With a kick-off event at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys), a large-scale research project will start at Hof University of Applied Sciences on Wednesday (15.09.2021). It deals with the development of production-related IT systems for the region and thus aims to influence digitization processes in the working world of the future. A total of 19 partner companies, research institutions and networks from Upper Franconia and southern Saxony are involved, including the Upper Franconia IT Cluster and SüdWestSachsen digital. The project volume is just under 5 million euros.
“In view of the digital transformation, demographic change and changing economic structures, small and medium-sized enterprises beyond the metropolitan areas in particular are facing new challenges,” says Prof. Dr. René Peinl, head of the Institute for Information Systems (iisys) at Hof University of Applied Sciences. As part of the funding measure “REGION.innovativ – Arbeitswelten der Zukunft in strukturschwachen Regionen” (REGION.Innovative – Working Worlds of the Future in Structurally Weak Regions), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is therefore supporting the transfer of research and development from companies, universities and colleges into future-relevant subject areas and thus promoting the digitization of the working world.
Source: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
Hof University of Applied Sciences coordinates research network
A total of almost 5 million euros is therefore now flowing into the “Moonrise” project (“Mass Customization for the introduction of production-related IT systems in company networks”), which is being coordinated at Hof University of Applied Sciences. “By the end of the project in July 2024, we would like to develop new instruments and models of work design in a network between industry and research institutions and test them quickly in the participating companies,” says the project manager
Information Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences
(iisys); Image: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
He cites examples: “In model projects, for example, digital tools are to be tested in production using virtual reality methods. In addition, machine systems can be equipped with modern sensor technology and data interfaces for data evaluation in such a way that advanced data analyses become possible. This then helps to identify complex interdependencies between machines, production and order data and to control them accordingly,” says Prof. Dr. Peinl.
Great interest from companies
Ultimately, the efficiency of the digital transformation should be noticeably increased in a cross-sector collaboration between manufacturing companies, IT service providers and corporate networks
Digitization is advancing ever faster globally, and we would do well not to be left behind in the region.”
Prof. Dr. René Peinl, Project Manager
There is great interest in the topic: the project partners include research institutions such as Chemnitz University of Technology, local companies and the two network partners IT Cluster Upper Franconia and SüdWestSachsen digital, which together represent over 140 small and medium-sized enterprises.
Securing the business location
“In this way, we would like to make a contribution to securing the long-term future of the business location and the region. Through our approach, companies are advancing together in the field of digitization, thus strengthening the region and subsequently being able to better hold their own in global competition, which is a decisive factor for future-proof jobs, especially in the structurally weak regions of Upper Franconia and Southwest Saxony,” concludes the institute’s director.
Funding reference
This research and development project is/was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education
and Research (BMBF) in the programs “Future of Value Creation – Research on Production, Services and Work” and “Innovation & Structural Change” and supervised by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA)
