Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is responsible for various policy areas in the Federal Republic of Germany, essential ones of which are reflected in the naming of the ministry. Until 1986, three different ministries within the Federal Government were responsible for environmental concerns: the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health. Then, in the middle of the same year, a single government authority for the federal environmental policy was created for the first time, the then Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). In the course of the following decades, additional responsibilities were temporarily transferred to the authority, such as including urban development, housing, rural infrastructure, public building law, construction as well as federal buildings, which also led to name changes thoughout the years (e.g. BMUB between 2013 and 2018). At present, the ministry is also responsible for consumer protection policy and therefore uses the extended abbreviation BMUV. For more than 30 years now its main task has remained unchanged however: to ensure the protection of the population from environmental toxins and radiation, the wise and economical use of raw materials, the protection of the climate and the use of natural resources in a way that preserves the diversity of animal and plant species and their habitats. A key responsibility is to prepare legislation in order to design the legal framework in the areas of responsibility. This also includes shaping regulatory law and transposing EU directives into national law. Furthermore, this includes the financial promotion of research and development, support for the market introduction of innovative technologies, cooperation at national and international level, and communication for broad social participation and acceptance in the protection and careful use of the environment and resources.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research as a supreme federal authority has the central task of concretely shaping and supporting the policies and objectives of the Federal Government in maintaining and promoting education, science and research in Germany. In doing so, it is largely responsible for drafting the legislation in these areas. General school education, vocational education and qualification and the promotion of training make up priority areas in this context. On the other hand, the BMBF provides financial support for research in all areas of science, as well as for young scientists and international exchange in training, continuing education and studies. Already for decades, the ministry has put a focus on researching and developing promising and clean technologies in order to secure the economic and social foundations for the country's future. The BMBF specifically supports processes of ecological, economic and social change, for example through the program "Research for Sustainable Development" (FONA). For the technical and administrative supervision of research projects, the ministry works together with the so-called project management agencies, including the DLR project management agency, the Jülich project management agency or the VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik project management agency.
Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Rohstoffwirtschaft e.V. (BDE)
BDE is the german industry association for the recycling and resource economy. The The member companies of the BDE represent 75 percent of the private-sector sales in the sectors "wastewater disposal", "collection, treatment, disposal and recycling of waste" as well as "removal of environmental pollution and other disposal".
Technische Universität Darmstadt - Institute IWAR
The Technische Universität (TU) Darmstadt is one of Germany's leading technical universities. Institute IWAR is one of 13 Institutes at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at TU Darmstadt. The institute deals with the areas of environmental and water protection, water quality management, waste management and contaminated sites detection.
Environmental Cluster Bavaria - Network of the Bavarian Environmental Industry
The Environmental Cluster Bavaria is the network of the Bavarian environmental industry. The cluster brings together expertise in the fields of waste & recycling, resource efficiency & material flow management, water & wastewater, air pollution control, alternative energy production and soil & contaminated site remediation. Its central task is to network companies and research institutions and thereby strengthen the expansion of the Bavarian economy and small and medium-sized enterprises. This is done in particular by concentrating its activities on transfer, education and strengthening cooperation in collaboration with politics, research, science and industry. The network provides information on current topics and specialist events via online offers. The network members have access to advisory services to extend their business activities on the international markets. In addition, five cluster working groups have been formed as discussion and working forums on various topics. The organisational framework of the Environmental Cluster Bavaria is formed by the supporting association Umwelttechnologie-Cluster Bayern e.V., to which all Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the Chambers of Trade and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria and Lower Bavaria-Upper Palatinate belong.
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW)
The Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW) is a supreme technical-scientific authority organised under the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV). It acts as a central service provider for advising and supporting the Ministry and the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) within the scope of their transport water engineering tasks, in particular their responsibility for construction supervision to ensure that all facilities and installations on federal waterways meet the requirements of safety and order. It also makes an important contribution to ensuring that the waterways in Germany meet the growing technical, economic and ecological requirements. To this end, it has extensive expertise and experience in the field of hydraulic engineering and plays a key role in the further development of this segment. The BAW is subdivided into the specialist areas of civil engineering, geotechnics, inland hydraulic engineering, coastal hydraulic engineering and marine engineering. Dealing with the ageing waterway infrastructure, the increased ecological requirements in hydraulic engineering, the consequences of climate change, digitalisation in civil engineering, new propulsion technologies in navigation and automation in inland navigation belong to the key challenges the BAW has to cope with at present days and in future.
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT)
Fraunhofer UMSICHT is actively involved in shaping energy and raw materials management. As a pioneer for technical innovations within energy, processes, and products, it aims to drive forward sustainable management, environmentally-friendly technologies, and innovative behavior in order to improve the quality of life of people and promote the capacity for innovation within the local economy. The focus lies on achieving a balance between economically successful, socially just and environmentally compatible developments.
German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG)
The Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) is the federal scientific institute for research, assessment and advice in the fields of hydrology, water use, water quality, ecology and water protection. Organised under the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV), it advises the federal ministries, waterways and navigation administration and third parties on these topics. As modern supreme technical-scientific authority, it takes on the task of shaping actively and in a responsible manner the future use of flowing and coastal waters in Germany and Europe. Equipped with 13 specialist departments and the necessary infrastructure, scientific findings are condensed into meaningful scenarios, well-founded forecasts are prepared and solutions are developed and proposed for policy-makers and administrations. In cooperation with various partners, the BfG is thus intensively involved in national and European events concerning the topic of water. Through the affiliated UNESCO Centre for Water Resources and Global Change, the work for the international hydrological programmes of UNESCO and WMO as well as the global data centres, the BfG is also integrated into fundamental advisory, research and development programmes worldwide.
Regional Competence Network Water and Energy
Institutes and companies from the water, wastewater and renewable energy value chains have bundled their competences, experience and technologies with the aim of developing customised system solutions, realising corresponding projects and to facilitate the technical exchange of information and promotion of young talent. Beneficiaries of this initiative shall be the network partners and the region as a whole. The resulting competence network offers numerous services that can be accessed via the network partners. This provides mutual support and encouragement among the network members, but gives non-members also the opportunity to access the exclusive services of the network. Initiatives that have been brought together in this way include the ENERGY EFFICIENCY NETWORK HOCHFRANKEN and the HO/KU/WUN mobility network formed for the region around Hof, Kulmbach and Wunsiedel. The network initiatives participate in funding through the National Climate Protection Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment.
Universität Kassel - Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR)
The University of Kassel was founded in 1971 as a reformed college and sees itself as a modern and young university. The Center for Environmental Systems Research is an interdisciplinary research institution of the University of Kassel. The Center’s research activities are being carried out in four Research Groups: "Global und Regional Dynamics - Water", "Global und Regional Dynamics - Land", "Socio-environmental Systems Analysis and Modelling" and "Sustainable Resource Futures".
