JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH

With a focus on applied research and technology development, JOANNEUM RESEARCH plays a key role in transfer of technology and know-how in South-East-Austria. 

The JOANNEUM RESEARCH LIFE Centre for Climate, Energy and Society addresses key issues related to climate change:  greenhouse gas emissions, societal change, risk assessment, energy systems and technology assessment.

The LIFE research group on Future Energy Systems & Lifestyle supports business, administration and society in establishing a sustainable energy economy, setting the focus on Energy Systems Assessment, Best Technology Choice and Lifestyle Transformation Tools.

JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH develops solutions and technologies for businesses and industries across a wide range of sectors and conducts top-level research at an international level. With a focus on applied research and technology development, the innovation company plays a key role in transfer of technology and know-how in South-East-Austria.

The LIFE Centre for Climate, Energy and Society addresses the key issues related to climate change: How can society cope better with the risks of global warming and how can we minimise the associated economic damage? Will climate change also bring economic opportunities? How can these opportunities be realised? What steps are necessary to guide our society towards a more sustainable development path in order to slow down climate change? 

The LIFE Future Energy Systems & Lifestyle group specializes on supporting business, administration and society in establishing a sustainable energy economy. This is based on a future-proof economic system characterised by renewable energy, maximum energy efficiency, integrated biomass use, provision of intelligent, needs-based energy services and products, and involvement of user and consumers (e.g. through lifestyle changes). 

The expertise of the interdisciplinary research group comprises technical, economic, ecological and social aspects of energy technologies and energy systems as well as biomass use and associated land use. This expertise enables us to cover the entire innovation process from technology and system development to evaluation through to market implementation. 

Our research areas include:

• Energy Systems Assessment: We analyse and assess energy systems, products and services in terms of their effects on the environment, economy and society across their life cycle. Key methods include environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) (e.g. carbon footprint), life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and social impact assessment (SIA).

• Best Technology Choice: We develop new innovative value chains from materials to products and services in order to maximise social benefit. Our internationally recognised expertise in this field includes eco-mobility based on renewable fuels, energy storage, biorefineries producing a spectrum of products and energy, and energy efficiency in companies, buildings and cities. 

• Lifestyle Transformation Tools: We develop measures and implementation concepts for sustainable energy technologies, energy systems and lifestyles for business and public administration. Our tried and tested approaches include the development and methodical implementation of strategic concepts for stakeholder involvement, the design of future-proof programmes and guidelines for urban development as well as conflict analysis and process management in the event of competing resource uses.