Mission Statement

About us

The Center for Applied Energy Research e.V. (CAE) is a non-profit research institute and aims with its research and development activities to transfer ideas into practice in cooperation with commercial enterprises and other research partners and thus to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable, CO2 emission-free and economical energy system. The CAE acts as a bridge between basic research and market-oriented development.

Vision

The solution of the energy question has an outstanding role for the future of mankind. As a leading national and international applied energy research institute, we contribute with our research and development work to establishing solutions for a sustainable, climate-neutral energy supply. This is based on the synergetic use of renewable energies and energy efficiency technologies.
Our research and development work is trend-setting, is used worldwide and is thus part of the solution to the global energy question.

Mission

We develop applied, practice-relevant innovative solutions in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency technologies on the basis of our long-standing, nationally and internationally recognized research and development work. We operate at the interface between knowledge-based basic research and applied industrial research and carry out our research and development work from the idea to the prototype as well as from the material, via the component, to the application. We implement statutory goals together with our partners. We share our findings and research results with politics, science, industry and the public through publications and lectures and are committed to training the next generation of scientists.

Guiding principles

- We research for you in practice according to the highest scientific standards.
- We offer barrier-free, low-threshold access to our research and development services.
- We rely heavily on inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration to enable optimal solutions for our customers and partners
- The innovative strength and commitment of our employees are the basis for our successful work. An optimal working environment is therefore the basis for successful research.

Equality

CAE seeks to be a leader in promoting equality and creating an atmosphere of respect for diversity, recognizes and eliminates practices and structures that create and perpetuate inequality. The Institute strives to foster a sense of community, that is, to promote a sense of trust and mutual respect in all interactions. The principles of equality, policies and goals to promote equality and prevent discrimination and harassment are set forth in the Gender Equality Plan.

Download: Gender Equality Plan

Ensuring scientific quality

CAE is committed to the rules for ensuring good scientific practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG). In our research work, the principles of scientific work are taken into account in everyday practice and is implemented in a corresponding quality management. Special attention is paid to the training and promotion of young scientists and their guidance to consider the principles of good scientific practice.

Intellectual Property (IP)-Strategy

CAE operates applied energy research with the aim to accelerate the transfer of research results into concrete industrial applications for the benefit of society. In this context, an intellectual property (IP) strategy is of particular importance. The basis for the strategy is that CAE wants to use its intellectual property to promote innovation in society and thus reach as many users as possible, as well as research partners from science and industry. At the same time, CAE strives to maintain its innovative capacity and its position as an attractive research partner in the competitive environment. In addition, the commercial exploitation of research results through licensing to interested industrial partners will contribute to increasing the financial independence of CAE in the long term, thus strengthening the independence of research in general.
These strategic goals are achieved through careful management with regard to securing research results through property rights and contractual agreements with research and industrial partners.