Institute Profile

The DFIU was established in 1991 as a research institution with the mandate to sustain the widespread wish of France and Germany for strengthening the cross-border scientific cooperation in the field of environmental research. Since then, our ambition is to be one of the central scientific players in the area of French-German and international environmental research.

The DFIU works closely with the Institute of Industrial Production (IIP) of KIT. The scientific staff is qualified in the fields of energy economics (chair of Prof. Dr. Wolf Fichtner), production and operations management (chair of Prof. Dr. Frank Schultmann), and environmental research.

Research at DFIU

At DFIU we work in in international and interdisciplinary teams to develop joint solutions for environmental problems for the French-German context and beyond. Our research activities include the fields of energy, sustainable mobility, circular economy, risk management, air, water and land use. Detailed information on current research topics and ongoing projects can be found on the pages of the individual research groups.

In general, the research of the DFIU is characterized by being

• international across national borders
  Dealing with environmental issues requires cross-border cooperation between all relevant stakeholders from science, business, and politics. Scientifically based, transnational environmental research plays an important role in this context, as it provides the basis for environmentally sound decisions at the political, social, and economic level. Therefore, our research activities are carried out in close cooperation with selected international research institutions, governmental institutions and other stakeholders concerned in the respective countries or regions. Another characteristic of our work is the collaboration in international teams on specific issues on a project basis.
   
• interdisciplinary across different fields of knowledge
  Research of environmental problems and the assessment of resulting risks for humans and ecosystems are complex and require a cooperative approach involving partners from different fields of knowledge. DFIU therefore cooperates with research partners from Germany and abroad with complementary competencies to develop solutions for common environmental problems.
   
• transdisciplinary across different societal groups
  In order to show decision-makers suitable political and cross-border options for action, the DFIU cooperates via existing networks with political and industrial actors as well as citizens in various countries (particularly in Germany, France, and Switzerland). Only through lived transdisciplinarity is it possible to test solutions for environmental problems in practice, to ensure social acceptance, and ultimately to implement them.