Research

Industrial storage setting with A.I. overlay
 

Research

As a global leader in sustainability research, we're closing the gap between theory and practice when it comes to transitioning industrial systems to the circular economy.

Our facilities boast more than 84,000 square feet of labs and testbeds, with over 100 full-time engineers, technicians, research faculty, and sponsored students on staff. The diverse perspectives we bring to a problem reflect our broad expertise across industries, not to mention the partnerships we’ve formed with the businesses, government agencies, and research bodies that are driving innovation within sustainability today. 

Focus Areas

Remanufacturing

Recycling

Industrial Ecology

Resource Efficiency

Policy & Economic Impact

Systems Analysis

Design for Re-X

Process & Technology Development

Research Centers

Each of our research centers helps our corporate and government partners move forward on sustainability in unique ways. All together they work towards three key outcomes: new applications of advanced technology, sustainable industrial processes and practices, and data-informed policy recommendations.

Man working coldspray device

Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery

The Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery explores new technologies that recover and recapture the embedded value typically lost when products reach the end of their life cycle.

Additive manufacturing equipment

Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing

The Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing helps New York state manufacturers develop and apply new technologies that create competitive business advantages.

Woman in RIT microgrid lab

Sustainable Energy Systems

The Center for Sustainable Energy Systems seeks to reduce the energy consumed in the production, distribution, use, and disposal of products and industrial materials.

Highway system with cars

Transportation and Mobility

The Center for Sustainable Mobility explores practical applications of autonomous vehicles, sensors and components, smart cities software, and communication tools that will enable more intelligent and effective mobility systems.

Man assessing pipes on a laptop

Clean Production

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute gives New York State businesses, communities, and nonprofit organizations customized solutions and educational resources that help them realize the benefits of sustainability.

Epitaxial nanotechnology device

NanoPower

The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

We brought together the largest consortia of business, government, and academia to advance promising circular economy technologies in the U.S.—the REMADE Institute.
 

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Faculty Research

From resource scarcity to climate change, our faculty are meeting today’s most pressing challenges head on to find new opportunities for the circular economy. Focusing on food waste, electronic waste, renewable energy, and energy policy, their research helps government and industry decision-makers achieve sustainable growth through technological innovation and policy-making. Explore some of their most recently completed projects below or view all faculty scholarships. 

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“We look forward to working with RIT in developing new ideas—both from academic and industrial viewpoints—that will educate engineers and scientists in support of the circular economy.”
- Jules Hayward, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Research Facilities

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Industry Collaboration

We also work with businesses large and small on technical problem solving, product or production process innovation, new technology development and more.

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