Institut for Automation und Kommunication (IFAK)

The "Institut für Automation und Kommunikation" e. V. Magdeburg (IFAK), founded in 1991, is a non-profit research institute with about 50 employees. IFAK is one of the founding members of the "Deutsche Industrieforschungsgemeinschaft Konrad Zuse e.V.". The institute carries out applied research on “Industrial Communication", "Automation and Digitization”, “Water and Energy” and “Measurement Technology and Mobility”. Main activities of IFAK aim at applied research in the field of automation.

In around 75 projects of research annually, ranging from feasibility studies to complex development projects, ifak is a partner to industry. It is a reflection of the cross-sectional character of automation and information technology that the customers come from the widest range of industries in addition to electrical engineering. In keeping with the non-profit character of the institute, ifak is especially involved in precompetitive cooperation projects at European and German federal level as well as with industrial organisations. IFAK was and is involved in several international projects, among those RFieldbus (as coordinator), FlexWARE, VAN, SOCRADES, IMC-AESOP the ITEA Projects PROTEUS, ENERGY, AIMES, AMALTHEA, AVANTI (having received the ITEA-Award of Excellence 2017), AMALTHEA4public, ENTOC (having received the ITEA-Award of Excellence 2020), TESTOMAT, OPTIMUM (having received the ITEA-Award of Excellence 2022), XIVT, AIToC SmartDelta, InnoSale and GENIUS. At National level, the AVILUS project has to be mentioned.

Academic reputation of ifak is reflected by its recognition as the first institute affiliated to the Otto-von-Guericke-University of Magdeburg. The institute’s national and international network of cooperation is complemented by its active participation in a wide range of expert committees, e.g. DKE, IEC and ISO. Nearly 75 % of the about 60 fulltime staff of the interdisciplinary ifak team are scientists.

For more info: www.ifak.eu