Research for Sustainable Use of Resources
Resources form the foundation for economy, prosperity, security, and innovation. Therefore, responsible and sustainable management of resources is of utmost importance.
At Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, we develop technologies and solutions for addressing key societal challenges. Our scientific profile combines the interconnected topics of GEO, MATERIAL, ENERGY, and ENVIRONMENT, consistently aligning with future requirements.
Responsibility for society as well as for environmental and climate protection, efficient use of scarce raw materials, and sustainable provision of energy are essential motivators of our research. With our research, we contribute to achieving the goal of closing energy and material cycles.

Freiberg Center for Water Research (ZeWaF)

Center for Efficient High Temperature Processes and Materials Conversion (ZeHS)

FCCE - Freiberg Center for Circular Economy

IÖZ - Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre

DFG CRC 920: Multi-Functional Filters for Metal Melt Filtration

DFG Research Training Group GRK 2802: Refractory Recycling

FHP - Freiberg High Pressure Research Center

Facilities and equipment
A particular strength of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg is its excellent, partly unique research facilities and infrastructure, which enables continuous research and technology development from fundamental research, modelling and simulation up to technology development in near-industrial scale pilot facilities.
Scientists have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and pilot plants in the fields of chemistry, physics, environmental and geosciences, geotechnology, metallurgy, glass and ceramics, process engineering, additive manufacturing, materials engineering, robotics, metal foundry and forming technology, semiconductor and sensor technology, and heat and energy technology, as well as to several central infrastructure facilities.
Central infrastructure facilities (selection):
- Full-scale underground research mine
- HPC-Cluster
- Clean room facilities
- Geoscientific collections
- Scientific Diving Center
- Behavioral Research Lab and VR Lab
Cooperation, networks, alliances
TU Bergakademie Freiberg is one of the top international addresses in the field of resource technologies and has been shaping worldwide developments in this area. A large number of research institutions in the field of resource research can trace their origins directly back to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg or to scientists trained here. Our international network and the number of partnerships are correspondingly large. In addition to numerous national and international university, research and industry partnerships, TU Bergakademie Freiberg is actively involved in networks such as the European University Alliance EURECA-PRO - The European University on Responsible Consumption and Production and German Resource Research Institute (GERRI). TUBAF also was a driving force behind the initiation of the world's largest innovation network for resource technologies, EIT RawMaterials, with more than 120 partners from education, research and industry.
Numerous scientific institutions as well as research-related institutions and companies are located in Freiberg and in the surrounding region. Local partners include Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), Fraunhofer Technology Center High Performance Materials THM, die Fraunhofer Office for Carbon Cycle Technologies, DBI - Gastechnologisches Institut gGmbH, FILK Freiberg Institute, Saxon State Office for Agriculture, Environment and Geology, Sächsische Mining Office as well as several other affiliated institutes and industrial research groups.
Saxon initiatives in which the TU Bergakademie Freiberg is actively involved include Energy Saxony, Leichtbau-Allianz Sachsen, Saxon Hydrogen Union, rECOmine, GlasCampus Torgau, Geokompetenzzentrum Freiberg, Freiberger Interessengemeinschaft der Recycling- und Entsorgungsunternehmen and Circular Saxony.
Several foundations support science and research at TUBAF. Of particular note is the Dr. Erich Krüger Foundation, one of the largest university foundations in Germany, which helps to implement projects worth well over 1 million euros per year.

Doing Research at TUBAF
TU Bergakademie Freiberg offers excellent working and living conditions for national and international researchers as well as young scientists. Cooperation within TUBAF is characterized by short distances and direct communication between the scientific departments, the university administration and the university management in a supportive and friendly atmosphere. This allows for individual and flexible solutions as well as a fast and pragmatic implementation of ideas. State of the art equipped laboratories and pilot plants, access to an excellent infrastructure as well as access to renowned partner institutions worldwide enable the implementation of challenging scientific projects and create a motivating environment.
PhD students, postdocs and visiting scientists are supported by a comprehensive range of services and are encouraged in the implementation of their projects as well as in their individual qualification and personal development. In addition to peer networks, mentoring and coaching programs, the Graduate and Research Academy - GraFA as well as our International University Center "Alexander von Humboldt" offer a broad and diverse spectrum of services and further education courses.
Freiberg offers a pleasant and family-friendly living environment for researchers, with attractive housing, leisure and cultural facilities, high-quality and affordable day-care centres and schools, as well as medical care. The surrounding cities of Dresden, Chemnitz, Leipzig, Berlin and Prague, as well as the tourist and outdoor sports regions of the Ore Mountains and Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, are within easy reach.
Responsible Research - Ethics and Quality Standards
Our research serves society. Through our work and its results, we contribute to the creation and preservation of good humanitarian and natural living conditions, as well as to the solution of major societal challenges in resource, environmental, and climate protection. We promote sustainable development in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, as well as an innovation-friendly, open-minded, peaceful, and tolerant coexistence.
TU Bergakademie Freiberg adheres to the principles of good scientific practice as well as the guidelines outlined in the DFG Code of Conduct "Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice" and implements them bindingly for all scientists and students. Good scientific practice pertains to the conduct of research and documentation, interaction and communication with students and colleagues, and the publication of results. The corresponding regulations provide support and guidance while also addressing the handling of conflict situations.
Scientists at TUBAF enjoy a high degree of freedom. Courage, creativity, as well as an entrepreneurial and exploratory spirit are supported. We have a culture of enabling and supporting, curiosity, and respectful interaction. This includes openness to new and unconventional approaches and methods. Scientists are treated with equal respect, regardless of gender, ethnic and cultural background, religion, worldview, individual limitations, or orientations. They are included in the community and provided with individual support.
TU Bergakademie Freiberg commits to Open Science and supports the disclosure and dissemination of knowledge and research findings for the benefit of humanity and the implementation of sustainable development goals. It is a signatory of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Scientific Knowledge and provides its scientists with the necessary resources to publish research results and data openly accessible. The university has its own repositories, including the publication platform Qucosa and the research data repository OpARA. In addition, TU Bergakademie Freiberg is part of the DEAL consortium and offers support for cost-based Open Access publications through an Open Access Fund.
With various formats, such as within the framework of the 4transfer project, the university promotes science communication and knowledge and technology transfer to the economy and society.
TU Bergakademie Freiberg provides all necessary conditions for a professional and responsible handling, as well as the long-term preservation and accessibility of research data. We are a member of the National Research Data Infrastructure Association (NFDI), and our scientists actively participate in its relevant subject groups. Additionally, we are involved in the SaxFDM (Research Data Management Saxony) network, which provides advisory and support services to scientists in Saxony.
Contact
Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer