Research
We research methods, digital business models, processes and effects for the digital transformation of companies and public institutions within the framework of application-oriented research projects and studies.
Current research projects
STIM: Smart transformers as the power supply of the future for industrial mechanical engineering (funded by BMWi)
Brief description
German mechanical and plant engineering companies can continue to hold its own against global competition in the future if clear customer advantages are achieved through the use of the latest core technologies combined with digital services. An important component here is the power supply for plants and machines.
The aim of the joint project is to significantly increase the efficiency of the overall system as well as its controllability and to develop new digital services and business models based on measurement data.
The task of Neu-Ulm University in the funded joint project is to design new smart services and business models in collaboration with Leibnitz University Hannover.
Funding
BMWi - Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Duration
01.12.2019 - 30.11.2022
HNU project team
Prof. Dr. Klaus Lang, Daniel Hasler
Further links
Digital Maturity @ Medium-sized Businesses (funded by Inno Süd)
Brief description
Many medium-sized companies are faced with the challenge of evaluating their own level of digitalization in comparison to the industry, identifying the company-specific need for action and deriving a digitalization strategy and roadmap from this.
As part of this project, checklists and maturity models for assessing the need for action for medium-sized companies are being developed in collaboration with cooperation partners and tested with companies. In particular, industry-specific reference databases with best practices will be established.
Funding
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the federal states through the InnoSÜD project of the Innovative Hochschule program
Duration
01.01.2018 - 31.12.2022
HNU project team
Prof. Dr. Klaus Lang, Katharina Ehmig-Klassen
Futher links
Detailed project description (opens in a new window)
Virtual and augmented digital transformation (funded by Inno Süd)
Brief description
The project creates together with partners from the industry (SME) a room for the projection of a three-dimensional illusion world of virtual reality. This room enables a 1:1 representation of virtual products and can be walked through directly. Thereby all available 3D data shall be representable.
Virtual representation of customer requirements
Facilitation of teamwork and networking
Support of maintenance
Visualization of layout planning
Production planning of workpieces
Plant planning
Funding
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the federal states through the InnoSÜD project of the Innovative Hochschule program
Duration
01.01.2018 - 31.12.2022
HNU project team
Prof. Manfred Plechaty, Dominik Esegovic
Further links
![[Translate to English:] Mann nutzt VR-Brille zur Visualisierung einer dreidimensionalen Projektionswelt](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/9/csm_Cave_933e649182.png)
Acceptance of high temperature geothermal energy in Germany until 2050
Brief description
High-temperature geothermal energy can play an essential role in the energy transition due to its specific characteristics (sustainable, decentralized, base-load capable, low land consumption).
Within the scope of the project, the challenges regarding the acceptance of geothermal projects by individual interest groups will be identified and investigated. The focus of the acceptance analysis is on the population in the vicinity of possible geothermal projects. With the help of these findings, best practice models are to be derived in order to intensively educate and thus avoid unfounded reservations against future geothermal projects.
Example of application
The practical research project is also a topic in courses at the University of Applied Sciences Neu-Ulm. The following video gives impulses in the course Information Management Automotive.
Duration
01.04.2021 - 31.03.2024
HNU project team
Prof. Manfred Plechaty, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Elmar Buchner, Robin Renoth
Completed research projects
Preparing small and medium-sized enterprises for digital transformation (ESF funding)
Brief description
The project aims to prepare small and medium-sized enterprises for the digital transformation. For this purpose, different contents will be imparted via digital eLearning channels, which serve to be able to use especially the rural location as a competitive advantage, but also to design processes in a resource-saving and efficient way.
The contents of the Moodle course, which is aimed at interested SMEs from the region, include:
Use of eLearning in the corporate environment
Digital methods for collaboration and corporate communication
Digital transformation - new business models
Bonus: Process digitalization in times of Corona ramp-up
Funding
European Social Fund (ESF)
Duration
01.08.2018 - 31.07.2020
HNU project team
Prof. Manfred Plechaty, Daniel Hasler, Ronald Robertson
Further links
Detailed project description (opens in a new window)
Information about the project on the ESF-Website (opens in a new window)
Moodle course "Preparing small and medium-sized enterprises for digital tr (opens in a new window)ansformation"
MOOC "Mastering Digital Transformation"
Professors Manfred Plechaty, Dr. Klaus Lang and Dr. Daniel Schallmo from the IDT are imparting specialist and methodological knowledge for the digital transformation of companies in a nationwide online course.
In the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) "Mastering Digital Transformation," specialists and managers learn online how to master the challenges of digitalization and what possibilities and opportunities it offers. Under the direction of Prof. Plechaty, the topic block "New Business Models" was organized and implemented. The MOOC "Mastering Digital Transformation" is a nationwide initiative of the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam and MSG Systems AG in Ismaning.
Participation in the six-week online course is free of charge.
Link:
MOOC „Mastering Digital Transformation“ (opens in a new window)
Development of a tool to determine the digital maturity level (funded by industry third-party funds)
The IDT developed a web-based tool to assess the digital maturity level of a company. This diagnostic tool shows - after answering ten questions - the current maturity level of the company and the planned maturity level in three years. The questions in the Quickscan are based on the fields of action of the digital transformation. In addition, the Quickscan enables a comparison with the other participants in the survey.
As part of a contract research project, the IDT, under the direction of Prof. Manfred Plechaty, developed a model for assessing the digital maturity level of OEM automotive manufacturers. The diagnostic model follows the systems theory approach and differentiates five fields of action. The assessment is based on approximately 35 industry-specific questions. Each question can be evaluated on the basis of five maturity levels.
The evaluation and condensation of the results provides companies with valuable insights into the fields of action in digitization in which they are already well prepared for the future and the fields of action in which there is still a need for action. The analysis results also serve to initiate a program of action.
IDT Maturity Analysis Tool 1.0
![[Translate to English:] Eingabefenster des IDT Reifegradanalyse-Tool zur Bestimmung des Digitalisierungsgrads](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/0/csm_Reifegrad_5590033b58.png)
Our Approach to Holistic Digital Transformation
The IDT Digitalization House
![[Translate to English:] Grafik zum IDT-Digitalisierungshaus mit betroffenen Handlungsfeldern](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/7/csm_Digitalisierungshaus_b3af46c85c.png)
IDT understands "digital transformation" as a holistic approach to the digitalization of companies that encompasses five fields of action:
A. Digitalization strategy and business model
The development of a digitalization strategy includes the organizational anchoring of the digital transformation in the company and, in particular, the development of digital business models.
B. Digitalization of the partner interface
In addition to the customer interface and corporate processes, processes with suppliers and partners must be digitalized.
C. Digitalization of the company
A central task of Digital Transformation is the digitalization of internal business processes. It involves the introduction of new technologies and IT systems and the design of human work.
D. Digitalization of products and services
New disruptive technologies (especially the Internet-of-Things) enable the development of smart products and smart services.
E. Digitalization of the customer interface
A central role in the digital transformation plays the development of customer platforms through which customer transactions are processed.
