Main areas of research

Automated Control Engineering and Simulation (Research Center Wels)

Research in this area aims to develop practice relevant automatisation solutions for complex key technologies, for example in energy and production plants, buildings but also in transport and logistics. The modelling of mechatronics systems by simulation and the corresponding development of modern regulation and control strategies for industrial applications have priority.

Food Technology and Nutrition (Research Center Wels)

In the key field of bio-energy, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria researches the development of production processes for advanced bio-fuels (bio-ethanol from straw), and the optimization of biogas processes as well as developing integrated bio-refinery concepts. In the field of food technology, the focus is on the study of plant constituents and the effects on a molecular level. The goal is to develop so-called functional foods on the basis of these findings.

Energy and the Environment (Research Center Wels)

Several research teams are dedicated to a broad subject area within the fields of eco-energy and environmental technology: solar power, hydrogen technology, energy efficient building, purification of emission gases, remnant recycling, environmental analysis and process engineering. More than 15 laboratories provide an excellent infrastructure with analysis appliances, pilot plants and simulation tools.

Innovation and Technology Management (Research Center Wels)

The focus of this interdisciplinary R&D subject is on the further development and application of methods and tools for boosting the performance of the early innovation phases at the front of innovation processes. In particular, the methods of rapid and virtual prototyping and state of the art infrastructure are used here.

Measuring and Testing Technology (Research Center Wels)

The focus of this R&D area is on the non-destructive testing of materials and components. The processes, 3D x-ray computer tomography (CT) and active thermography play a central role here. They make it possible to recognize defects inside an object and to draw conclusions about a material’s properties. Two modern computerized tomography scanners with differing energy and resolution as well as the latest infrared technology are available at the University of Applied Sciences Austria Campus Wels.

Materials and Production Engineering (Research Center Wels)

The optimized and material-specific processing of polymers and metals is central to this research area. In the field of plastics engineering the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria places its focus on the tribological and rheological interactions in plastic processing plants and tools. In the field of metallurgy the improvement of the characteristics of tool steels and modern steels for lightweight construction form is the focus of R&D activities.