research projects thanks to the new examination and analysis technology."
Background to the DFG funding
With this funding, the DFG supports universities of applied sciences by supplementing the existing equipment infrastructure and specifically promoting existing research priorities. In the first of three rounds of calls for proposals, only 16 universities were selected for funding from 72 applicants in a DFG review process. These 16 universities include HTWK Leipzig with a scanning electron microscope and computer tomograph as well as two other universities in the Saxony⁵ network: Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, which will strengthen its existing laser infrastructure, and Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, which will receive a high-voltage DC testing facility.
