What is a Competence Center?

A competence center is a platform that brings together knowledge and stakeholders on a specific topic to develop targeted solutions.

The Competence Center for Sustainable Food and Resource Management (K.NER) connects science, practice, and society to address pressing challenges in the food and resource sectors. Its goal is to foster exchange and develop practical solutions.

The Problem

The food and resource sectors face fundamental challenges. Scientific findings often do not reach practice, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Access to research results and technological solutions is limited, while the costs and efforts for sustainable changes remain high.

Additionally, there is often a lack of transparency along the value chain. Consumers are rarely able to understand the ecological and social impacts of production and consumption, making sustainable decision-making difficult. These obstacles hinder systematic transformation towards greater sustainability.

Vision

A sustainable food and resource economy that respects ecological boundaries and limitations, promotes social equity, and is economically viable.

Mission

Our mission is to shape the food and resource economy sustainably through interdisciplinary research and practice-oriented innovation transfer.

We research topics such as sustainable resource management, sufficiency strategies, and true cost accounting to highlight challenges, understand complex interconnections, and develop evidence-based approaches for sustainable practices. Through funded projects and collaborative partnerships, we translate these insights into practice, supporting companies, organisations, and public institutions in implementing ecological, social, and economic solutions.

Furthermore, we promote awareness of and knowledge about sustainability issues. This creates transparency along the entire value chain, targeting political decision-makers, consumers, and the academic community.

Focus Areas

Sustainable Resource and Value Chains

We explore strategies for the efficient use of resources along the entire value chain. This includes circular economy concepts, resource-saving production methods, and innovative packaging solutions. The goal is to minimise resource consumption and enhance sustainability in production and supply processes.

Transforming Production and Consumption

Our focus is on developing and promoting production and consumption approaches that prioritise sufficiency and consistency. These approaches help reduce resource use, make supply chains more resilient, and establish sustainable alternatives in the economy.

Food Quality and Safety

We research innovative techniques to ensure safe, sustainable, and high-quality food production. This includes sensory detection methods and other forward-looking approaches that benefit both producers and consumers.

Transforming Business and Society

We support companies and start-ups in developing sustainable strategies and business models. Our research on sustainability-oriented marketing and collaborations with regional stakeholders foster innovation and contribute to sustainable economic development.

Knowledge Transfer and Awareness

We create transparency about the ecological and social impacts along the value chain and promote dialogue between science, business, politics, and society. Through educational offerings and public engagement, we disseminate knowledge and raise awareness of sustainable practices.

Promoting Impact Start-ups and Intrapreneurship

We cultivate entrepreneurial spirit and support the development of sustainable ideas that create societal value. Our goal is to assist both individuals and organisations in recognising innovative approaches and bringing them to life.

K.NER Stakeholders

Our Location in Neumarkt

The Competence Center for Sustainable Food and Resource Management (K.NER) is located in the new campus building of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg at Residenzplatz in Neumarkt. The modern campus offers ideal conditions for research, teaching, and collaboration.

Since 2016, the Neumarkt campus has been part of the Ohm and serves as a central hub for the Management in Organic and Sustainability Business degree programme. With the completion of the new building in 2024, the 3,200-square-metre facility now houses a large lecture hall, seminar and group rooms, as well as offices—an ideal setting to advance innovative projects and sustainable concepts.

The building underscores the connection between science and practice, reinforcing Neumarkt's role as a pioneer in sustainable economy and education.