The Institute for Environmental and Technology Law of the University of Trier is a central academic institution of the University of Trier.

It was founded in 1989. The preceding institution was the Research Centre, which existed since 1985. The founding members were Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Breuer, Prof. Dr. Michael Kloepfer, Prof. Dr. Peter Marburger and Prof. Dr. Meinhard Schröder.

The current four directors of the Institute are Prof. Dr. Bernd Hecker, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Hendler, Prof. Dr. Alexander Proelß and Prof. Dr. Peter Reiff.

The academic management lies in the hands of the four involved professors. Each of them has the position of executive director alternately for one year. The executive director is supported by the assistant of the executive director.

Its tasks consist in academic research and lecture of the international, particularly European, and national Environmental and Technology Law, the exchange of practical experience and information with other researchers in this area, the co-operation with other persons working on the subject of environmental protection, technical safety and the consequences resulting from technical developments and, finally, the education of young lawyers in these subjects. Concerning the Technology Law, the institute is doing research on technical standards, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Various guest researchers from many different countries have temporarily worked at the institute. The guest researchers consist of academic researchers as well as lawyers from law firms, companies and associations. This has contributed to the Institute’s reputation as a leader on the research area in Environmental and Technical Law in the world.

Aus Anlass des 25-jährigen Jubiläums des IUTR sendete der SWR 4 am 06.09.2010 in seinem Programm "Heute um 12" einen Beitrag über das Institut. Der Bericht gibt nicht nur Einblicke in die Entstehungsgeschichte und die Forschungsgebiete, sondern unterstreicht auch die bundesweit beachtliche Stellung des Instituts auf dem Gebiet des Umwelt- und Technikrechts. Den dreiminütigen Beitrag können Sie hier anhören.