FLEX-E
Tools for collaborative energy management in industrial parks
A global intelligent energy management system is the solution for companies to reduce costs and CO₂ emissions in industrial parks.
Smarter energy use in industrial parks through Federated Learning (AI)
FLEX-E helps industrial parks reduce costs and CO₂ emissions through smarter energy utilization. Companies in industrial parks often manage their energy seperately or not at all, leading to unnecessary losses.
FLEX-E develops AI tools that enable secure collaboration without sharing sensitive data. The project is tested together with industrial partners, including the industrial park on the site of the former forge in Pfinztal. Modeling industrial parks of various sizes produces practical models and guidelines.
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Technical Goals of FLEX-E
- Modeling of complex industrial park energy systems in accordance with ISO standards
- Development of a robust framework for federated learning to share knowledge between different locations without transferring sensitive raw data
FLEX-E Tools Offer the Following Benefits
Shared use of resources and data to improve energy efficiency in industrial parks
Ensuring security and data privacy aspects to guarantee acceptance among users and operators
Modularity and scalability for changes in industrial parks and for networking multiple parks
AI tools are tested and validated in real industrial parks
Transfer through practical guidelines, software tools, and workshops
995,637.97 € Total Budget
248,909.49 € (BW, RLP, Grand Est)
497,818.99 € (European Fund)
Duration: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2028
A cross-border project, co-funded by the European Union.
A Strong Partnership for Innovation, Real-World Laboratories, and Knowledge Transfer in the Upper Rhine Region
FLEX-E brings together universities, companies, and public partners from France and Germany. The Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and INSA Strasbourg contribute their expertise in the areas of energy flow modeling and artificial intelligence. The consortium also includes industrial actors and economic development agencies from both sides of the Rhine, ensuring that research results can be transferred to the market. Together, these actors form a collaborative ecosystem that drives energy optimization forward.
Funding partners
Project partners
Associated partners
News
Tabea Decker
Jessica Schmidt
Administrative kick-off event
On 26 March, the administrative kick-off event for the Science Initiative projects took place at the administrative headquarters of the French Grand Est region in Strasbourg.
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Successful Launch of the FLEX-E Science Initiative Project
Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences reports on the successful start of FLEX-E
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Uwe Krebs
Launch event for the Upper Rhine Tri-National Metropolitan Region’s Science Initiative at the HKA
At the launch event of the Science Offensive of the Trinational Metropolitan Region Upper Rhine at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, pioneering cross-border research projects were officially presented. The aim of these projects is to strengthen the innovation capacity of the entire region.
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Launch of the FLEX-E Project
The FLEX-E consortium has officially started its work. Together, we are developing tools for collaborative energy management in industrial parks.
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