On 19 August 2025, the newly founded research network ‘Integrated Security and Sustainability’ (I2SN) officially began its work in Dresden. The aim of this multidisciplinary alliance is to establish and structurally anchor a powerful platform for research, development, innovation and transfer in the field of external, internal and civil security by the end of 2027.
The network is supported by three central partners: the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) Dresden, the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE). Funding is provided by the Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB) on behalf of the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK).
Interdisciplinary expertise and joint labs
The three partners cover complementary areas of expertise:
- Materials research by IFW Dresden,
- Energy technologies by Fraunhofer IKTS,
- Cyber security and IT by Fraunhofer FKIE.
Together with 15 associated partners from Saxon universities and non-university research institutions, joint labs are to be established in these areas to work on an interdisciplinary basis. The initial focus will be on three central fields: personal and vehicle protection, resilient energy systems and software-defined defence.
Multi-stakeholder network for security and defence research
Another strategic goal is to establish a multi-stakeholder network in the Free State of Saxony that connects actors from science, politics and industry in the fields of external, internal and civil security. This is intended to raise the profile of Saxony’s research landscape both nationally and internationally and provide impetus for the direct implementation of scientific findings in military and civil applications.
The I2SN office is located at Fraunhofer IKTS. The network’s spokesperson is Prof. Dr. Christoph Igel, deputy director of Fraunhofer FKIE. He emphasises Saxony’s special position: “The Free State of Saxony offers a unique research landscape for research and innovation in defence and security. It is home to important players at the top international level who together cover current and future needs in security and defence research. Technology and knowledge can be transferred into directly usable military and civilian applications. Making this visible, bundling the associated tasks and putting them into practice is the central task of the I2SN research network.”
Benefits for industry and emergency services
I2SN opens up new opportunities, especially for industrial partners: companies can be involved in the research and development process at an early stage and benefit from the proximity to application-oriented cutting-edge research. This means that innovative materials, security and energy technologies or new IT solutions can be turned into marketable products more quickly. This not only strengthens the regional economy, but also creates competitive advantages for security and defence-related companies on national and international markets.
For emergency services – from fire brigades and rescue services to the police and armed forces – the work of the network means direct added value. Solutions from the joint labs can be put into practice immediately, whether through improved protective equipment, more resilient energy supply concepts in crisis situations or IT-supported systems for operational management. In this way, I2SN is helping to ensure that security organisations can act faster, more safely and more efficiently in the future.
Signal effect beyond Saxony
I2SN is creating a structurally anchored competence centre in the Free State of Saxony that drives innovation at the interface between security and sustainability. The close integration of science, industry and user organisations not only creates added value for the region, but also has the potential to serve as a model for other federal states and European partner regions. The network is thus likely to make an important contribution to strengthening the European security architecture and further profiling Germany as a location for innovation in the security-related environment.
