New doctoral center “System-integrated engineering science” conducts research on sustainable energy and resource efficiency

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A new doctoral center for system-integrated engineering at the universities of applied sciences (HAW) strengthens Hesse as a research and innovation location: The institution of RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen , the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and Fulda University of Applied Sciences will begin its work on October 1, 2025.

In 2016, Hesse became the first German state to grant its universities of applied sciences the right to apply for independent doctoral degree-granting authorization in research-intensive disciplines. With the new Doctoral Center for System-Integrated Engineering, there are now eight such centers in the state, with approximately 300 doctoral candidates.

Science Minister Timon Gremmels: “In light of rapid technological change, inter-university and interdisciplinary collaboration in research is crucial – especially at universities of applied sciences: They seek innovative and practical answers to key challenges of our time. The new doctoral center pools the strong engineering expertise of the participating universities and makes them even more attractive to talented individuals from Germany and abroad. It creates opportunities for aspiring engineers and thus makes an important contribution to the qualification of skilled professionals.”

The researchers at the new doctoral center focus on resource efficiency, sustainable energy supply, medical and physical technology, and digitized systems. For example, they are working on how future energy grids must be designed to be socially acceptable, demand-driven, and economically viable. They are also investigating improvements in medical technology through novel materials and functionalized surfaces, as well as aspects of our digital and technological sovereignty. At the same time, the doctoral center offers doctoral candidates excellent, quality-assured conditions on their path to a doctorate.

An independent expert commission reviewed the universities' application in advance. They were particularly impressed by the system-integrated approach and the well-designed qualification program for doctoral candidates. The right to award doctorates in system-integrated engineering is initially limited to eight years and will then be re-evaluated, as is standard practice for all doctoral centers in Hesse. This serves to ensure quality and provides impetus for further development.

“The new inter-university and inter department doctoral center for system-integrated engineering is another milestone for Hesse. We are delighted that, as universities of applied sciences, we can now guide our own young researchers to doctoral degrees in this profile-defining area of ​​Hessian universities. The doctoral center fits perfectly into the other research priorities of the participating universities and makes these even more visible,” said Prof. Dr. Eva Waller, President of RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, which led the application process.

When the first doctoral center opened at Fulda University of Applied Sciences in 2016, it garnered attention far beyond the borders of Hesse. Currently, young researchers are working on their doctoral theses in eight centers within application-oriented research projects. Following a comprehensive evaluation in 2022, an independent scientific commission concluded that Hesse's universities of applied sciences have successfully implemented the independent right to award doctorates in research-intensive disciplines. Many other German states have since adopted the Hessian model.

An overview of the Hessian doctoral centers:

  • Fulda Graduate Centre of Social Sciences (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)
  • Public Health (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)
  • Social Work (Fulda University of Applied Sciences, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences)
  • Applied Computer Science (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences)
  • Sustainability Science (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences)
  • Life Science Engineering ( Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen )
  • Mobility and Logistics (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences)
  • System-integrated engineering (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen )