• New organisational concepts in production, administration and services
• Network research and consulting
• Knowledge-based work and knowledge management
• Vocational training and education, continuous improvement processes
• Occupational health and prevention
• Service work
• Gender research
• Transitions to flexible working time arrangements
• Demographical change
• Industrial relations

In addition to applied and basic research, sfs provides expert advice in a number of areas such as new production concepts and network management, continuing education and training, introduction and evaluation of quality systems.

Users of the institute’s work are:

• European Commission;
• German Federal and State Ministries;
• Local authorities;
• Industrial associations and trade unions ;
• Foundations and non-profit organisations.
• Private and public companies and administrations.

International exchange and cooperation
sfs is a partner of several national and international networks of scientific research. In 1991 the sfs was a co-founder of the European research network euroNET:WORK&EDUCATION.