ITAS – Department for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis

KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Department for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)

The ITAS investigates scientific and technological developments with a focus on their impacts and possible systemic and unintended effects. It produces analytical knowledge and assessments of socio-technical developments in order to provide policy and design options for decision-makers. Within the area of applied systems analysis the sustainability assessment is a main focus of the institute based on the developed integrative sustainability concept especially with regard to the energy transition in Germany. On the other side for investigations on technological or systems developments the institute uses the ecological and economic analyses instruments like life cycle assessment (LCA) or life cycle costing (LCC) for a long time. These methods are part life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA).