HOCHTIEF
 

Close cooperation with scientists

HOCHTIEF also gains R&D benefits from partnerships with universities, scientists and industry associations. Through our active membership of the European Construction Technology Platform, we help to maintain excellence in the European construction industry. HOCHTIEF is also a member of ENCORD, the European Network of Construction Companies for Research and Development.

Examples for external cooperations

In our R&D projects, we cooperate with external partners internationally universities and specialized companies, for instance–or purchase R&D services from them.

Examples of external cooperation: In connection with its innovation key subject ViCon, HOCHTIEF works together with numerous universities and research institutes, e.g. Stanford University (USA), Darmstadt Technical University, Bauhaus University Weimar, Dortmund University and Munich Technical University. Professors from Stanford University, Darmstadt Technical University and Bauhaus University Weimar also form the ViCon Advisory Board where they act as external consultants for the ViCon strategy. Within the framework of inHaus2, we are the main partner of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and carry out various research projects with nine Fraunhofer institutes. In the Solar Decathlon, we cooperate with Darmstadt Technical University's Faculty for Energy-efficient Construction. HOCHTIEF also leads the research project "Future subjects of construction operation" together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Kassel University and Darmstadt Technical University.

HOCHTIEF's program for doctoral candidates

HOCHTIEF's doctoral program allows selected employees to obtain a doctorate. The doctoral students represent an interface between the Group and the university concerned, further deepening our already close cooperation with institutes of higher education. With these programs, the company promotes those of its employees who deal with important R&D subjects from a scientific perspective. At a later stage, the doctoral candidates also participate in the implementation of their work's results. During the program period, the candidates receive support from qualified tutors and a managerial employee of the corporate division concerned who takes on a mentor's role. The HOCHTIEF employees who currently participate in the program prepare doctoral theses on the innovation key subjects "InTun", "Future subjects of construction operation" and "Refurbishment and upgrading" at HOCHTIEF Construction.

In two different ways, the programs for doctoral candidates also constitute measures in response to the future lack of qualified construction professionals: Firstly, inhouse staff are given the opportunity to acquire the relevant qualification so that bonds of loyalty with the company are established. Secondly, HOCHTIEF profits from its intensive contacts with leading universities to also reach out to young talents in the field of construction and in related disciplines.

EU research projects

Within the framework of its innovations key subjects InTun and ViCon, HOCHTIEF participates in the EU-funded major research projects Tunconstruct and InPro.


 
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