RWTH Affiliated Institutes

  Logistics Cluster Building, RWTH Aachen Campus © RWTH Aachen

There is a close collaboration between RWTH Aachen University and its so-called "Affiliated Institutes." As a rule, these are funded by industry associations and companies. 

 

Affiliated Institutes are research institutions that are legally, financially and organizationally independent from RWTH Aachen. The specific details of the collaboration are set out in an agreements between the institute and the University. The status of Affiliated Institute is granted by the Rectorate of RWTH Aachen University.

Currently, about 500 members of staff are working at RWTH-affiliated institutes. As R&D centers, they play an important role in enhancing the innovative capability of Aachen as a location for science and technology. With annual expenditures of about 46 million euros, the affiliated institutes are also an important economic factor in the region.

 

 

RWTH-Affiliated Institutes in Overview

RWTH-Affiliated Institutes

ACCESS

Access e.V. Materials + Processes (ACCESS)

ACCESS is an independent research center associated with RWTH Aachen University.  It was founded in 1986 as a research center for material science in space and has developed into an internationally recognized research center in the field of metallic materials and  foundry science. ACCESS is a R&D center at the intersection of science and industry.

ACTO

ACTO - Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology

The Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology was founded in 1998 and recognized at the first private medical  research at RWTH in 2011. The center's primary goal is to conduct interdisciplinary projects in ophthalmology research through the combined efforts of experts in the fields of medicine, biology, computer science, and engineering.  The goal of their research is to expand therapeutic possibilities and the rehabilitation of individuals afflicted by rare diseases.

FGH

Forschungsgemeinschaft für Elektrische Anlagen und Stromwirtschaft e.V.

FGH is a non-profit research association of electricity supply industry and electrical industry, with the aim of developing and providing competence and practice-oriented technical knowledge for the construction and operation of  electricity supply facilities. A focus is placed on high voltage technology and high-current engineering.  FGH's goal is to promote the performance ability and security of electrical energy supply.  It achieves this by ensuring a swift transfer of solutions from science into practice.

FIR

Research Institute for Industrial Management at RWTH Aachen University

The Institute for Industrial Management FIR is a non-profit, intersectoral research and educational institution at RWTH Aachen University concerned with business organization, information logistics and corporate IT with the aim to establish the organizational basis for the digitally integrated company of the future.

FIW

Research Institute for Water Management and Climate Future at RWTH Aachen University

FIW develops innovative solutions and processes for water and waste management.  As an independent research institute at the University, it conducts application oriented research for solving problems in the fields of waste water management, water pollution control, river territory management, etc.  Its services include concept analysis and process development, conducting studies and evaluations, market and economy analyses, and education and further education in developing and newly industrialized countries.

gaiac

Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment at RWTH Aachen University

Through interdisciplinary collaborations with RWTH institutions such as the Institute of Environmental Research, gaic develops solutions for sustainable environmental management.  One of gaiac's main goals is to determine the effects of human influence on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.  They achieve this through experimental research and modeling environmental processes.  Fields of expertise are aquatic and terrestrial field ecology, ecotoxicology, statistics, and mathematical modeling of environmental processes.

GUtech

German University of Technology in Oman

GUtech, the only German university on the Arabian peninsula, was founded in the Omani capital,Muscat, in 2006, in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University.  GUtech currently offers four Bachelor of Science courses of study: applied geosciences, applied information technology, tourism and regional development, and urban planning and architectural design.  The B.Sc. course of study, tailored to the needs of the Gulf region, were created by professors at RWTH Aachen and have been internationally accredited.  English is the language of instruction, and German is taught as a second foreign language.

IAPK

Institute of Ceramics Process and Application Engineering

Funded by a support association (“Förderverein”), the IAPK is an RWTH research institution focusing on process and application engineering for engineering ceramics and powder metallurgical parts. Apart from undertaking research in the above areas, the institute offers advising and other services concerning the manufacturing process –  from the powder through the produced part –, component testing under application conditions, and component and operational simulation using FEM.

