As a successful collaboration between academia and industry, TEWISS-Technik und Wissen GmbH serves as a "open center"—the only one of its kind in Lower Saxony—where staff and researchers from the University of Hannover’s production engineering institutes work directly and in close contact with students and the manufacturing industry. Bringing academia and industry together under one roof lays the foundation for a forward-looking education for students.
TEWISS is one of the most prominent research centers for production engineering—both nationally and internationally. At the six institutes of Leibniz University alone, approximately 240 researchers—primarily from the fields of engineering and the natural sciences—are conducting research. Under the umbrella of TEWISS, the staff of these institutes not only bring their respective disciplines together; they also interact with engineering service providers and numerous smaller production technology companies, many of which are spin-offs from the institutes. Smaller companies in the field of production engineering, as well as TEWISS scientists looking to start their own businesses, find ideal conditions here.
Basic Research - Teaching - Industry Collaboration
Alongside basic research and a wide range of research collaborations with industry partners, practical teaching plays an equally important role. Approximately 800 mechanical engineering students attend lectures, and nearly 450 are already actively involved in research projects as student assistants. The "Production and Logistics" program, in particular, is firmly established at TEWISS.
The six institutes of production engineering at the University of Hannover
Since 2004, six departments within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Leibniz University Hannover have shared a common address: With the construction of the new Production Engineering Center in Garbsen, they have not only created short distances and synergies, but also established a center for production engineering that extends its influence far beyond the region and, not least, provides their doctoral candidates and students with a first-rate education.
Institute for Factory Systems and Logistics (IFA)
Institute for Metal Forming Technology and Metal Forming Machinery (IFUM)
Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Machine Tools (IFW)
Institute for Microproduction Technology (IMPT)
Institute for Transportation and Automation Technology (ITA)
Institute of Materials Science (IW)
Approximately 770 people work at the six mechanical engineering institutes: about 240 research staff, just over 100 technical and administrative staff, 20 apprentices, and around 450 student employees. The six institutes are part of the School of Mechanical Engineering, which comprises a total of 17 institutes. With nearly 3,000 students, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is one of the largest faculties at Leibniz University.
PZH GmbH is changing its name to TEWISS-Technik und Wissen GmbH
PZH GmbH was founded in 2001. Its mission was to drive forward the “PZH Project.” Since May 1, 2013, it has operated under a new name: TEWISS – Technology and Knowledge. Today, it ensures that startup founders have favorable conditions to launch their businesses and that there is an effective transfer of technology to the region. Collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a particular focus. Another strong pillar of the company is in the field of custom machine building: From concept through development and design to the implementation and commissioning of prototype custom machines, it supports its partners from research institutes or external clients with a small but highly capable design team.