Who are you and what do you do? With whom are you collaborating (Industry Partner)?
My name is Florian Balduf. I am an industrial engineer with a keen background in the field of computer science, and I work as a research assistant at Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern. In my department we engage in the »Modeling and Digital Twins «. This allows me to promote topics within the field of sustainability, what data is needed for sustainability indicators such as carbon footprints and product passports and how these can best be integrated. For my »Green Digital Twin« (Grüne Digitale Zwillinge; DGZ) project, I was able to win Software AG from Darmstadt over to become my partner.
Since when are you a Software Campus participant and what do you expect from this program?
Since 2024 I am participating in the »Software Campus« project. What I expect from it is several things: Most importantly, a concrete use case and a sparring partner for my ideas. Furthermore, this program provides me with a budget for my PhD topic “Factory Model for Simplified Sustainability Indicator Calculation”, which I mainly reinvest in student assistants. This supervision allows me to gain my first experience in leadership. Particularly, I appreciate the opportunities for networking and further training at the Software Campus.
What is your IT-Project about – core topic – and how could it be used in the long run?
My project, »Green Digital Twin«, does allow companies to gather, and share low-threshold, reliable Data on their product’s carbon footprint. Currently, this data is often based on rough estimates. By implementing standardized digital twins, we can share this information across the entire value chain, and integrate it into a product passport. This enables companies to record their carbon footprint accurately and make well-grounded decisions. We can assume that there will be more stringent regulatory requirements in the future, and that the carbon footprint will also have to be documented on delivery notes – which will increase transparency in the supply chain significantly.
What exactly was your personal reason to pursue a career in computer science?
The concept of Industry 4.0 convinced me early on during my first study of industrial engineering at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. Industry 4.0 is a term used to describe the comprehensive digitalization and networking of industrial production, marking the fourth industrial revolution. I was immediately captivated by this topic. Although the focus of my study was mechanical engineering, I soon realized that the greatest potential does not lie in the traditional, already well-researched topics of mechanical engineering, but rather in digitalization.
Which ‘specific’ character traits are fundamental for a top management in the field of computer science?
Top management especially requires one thing: motivation and initiative! What I mean by this is not only the motivation which one should personally have, rather also the motivation which can be transmitted to others. In my opinion, next to mutual appreciation, transparent communication within teams is equally important. Simultaneously, a positive error culture is needed, in which it is allowed to try things out and learn from mistakes. Resilience is also essential.
Next to your job and Software Campus, what makes your heart beat faster?
To me, sustainability is very important. As a researcher in the field of digitalization, I am trying to make a valuable contribution to the »Twin Transition«. This describes the simultaneous transition to a sustainable and digitized economy, in which technological innovations are used to achieve ecological and economical goals.
In my spare time, I love bouldering and stand-up paddling. What I particularly enjoy is doing this in combination with my own camper van. 🙂
Source language of this interview: German