IfU

Institute for Management Cybernetics

Management cybernetics is an application oriented and integrative science, which regards businesses and organizations as socio-technical, economic, and multifaceted networked systems.  Through an integrated and systemic approach, management cybernetics helps to describe and explain complex phenomena which occur within organisations.  Using approaches steming from engineering, economics, and the social sciences, integrated models and solutions are developed for these phenomenons.  The institue explores and develops solutions for economic and technological questions in interdisciplinary teams.  It is als places a great importance on industrial proximity and cooperation.

IIF

Institut für Industriekommunikation und Fachmedien

Through application-related research, the IIF investigates problems in industry communication and provides solutions for the use and design of specialist media.  The Institute's consulting services along with other services are directed towards branches of specialist information and knowledge-intensive industries, businesses, and communities, that wish to differentiate themselves from the competition using specific knowledge.  IFF research includes the identification and evalution of knowledge alongside industrial supply and trade chains and the formation of the resulting communication processes with specialist media.

IKV

Institute of Plastics Processing at RWTH Aachen University

The IKV is working on researching the challenges of tomorrow in the field of in plastics processing.  In addition to a focus on innovation, the Institute also trains students studying plastics engineering at RWTH Aachen.  The IKV is highly regarded as a research and development partner to the plastics industry and is a partner to small and mid-sized enterprises.  All of the Institute's research results are incorporated in the education and training courses available for the skilled crafts.

IPGR

International Partners in Glass Research e.V.

International Partners in Glass Research e.V., IPGR for short, is an association of companies in the container glass industry which conducts research and development on innovative, forward-looking technologies in the area of glass melting and glass forming. The main objectives of its activities are to reduce energy consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide as well as to optimize the forming process. In collaboration with several RWTH departments as well as its member organizations, IPGR offers industry-relevant research and development projects.

OWI

OWI Science for Fuels gGmbH

In collaboration with partners from industry and research, OWI develops concepts and technologies for the energy-efficient usage of conventional and alternative fuels, as well as innovative efficiency technologies. The aim of this research is to develop advanced low-emission technologies and solutions for sustainable heating supply and mobility. OWI sees itself as a bridge between fundamental research and application. It counts manufacturers of domestic heating systems, automotive component suppliers, and companies involved in petroleum and thermal processing technology among its clients. 

PIA

Institute of Development and Assessment for Waste Water Technology at RWTH Aachen University

PIA promotes research and training in the fields of wastewater technology and environmental protection.  Through the employment of the premises of a former wastewater treatment plant for the city of Aachen, it carries out research and development, assessments, and experiments concerning septic tanks,  sewage and water treament on ships, and other waster water facilities.  The Institute works together with all subject areas of the RWTH in research and teaching and collaborates with research and development institutions worldwide.

TFI

TFI - Textile and Flooring Institute at RWTH Aachen University

The TFI's research in the field of flooring encompasses the entire life cycle of coatings, from the use of raw materials in production, marketing, installation, and use, to their later disposal.  In addition to creating products designed to meet consumer needs, the TFI also focuses on the permanent optimization of the processes, regarding production speed, flexbility, and accuracy.  Quality, ecology, economy, and interaction all play a primary role as well.  Researchers and engineers from textiles, mechanical engineering, chemistry, computer science, ecology, and ecomoy all work at the TFI.

WZLforum

WZLforum an der RWTH Aachen (gGmbH)

Located at the center of highly renowned production technical research, the WZL Forum combines the newest developments from the machine tool lab (WZL) at RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT).  It also presents results in seminars, conferences, conventions, and workshops.  The forum holds events to address operation questions and orients itself on the concrete tasks of professions and executives.  As a skilled partner in further education, it is always available to provide support to partners in industry and craft.

 

 

 

Contact

Department 9.0 – Legal Affairs
Applications by institutions to become an affiliate institute of the University, renewal of an institution's status as an affiliated institute, concluding a partnership agreement

Sustainability and University Governance Staff Unit 
Terms and conditions of mutual services between affiliated institutes and RWTH