Dr.-Ing. Tobias Hardes
Center of Competence Manager Digital Infrastructure · Software Innovation Campus Paderborn
Connected and autonomous systems have been my field of work for more than ten years – from simulating cooperative and automated mobility and industrial 5G to UAV systems. I have set up and led development projects with industry and technology partners and led teams technically, including disciplinary responsibility in my own project AirMobiSim.
Technology, Projects, Leadership
Technology
Connected and autonomous systems, 5G and wireless communication, IIoT, simulation and AI applications — from cooperative mobility to UAV systems. PhD on cooperative mobility and highly dynamic wireless networks (summa cum laude).
Building and steering projects
Initiating, drafting and steering joint projects with industry and technology partners: project and program management, consortium building, partner management, public funding (BMBF, BMWK, EU, NRW, LuFo). At SICP I initiated and drafted 7 joint projects.
Leadership
Technical leadership of teams of up to 5 people, including disciplinary responsibility in the AirMobiSim project. Selection, hiring and mentoring of 13 student and research assistants since 2021, supervision of theses. Leadership training at Argumentorik-Akademie and Paderborn University.
Professional Experience & Education
From technical computer scientist through software development in industry to research on connected mobility and managing a competence center.
Professional Experience
Center of Competence Manager Digital Infrastructure (since 2025), previously Postdoc
Software Innovation Campus Paderborn- Responsible for the Digital Infrastructure competence area: thematic direction, project portfolio and partner network with industrial companies
- Innovation Companion: dedicated point of contact for companies on research and innovation — strategic research and innovation support
- Initiated and drafted 7 joint projects with industry partners; built demonstrators for connected and autonomous systems
Research Associate
Heinz Nixdorf Institute / Software Innovation Campus Paderborn- Project lead of AirMobiSim (BMBF Software Campus, won in competition); sub-project lead of DiSerHub (BMWK) and 5G4Industry (State of NRW)
- Technical leadership of teams of up to 5 people; PhD on cooperative mobility and highly dynamic wireless networks
Software Engineer
Ascora GmbH, Ganderkesee- Sub-project lead of TACNET 4.0 (BMBF, industrial 5G), including proposal writing from the company's perspective; work-package lead in the EU projects ACCEPT and ALFRED (Horizon 2020)
- Software development for end-user products
Software development and project management
E.g. p.l.i. solutions (Verl), Wincor Nixdorf (Paderborn), Fujitsu Technology Solutions- Customer projects in workforce management from requirements to rollout (2011 as IT developer and project lead)
- Software QA and test automation, plus working-student roles in software development and IT operations
Education
PhD (Dr.-Ing.), Computer Science
TU Dresden / Paderborn University- Title: "Cooperative Mobility in Urban Environments"
- Grade: summa cum laude
MSc, Computer Science
Paderborn University- Thesis: Performance analysis of a Freifunk mesh network
BSc, Applied Computer Science
FHDW Paderborn- Built an extended business intelligence system for p.l.i. solutions GmbH's PROCESS-SUITE
Vocational Training, Technical Computer Scientist
b.i.b. International College PaderbornResearch & Research Projects
Joint projects with industry and research partners on wireless communication, autonomous mobility and digital infrastructure — with role, volume and results.
Projects
AirMobiSim
Project leadWon the funding in a competition and led the project. Result: an open-source UAV simulator modeling flight and energy behavior and coupling with traffic and communication simulations, plus 5 publications.
DiSerHub
Sub-project leadTransformation hub supporting automotive industry players in securing competitiveness through digital services and business models. Took over and continued the sub-project lead.
5G4Industry
Sub-project leadManagement and planning of 5G and cloud resources in industrial environments. Took over and continued the sub-project lead.
TACNET 4.0
Sub-project lead at AscoraUnified industrial 5G communication system integrating cellular and industrial networks for real-time control, remote maintenance and data-driven automation. Involved in proposal writing from the company's perspective.
ACCEPT and ALFRED
Work-package leadACCEPT: smart-glass-based assistance system for quality assurance in the construction of energy-efficient buildings. ALFRED: assistance system supporting older adults and promoting healthy, active aging.
Selected Publications
All publications on Google Scholar- Multi-Technology Cooperative Driving: An Analysis Based on PLEXE
- Dynamic Platoon Formation at Urban Intersections
Open Source Projects
Alongside my academic work I build and maintain tools around simulation, AI and automation — open for anyone to inspect on GitHub.
AirMobiSim
Open SourcePython-based simulation framework for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): a standalone kinematic simulator with optional integration with OMNeT++ / Veins for wireless communication modeling.
FuE-Monitor
AutomationAutomatically collects R&D funding calls from three sources, filters them by keyword, funding rate and deadline, and turns the results into a clear Excel spreadsheet.
Certificates & Training
Project Management
- 2026IPMA Level C Certified Project ManagerGPM Deutsche Gesellschaft für Projektmanagement
- 2021Work Smart! Not Hard!Software Campus – Anita Hermann-Ruess
- 2021Agile4ManagementSoftware Campus
- 2021Change ManagementSoftware Campus – Holger Sobanski
Leadership & Communication
- Since 2025 · ongoing, completion Oct. 2026Leadership Training: Expert & MasterArgumentorik-Akademie GmbH
- 2025Leadership Training: PractitionerArgumentorik-Akademie GmbH
- 2025 – 2026Leadership Training ProgramPaderborn University — Conflict & change management, negotiation, meeting facilitation
- 2024Inspiring and Motivating IndividualsUniversity of Michigan
- 2021Leadership EssentialsSoftware Campus – Hosam Ghadamsi
- 2021Communicating Persuasively Under PressureSoftware Campus – Anita Hermann-Ruess
- 2021Insights DiscoverySoftware Campus – Anita Hermann-Ruess
Higher-Ed Teaching
- 2021Teaching WritingWriting pedagogy training, Paderborn University
- 2018 – 2021Professional Teaching Competence — Advanced ModulePaderborn University
- 2018 – 2019Professional Teaching Competence — Basic ModulePaderborn University
Teaching & Volunteering
Teaching & Supervision
- Since 2018 supervision and assessment of bachelor's and master's theses (first and second examiner), Paderborn University
- 2022 – 2023 author at DAM Professional School: course material for the module "The Internet of Things and its Business Implications"
- Member of IEEE, ACM, GI and KuVS
Volunteering
- Board member, Farmhouse Jazzclub Harsewinkel e. V. — since 2018
- Co-founder, Freifunk Paderborn / Freifunk Hochstift — 2013 – 2016
German
Native language
English
Business fluent, used regularly in projects, publications and talks
Contact
For technical exchange on connected and autonomous systems, joint projects and collaborations, e-mail or LinkedIn is the best way to reach me.