Molla Tadesse Abate is working to reduce water use in dyeing and finishing processes in the textile sector. His work is part of a broader collaboration between researchers in Bavaria and Ethiopia.
Hof University of Applied Sciences is committed to sustainability and “greentech” and is driving innovation through research into sustainable water management.
Hof – Today, artificial intelligence can describe images, recognize objects, and explain complex relationships. The pace of development is remarkable: so-called vision-language models (VLMs) combine text and image understanding in impressive ways. Yet, of all things, they struggle with a seemingly simple task—counting. Researchers at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys) at Hof University of Applied Sciences are now working to address this issue.
Hof, March 31, 2026 – The plastics industry is facing a major challenge: it must increasingly use recycled materials while delivering the same quality as virgin plastics. This is exactly where the “SmartReUSE” project comes in. Funded by the European Union and the Free State of Bavaria, it pursues a clear goal: to process plastic waste in such a way that it can be reliably and efficiently used in new products at a high quality level.
Hof – The plastics industry faces a major challenge: it must use more recycled materials while delivering the same quality as newly produced plastics. This is exactly where the “SmartReUSE” project comes in. Funded by the European Union and the Free State of Bavaria, it pursues a clear goal: to process plastic waste in such a way that it can be reliably and effectively used in new products.
Münchberg / Konradsreuth, March 25, 2026 – Clothing is often treated as disposable: T-shirts for events, general merchandise, or short-term campaigns frequently end up in the trash after only a few uses. This is particularly problematic given that their production still largely relies on fossil-based materials. This is precisely where a new research project at Hof University of Applied Sciences comes in.
Bayreuth / Hof – Hof University of Applied Sciences has received funding from the City of Bayreuth for a forward-looking digitization project. Under the title “3D Digitization of Historic Stage Designs of the Bayreuth Festival Theatre”, significant stage design models from the archive of the Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth are being reconstructed and brought to life using state-of-the-art AI technologies. The project is part of the anniversary year “Festival150” in Bayreuth and adds an innovative digital dimension to the cultural program of the world-renowned Bayreuth Festival.
Hof, March 18, 2026 – Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, flooding, and drought are occurring more frequently. In order to respond appropriately, public authorities and infrastructure operators depend on reliable data. This primarily concerns hydrometeorological measurements—data on precipitation as well as other climate- and water balance-related parameters. Two interconnected projects at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa) address precisely this issue.
Hof / Germany, February 2026 – A new research project focusing on sustainable thermal insulation and improved room acoustics is now underway at Hof University of Applied Sciences. Under the title “WAVE” (Thermal Insulation and Acoustic Enhancement through the Use of Residual Materials as Fillers in Near-Net-Shape 3D Woven Structures for Textile Panels), the university and regional partners from Upper Franconia have joined forces to develop functional textile insulation solutions based on locally sourced wool. The project, which commenced at the beginning of the year, is scheduled to run for two years and is funded under the German Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM).
Students at Hof University of Applied Sciences Develop an Innovative Guide for Urban Food Production and Sustainable Water Management Hof – How can food production, water management, and resource conservation be intelligently combined in urban environments? This question was explored by an interdisciplinary team of students from Hof University of Applied Sciences as part of the project “EcoFloatFarm.” Within just 16 weeks, 13 students developed a practical guide demonstrating how planted floating islands can improve water quality while simultaneously producing food directly on the water.
