Enhancing Weimar’s role as a hub for construction research: The IAB is now an affiliated institute of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

The agreement was signed during a visit by Carsten Schneider, the Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor and Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, with Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringian Minister of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society, also in attendance.

Benefits of the partnership

Affiliated institutes are crucial for facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology and also play an important role in making student education more relevant and better aligned with real-world demands. Furthermore, business-oriented affiliated institutes such as IAB enable significant enhancement and specialisation of university research while fostering greater personnel and thematic continuity.

A milestone for the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and IAB

»For Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, solidifying this partnership through structural integration is a significant achievement. It presents our students and researchers with excellent opportunities and also bolsters our collective position as a catalyst for transformation in the construction industry both in the region and beyond«, says Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. »We have been collaborating in a similar capacity with the Materials Research and Testing Laboratory Weimar (Materialforschungs- und -prüfanstalt Weimar, MFPA) for an extended period of time and have consistently had positive experiences in this context. The newly affiliated institute, IAB, will further enhance this collaboration«, Benz adds. »We benefit from each other not only in terms of content expertise«, says IAB Institute Director Robert Fetter, »but, in the long run, will also be able to retain our well-qualified specialist staff right here in Weimar.«

A business-oriented affiliated institute

The IAB is an affiliated institute that is primarily known for its strong connections to the business sector and its involvement in industry-scale research projects. It is a practical addition that enables the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar to directly transfer the knowledge gained at the university to the business world via the IAB.

Construction research centre Weimar

The three research institutes of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the MFPA and the IAB together form a unique hub for construction research. The knowledge and expertise cultivated over several decades, spanning from fundamental research to applied studies and their transfer to industry, serve as the basis for the development of innovative products and processes for the marketplace. In this way, Weimar is playing a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by the construction industry and society by fostering more affordable and expedited construction processes, ensuring a steady flow of materials and minimizing the associated carbon footprint. More than 500 experts are engaged in construction research in Weimar.

Research institutions play a vital role

Minister of State Carsten Schneider, Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, expressed admiration for the partnership between outstanding basic research and its direct transfer to industry. »The construction sector needs to undergo significant transformations to meet the demands of the future. Success can only be achieved through excellent research that is quickly put into practice. Weimar is making a significant contribution to this effort through its research facilities. This makes it an ideal candidate for the establishment of a key location for the proposed federal research centre focused on climate-neutral and resource-efficient construction«, Schneider emphasises.

Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringian Minister of Economic Affairs and Science, highlighted the state’s commitment to promoting Weimar as a centre for construction research. »Weimar has made its mark on the national research landscape. The partnership among research institutions strengthens the region and ensures a reliable, forward-looking hub for innovation. With the establishment of a centre for construction innovation, the state of Thuringia will further promote Weimar as a hub for scientific research, particularly in the context of the national construction research centre«, Tiefensee says.

About the IAB Weimar

The non-profit limited liability corporation Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar (Institut für Angewandte Bauforschung Weimar gGmbH, IAB) is a research institution that caters to business needs and is focused on applied research in construction and building materials technology. It focuses on practice-orientated research projects and aims to develop forward-looking, resource-conserving technologies for the construction industry. For three decades, IAB has been synonymous with expertise and innovation in the construction sector. With 120 employees, the research institute provides partners and clients with practical research and development as well as application-focused services. At the Weimar location, eleven specialised areas focus on the development of new products, technologies and processes to maintain the lasting competitiveness of our industry partners.

For additional information, please visit: www.iab-weimar.de 

Media contact:
Katharina Gottschalk MA, tel.: +49 3643 8684146, e-mail: k.gottschalk[at]iab-weimar.de 
Dipl.-Komm.-Wirt (FH) Thimo Hennig, tel.: +49 3643 8684-190, e-mail: t.hennig[at]iab-weimar.de