Logistikum at FH Upper Austria in Close Collaboration with the State of Upper Austria

The circular economy aims to extend the lifecycle of products by reusing existing products and materials as efficiently as possible. This requires collaboration not only between producers and consumers but also with logistics. FH Upper Austria’s Logistikum, located at the Steyr campus, is Austria’s leading application-oriented research center on this topic. Its head, FH-Prof. Franz Staberhofer, is now working to advance sustainable production and recycling through logistics and supply chain management, creating closed loops and innovative business models. Numerous companies are already on board.

“We at Logistikum have already achieved spectacular success in creating circular supply chains, most recently through reusable shipping packaging in collaboration with Austrian Post,” says Staberhofer, outlining a strategic focus for his research team. Upper Austria’s Minister for Economy and Research, Markus Achleitner, has also embraced this topic and supports the activities of the Steyr logistics experts. At Logistikum, the goal is to “think holistically, but – as in other areas – derive tangible benefits for businesses through practice-oriented research,” with the support of the state of Upper Austria.

Logistikum draws on years of experience and the expertise of 11 professors and 40 research associates currently working on around 35 ongoing projects. Future priorities include sustainability and circular economy, resilient supply chains, automated driving, and innovations in retail logistics.

DOMINO Building Blocks Soon Across All Federal States?

Sustainability is reflected not only in contributions to a functioning circular economy but also in efforts toward sustainable mobility. One example is DOMINO, a personalized app developed by Fluidtime Data Services. It promotes carpooling and ride-sharing in Austria, aiming to make car traffic more sustainable and reduce CO₂ emissions. DOMINO is used by the research group led by FH-Prof. Wolfgang Schildorfer to study mobility behavior. The app enables scientific measurement of target groups – “communities” – and their behavior. Use cases are continuously expanding. A key group under study includes all FH Upper Austria students and staff. Various “rewards” are offered at individual FH campuses to encourage carpooling. Communities in Upper and Lower Austria are already being analyzed, and discussions are underway to expand to Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Carinthia, Vienna, and Burgenland.

Students Benefit from Practice-Oriented Research

At the Steyr campus, FH Upper Austria offers one bachelor’s and two master’s programs in logistics. Results from practice-oriented research are continuously integrated into the curricula, ensuring students receive cutting-edge education. Students also actively participate in logistics research through projects and scientific theses.