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Research projects and special funding

The University of Passau is pursuing the goal of further expanding its research strength and is very well positioned for this in all faculties. Visible signs of this dynamic are important acquisitions and research projects with a driving function for our further development, including grants from the European Research Council, coordinated projects in the EU Research Framework Programme, Research Training Groups funded by the German Research Foundation, as well as several junior research groups funded by various funding organisations. The same applies to several large consortium projects, such as the Passau Centre for eHumanities the International Research and Innovation Centre on Digital Intelligent Systems (IRIXYS) the East-Bavarian Centre of Internet Competence, SKILL.de in the field of teacher training and PATEC in the area of start-up support.

Below is a selection of currently active research projects at University of Passau. If you have any further questions, please contact the Communication and Marketing Division.

European funding sources

European funding sources

European funding sources

Horizon Europe

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

German funding sources

German funding sources

German funding sources

German Research Foundation (DFG)

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

Emmy Noether

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

Other Federal Ministries

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

Kimono

Funding from Bavarian state ministries

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

Other national funding bodies

Funding programmes for early career researchers

BMWK Project EnerSat – satellite networks for reliable monitoring of critical infrastructures

The BMWK Project “Enersat” of University of Passau, Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT), Institut für Energie- und Hochspannungstechnik (IEHT) researches on reliable satellite network architectures to support normal and emergency operation of sustainable energy systems.

The research team is aimed to investigate the potential of establishing a network of micro-satellites in low-Earth orbit. On the one hand, this satellite network should serve as an exclusive, highly available and highly secure communication channel for distributed power distribution grid resources. It should also be beneficial for operators and stakeholders in the event of a crisis, such as a wide-area power outage, because the satellite system is energy-autonomous communication. On the other hand, in the normal operation, it can represent a benefit for the energy suppliers, because satellite communication enables continuous and area-wide observation of the state of the operating resources.

This research direction is crucial for the national safety, since ongoing energy transition has resurfaced the traditional power distribution grid into a sustainable decentralized and digitalized system. However, the interdependent nature of power and communication system imposes a challenge to establish uninterruptable communication of system-critical resources. Thus, in the event of nationwide failures of the power distribution system, terrestrial communication systems will partially go offline due to their dependency on the power supply. Only partial availability of the communication network devices will lead to communication quality degradation, which is undesirable for critical infrastructures. An independent from the environment all-time available alternative is therefore required.

The main goal of the project is to provide the satellite network with capabilities to withstand various disturbances from outside of the system such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, as well as disturbances originating from the system itself, such as system faults. University of Passau will focus on enhancement and improvement of satellite communication technology for reliable smart grid communication in both emergency and normal operation.

Principal Investigator(s) at the University Prof. Dr. Hermann de Meer (Lehrstuhl für Informatik mit Schwerpunkt Rechnernetze und Rechnerkommunikation)
Project period 01.03.2023 - 31.08.2024
Source of funding
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
BMWK - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Projektnummer 50RU2303C

Fraunhofer research groups

More about information on the research foci

Projects and researcher profiles associated with the interdisciplinary themes of the University can be found on the following pages:

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