Research, Innovation & Technology - vdma.org

From bionics to biointelligence – Advances in biology and its fusion with technology and IT are opening up a whole new dimension for machine makers to solve the current challenges of our time. The study shows how this can be achieved.

The BMBF supports innovations in production, services and work that focus on people through various funding measures.

42 percent of AI startups for mechanical engineering come from Europe. Process optimization, visual quality control and predictive maintenance as key innovation fields. Financing is lacking in Europe.

Research creates value and jobs in Germany and Europe. Policymakers must create innovation-friendly framework conditions. Openness to technology is essential.

The Industrial Collective Research (IGF) represents a unique innovation platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. As an open-topic and industry-driven program, IGF is an important component in pre-competitive research for mechanical and plant engineering.

The Research Subsidy Act came into force on 1 January 2020. Find out here who benefits from the new tax incentive, what you need to consider and how the VDMA supports you with this form of funding.

The systematic evaluation of customer information and error messages provides impulses for the development of new products and business areas.

Profiting from joint research: The Forschungskuratorium Textil e. V. (FKT) presents ongoing and completed research projects with a research radar, annual report and project database.

Cooperations with startups are also gaining importance in mechanical engineering. With the Startup-Machine, the VDMA offers its members a versatile tool box for matchmaking and networking.

Joint recommendations aim at an effective innovation policy in the new legislative period. The VDMA is one of the 24 signatory organizations.

The demand for valve applications in the entire offshore sector is growing. Especially the use in seawater makes high demands on the resistance of the available materials.

The Institute of Surface Technology at RWTH Aachen University has generated first coatings by means of high velocity flame spraying within the VDMA research project.

Launch of the new online platform TechTalents on October 27: Here young people can find year-round information about study and training options in technology professions. YouTuber Johannes Mickenbecker will support TechTalents with a live question and answer session on the opening day.

Dr. Manfred Wittenstein, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of WITTENSTEIN SE on tax policy in the Bundestag election campaign

Results of the study to be presented at CERN in Geneva in autumn

Future startup wanted: At the industry's top get-together, VDMA Startup Machine and Produktion once again honors the startup with the greatest potential for mechanical engineering.

The tax-based research promotion scheme is proving to be an ideal instrument for medium-sized industry. Most applications and approvals are for mechanical and plant engineering. Criticism of the alleged lack of demand is therefore misguided and premature.

With the GAIA-X funding competition, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy will support the implementation of applications based on GAIA-X in the future. Consortia of users and providers can apply with their project outlines until May 7, 2021.

What is the focus of the new state government in the area of economic policy? An exchange with Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut revealed focal points affecting the mechanical engineering sector.

Cooperation between companies and universities is already an integral part of engineering education - and its importance will continue to grow in the future. This is shown by a survey among universities conducted by the VDMA.

The recent supply chain attack on an IT service provider has shown how vulnerable companies are in the digitalized world: A zero-day exploit on the IT service provider suddenly affected countless customers! This example not only shows that crime-as-a-service is a thriving industry of organized crime with high double-digit million revenues, but also that the dependency on supply chain partners should not be underestimated!

VDMA Textile Machinery provides results of joint industrial research of the Forschungskuratorium Textil (The Research Council of Textiles, FKT).

Presentation of the 7th scenario study "Images of the future for mechanical engineering" by VDMA and Fraunhofer ISI with an attractive program on "Biointelligence" on 03.09.2021 at Fraunhofer IPA [in German, members only].

Sternberg Awards Ceremony At Heidelberger Druckmaschinen

With exciting insights into the world of quantum technology

This article brings together the projects and programs for research funding at national and EU level.

The EU research framework programme "Horizon Europe" was launched in June 2021. Those who look for research cooperation with European partners will also find the top topics for mechanical engineering here.

The EU’s ambitions in digital policy are high: Europe needs to catch up in digital technologies worldwide and wants at the same time to protect consumers and fundamental values. The June "Bubble Talk" of the VDMA European Office looked at the bright and dark sides of this policy.

The Federal Government's High-Tech Strategy 2025 points in the right direction. However, greater focus must be placed on the protection of data and know-how in the value chain, and research and innovation need even more European solutions.

More and more companies in mechanical and plant engineering are turning to artificial intelligence. Cooperation partners such as universities, IT service providers or start-ups are playing an increasingly important role.

"Made in Europe" is the name of the new research and innovation partnership for production under "Horizon Europe": EU Commission and industry sign a "Memorandum of Understanding" for a 900 million funding package.

Discover startup culture and technology trends in Israel: We made this possible in the BMWi's Innovation Tour and matched mechanical engineering with selected startups.

International study on digitalisation and automation in manufacturing companies, Fraunhofer IML/TU Dortmund

It is with great regret that we had to take note of the death of Prof. Dr. Bernd Stoffel.

Within the framework of the non-public general meeting of the Fluid Technology Research Fund, research bodies presented proposals for precompetitive joint research projects.

The automotive industry is currently experiencing enormous upheavals. This requires investments in new concepts and processes, new products, qualification and production facilities.

The Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) is a nationwide funding programme that is open to all technologies and sectors.

Your support is needed: On behalf of the VDMA, the Kienbaum Institute @ ISM is conducting a study aimed at identifying the new competence requirements resulting from the digital transformation in our member companies.

The Fluid Technology Research Fund takes up industry-related topics in the pre-competitive field and carries them out with research centres and industry project-accompanying working groups.

The virtual event of the series "Startup Solutions for Mechanical Engineering" on March 23, 2021 was dedicated to the topic "Digitalization in Production".

Quantum computing has the potential to literally turn our world upside down.

In April, the "Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft" started its new survey on research and development (R&D) in the industry in 2020. The results are highly significant.

In our theme publication you will find facts and figures on research and development, innovations and patents in mechanical engineering.

The machinery and plant engineering sector spent a record amount on research and development in 2019. And even during the Corona pandemic, companies continue to focus on innovation

As a globally networked industry, the mechanical and plant engineering sector has been hit hard by the effects of the Corona crisis. After securing liquidity through tax measures, among other things, the task now is to flank the recovery and strengthen growth.

Mechanical engineering in Germany spent a total of €8.2 billion on research and development in 2019.

A strong trend towards larger wafers and also larger modules can be observed. The further developments of high-efficiency technologies result in a higher market share with simultaneous cost reduction of the end product.

The EU Commission wants to exclude third countries from some EU research areas such as space and quantum technology. In the view of the VDMA, however, companies need international cooperation.

The innovation magazine of ProduktionNRW is published two to three times a year and focuses on important trend topics for the industry on the basis of application examples.

Almost every company in the mechanical and plant engineering sector has R&D projects and ideas. Public funding is available for them. You can find an overview here.