Green IT Impact (GITI): Kick-off for Sustainable Software Development

Sustainable software development meets real-world impact: Green IT Impact (GITI) brings together industry, academia, and research to make sustainability measurable across the software life cycle. Discover how andagon, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, and the German Aerospace Center are shaping the future of Green IT.

Sustainable software development is no longer optional—it is a decisive factor for future-proof IT. With the Green IT Impact (GITI) research project, andagon people GmbH, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are joining forces to systematically connect ecological sustainability with software quality. The kick-off event on October 31, 2025, marked the official start of this partnership.

Kick-off Event: Start of the Project

The kick-off event for the Green IT Impact project took place on October 31, 2025, at andagon HQ. Representatives from andagon people GmbH and Bochum University of Applied Science's Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (HSBO) met with the project sponsor, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), to align on key framework conditions and establish a strong foundation for successful collaboration.

The objective of the meeting was to bring all project partners together, clarify shared expectations, and define a clear structure for the upcoming project phases.

Objective of the Green IT Impact Project

Green IT Impact aims to make sustainable software development measurable, comparable, and applicable in practice. At its core is the development of an innovative model for the life cycle analysis (LCA) of software products, systematically linking ecological aspects with quality and performance criteria.

The project addresses a key challenge in modern IT: How can high-performing, scalable, and maintainable software systems be developed without consuming unnecessary resources?

Collaboration Between Science, Industry, and Project Management Agency

andagon people GmbH

andagon contributes its extensive experience in software quality assurance, test management, and sustainable IT processes. The focus lies on translating scientific insights into practical, actionable approaches for companies.

Bochum University of Applied Sciences (HSBO)

A central project partner is the Sustainable Technologies Laboratory at Bochum University of Applied Sciences. HSBO brings deep expertise in areas such as life cycle engineering, circular economy, ecodesign, and sustainable energy and mobility concepts. This scientific perspective forms the methodological foundation of the GITI project.

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

The DLR acts project management agency: as Germany’s national research center for aerospace, energy, transport, security, and digitalization, the DLR ensures structured project governance and supports the initiative with expert guidance. Close coordination with the DLR’s representatives is a key success factor for Green IT Impact.

Key Topics and Outcomes of the Kick-off Meeting

During the kick-off event, the partners jointly defined and aligned on the following aspects:

• Refinement of project objectives and work plan

• Definition of key project milestones

• Usage of key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project progress

• Discussion of the expected multiplier effect to extend project impact beyond the immediate target group

• Alignment on documentation requirements, reporting formats, and communication cycles

These foundations enable transparent, structured, and efficient collaboration throughout the project.

Why Green IT is a Strategic Topic for the Future

Green IT goes far beyond energy-efficient data centers. It starts with software conception and architecture, and continues through development and testing. Decisions made in the early phases have a significant impact on resource consumption, maintenance effort, and scalability across the entire software life cycle.

The GITI project demonstrates that sustainability and software quality are not opposing goals - they reinforce each other. Sustainable development leads to robust, maintainable, and future-ready systems, creating a clear competitive advantage for organizations.

Next Steps in the GITI Project

In the upcoming project phases, the developed concepts will be further refined, validated, and gradually transferred into practice. Insights and results will be shared on a regular basis through blog posts, expert articles, and practical insights.

Green IT Impact is therefore not just a research initiative—it is an active contribution to the sustainable transformation of the IT industry.

Funding

The Green IT Impact (GITI) project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Funding code: 01LY2408A).

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