About us
We are proud of our diversity and interdisciplinarity.
Passionate, tolerant and courageous.
Our Team

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Gries
Scientific Director
Christoph Henke, M.Sc.
Research Group Leaderchristoph.henke@ifu.rwth-aachen.de

Anna-Tabea Förster
HR & Financesannatabea.foerster@ifu.rwth-aachen.de

Alexander Redlich, M.Sc.
Research Group Leaderalexander.redlich@ifu.rwth-aachen.de

David Schnermann, M.Sc.
Research assistantdavid.schnermann@ifu.rwth-aachen.de

Konstantin Zähl, M.Sc.
Research assistantkonstantin.zaehl@ifu.rwth-aachen.de

Sam Koehler
Student worker
Kevin Heinrich
Student worker
Erik Deinzer
Student worker
Pepper
Humanoid Robot
Oscar
Mobile Service Robot
TORsten
Mobile Intralogistics Robot
Scotty
DogMembers
As a registered not-for-profit association, IfU e.V. is supported by its members. Members benefit from direct access to a wide range of information on the current state of cybernetics, new methods for innovation and value co-creation, and new business models. They participate at the insights in the fields of economics and engineering gained by IfU through its wide range of applied projects.
At our annual meeting, but also in direct exchange, members gain direct access to current topics from research and industry. A profound program ensures active networking and exchange among members and further institute partners.
Above all, however, we repeatedly involve our members’ companies in our research projects (however, memnership is no nessessary conditions for participation — we are open to all interested research partners).
If you would also like to become part of the IfU network, please feel free to contact us.
We would be happy to welcome you at our next general assembly.
Executive board
The Executive Board of IfU steers the work of the Institute in close consultation with the Scientific Board of Trustees and the Management. It is responsible for the affairs of the association and is elected every three years at the general meeting.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Gries
Scientific directorDirektor des Lehrstuhl für Textilmaschinenbau an der RWTH Aachen University

Dr. rer. nat. René Vossen
Board MemberManaging Director Universität Hamburg Marketing GmbH (UHHMG), Hamburg

Prof. Dr. phil. Roger Häußling
Board MemberLeiter des Lehrstuhls für Technik- und Organisationssoziologie

Prof. Dr. phil. Stefan Böschen
Board MemberInhaber des Lehrstuhls „Technik und Gesellschaft“ am Human Technology Center der RWTH Aachen

Dr.-Ing. Christian Jacobi
Board memberManagement of Agiplan GmbH, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Scientific Board of Trustees
In addition to the board of directors and the scientific management, the scientific board of trustees – consisting of renowned representatives from research and industry – supports the institute in an advisory and pioneering capacity. The board of trustees advises, examines and accompanies our research projects and ideas, especially with regard to the scientific and economic benefit of the research results for practice. The aim is to give small and medium-sized enterprises access to the latest state of the art and thus increase their international competitiveness. The feedback of the trustees flows directly into the processing and acquisition of excellent research projects and ensures the high scientific quality standards of the institute.

Doris Aschenbrenner

Dieter Begass

Maren Bennewitz

Paul Flachskampf

Thomas Gries

Eckart Hauck

Christiane Michulitz

Herbert Nöckel

Gerald Pörschmann

Astrid Rosenthal-von der Pütten

Sigrid Brell-Cokcan

Karl Schultheis

Markus Schwaninger

Jean Severijns

Klaus Henning

You are interested in a cooperation?
Get in touch with our team of researchers.
We are always available to answer your questions.