  Integral-field spectroscopy in the near-infrared (NIR) is a powerful tool to
analyze the gaseous and stellar distributions and kinematics, as well as the
excitation mechanisms in the centers of galaxies. The unique combination of NIR
and sub-mm data at comparable high angular resolution, which has just been
possible with SINFONI and ALMA, allows to trace warm and cold gas reservoirs.
Only the NIR gives an unobscured view to the center and allows to study the
conditions and impact of star formation in the centers of galaxies in a
spatially resolved way. Here, we present recent studies of nearby Seyferts and
low-luminosity QSOs performed by our group.
