Being one of the key institutes of the newly established academic programs Polymer Engineering (BSc), Polymer Science and Technologies (MSc), Management in Polymer Technologies (MSc) and Polymer Science and Technologies (PhD) at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz since 2009, the Chair's and the Institute's teaching and research responsibility is to cover the fields of physics, material science, testing and applications of polymeric materials. The research profile of the institute is directed towards a contribution to some of the key technologies associated with the concept of Sustainable Development. It comprises research activities on the development of polymeric materials and the utilization of polymer technologies especially in the following fields:
• water supply, management and disposal
(fresh/potable water, sanitation, agriculture, etc.)
• renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, water)
• light-weight electric vehicles
• 'biogenic' plastics based on renewable resources
Issues related to general improvements in the energy and material efficiency by polymer applications including aspects of performance oriented life cycle analysis as well as fossil fuel raw material availability (i.e., peak oil) are treated as cross-sectoral topics. Moreover, in close collaboration with other research and industrial partners, the Institute acts as initiator and coordinator of large multi-partner cooperative research programs headed by Prof.
