Research, Innovation & Technology - vdma.org

On May 28 and 29, 2025, an inspiring conference program on startup solutions awaits you on the LIGNA.Stage in Hall 12 - be there live!

Berlin becomes hotspot of the European tech scene: VDMA Startup-Machine is official community partner of GITEX EUROPE 2025 - a new, important event for technology, startups and digital innovation.

With the VDMA Startup-Machine we are once again a cooperation partner of the VDW and together we are organizing the EMO Startup Area. Innovative startups will meet established market leaders in production technology here from September 22-26, 2025.

As a VDMA member, Kohnle GmbH Hartmetall-Werkzeug-Fabrik will be demonstrating at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025 what networked and sustainable woodworking looks like today - with smart tool solutions made in Germany.

Thinking tools digitally - that is the guiding principle of iBlade®. At LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025, the specialist from Kolbermoor will be demonstrating how intelligent tool management can be used to efficiently manage almost all (cutting) tools.

Regulatory requirements are influencing corporate strategy worldwide. How can the mechanical and plant engineering industry deal with this and act with foresight? Answers will be provided at the Corporate Foresight Conference on May 14/15, 2025 at KSB SE & Co. KGaA.

International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) 16th Edition. Record year 2024: 703 GW PV module shipment. TOPCon-Technology overcomes PERC dominance. Release of new interactive digital ITRPV product.

Strategic impetus for North Rhine-Westphalia's innovation and competitiveness

New NRW.BANK development program for SMEs with up to 20 percent repayment discount

PV Pilot Project: Competitiveness of European/German Photovoltaic Equipment Manufacturers

VDMA Services GmbH study on European and German manufacturers of solar production equipment and side event on May 6 at Intersolar Europe 2025.

The 16th edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) and the presentation of the Roadmap's new exclusive digital product at the side event on May 8, 2025 at Intersolar Europe 2025.

Exclusively for members, the specialist department for water and wastewater technology provides a new information service with its publication "Marketplace Water and Wastewater Technology".

The Startup Area @ LIGNA.FutureSquare is entering the next round. From May 26 to 30, 2025, 13 startups from four countries will present their pioneering solutions for the industry at LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing.

To ensure the competitiveness of the mechanical and plant engineering industry, the VDMA is calling for reliable economic framework conditions. A strong industry means a strong economy.

Under the title "Towards Autonomous Robot Collectives Delivering Collaborative Tasks in Dynamic, Unstructured Construction Environments", the EIC is looking for pioneering technologies for the use of autonomous robotic collectives in the construction industry.

The mechanical and plant engineering sector is investing billions in research and development - and is thus consistently focusing on innovation and new technologies.

At LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025, the startup improvem from Austria shows how the digital twin makes wood processing more transparent, efficient and sustainable - for smarter production processes and future-proof companies.

Revolutionizing intralogistics with intelligent wood-based materials - that is ligenium's mission. The startup, which was already nominated for the 2023 Mechanical Engineering Summit Startup Award, is presenting itself for the first time at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025.

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Energy efficiency measures in refrigeration technology help to achieve climate protection and economic efficiency targets. The Fachverband Allgemeine Lufttechnik therefore called together experts on the subject.

After a successful debut at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023, Polish startup Deeplai will exhibit again at the Startup Area this year. Deeplai brings state-of-the-art AI technologies to the wood industry.

In 2023, EMO Hannover attracted numerous company representatives from the production technology sector. It will take place again from September 22 to 26, 2025 and will further expand the focus on matchmaking between startups and corporates in the Startup Area.

The VDMA has addressed extensive demands to politicians. What do the parties think? Our overview shows the extent to which the mechanical and plant engineering industry is taken into account in the programs for the federal election on February 23, 2025.

INNOspace Masters promotes ideas for the transfer of technology and know-how from other industries to the space sector or from the space sector to non-space sectors.

Once again, the Innovation World Cup Series will take place at Hannover Messe 2025 to honor outstanding techpreneurs. 17 startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs will pitch live on April 1.

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

The high pace of innovation in mechanical and plant engineering requires more industry orientation in funding, strengthening of collaborative research, transfer platforms, and the expansion of research funding for future-proof jobs.

The Institute of Machine Tools and Production Engineering (IWF) is jointly headed by Prof. Klaus Dröder and Prof. Christoph Herrmann.

Thermal process technology plays a decisive role in international competition against the backdrop of declining resources and global climate change. Innovations regarding the substitution of fossil sources are moving into focus

Tax incentives for research offer small and medium-sized companies in particular incentives to invest in research and development.

The Leibniz-IPHT is researching biophotonic methods and technologies that are entering new dimensions in terms of resolution, sensitivity, specificity, speed, accuracy and automation.

Heavy seas and no calm in sight: the mechanical engineering industry expects a decline in production and a slight reduction in jobs in 2025. A political turnaround is needed to strengthen the industry.

2025 will be a highlight year for mechanical and plant engineering companies and startups. VDMA Startup-Machine connects young companies with established players in mechanical engineering at the leading industry events.

At bauma 2025, startups showed how pioneering technologies and creative solutions can transform the construction industry.

More efficient project management, autonomous robots and AI-supported innovations for a sustainable construction industry.

Voodin Blades celebrates its premiere at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025. CEO Tom Siekmann shares his goals and explains why participation is an important step for the Hessian startup.

bauma 2025 highlighted startups that are pioneering the transition to zero-emission and sustainable practices in the construction sector.

At bauma 2025, startups played a key role in the transformation of the mining industry towards greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.

At bauma 2025, startups presented their innovative drive concepts tailored to the specific requirements of the construction industry.

The Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering 1 (IWE 1) researches new technologies in the field of micro- and nanosystems and develops bio- and chemosensors for applications.

We, the Micro Technologies department of VDMA EMINT, would like to create a research guide for our members with relevant research institutes from the world of microtechnology. The aim is to give our members an overview of the research landscape and thus an easy tool for finding potential project partners.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is awarding the NRW Innovation Prize for the year 2025.

LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023 offered startups like Strong by Form a stage to present their solutions. VDMA Startup-Machine supports young entrepreneurs who are advancing the industries with fresh ideas and new technologies.

Grants for the further development and scaling of bio-based processes - the new funding guideline for the establishment of an industrial bioeconomy in Germany makes it possible.

In our theme publication you will find facts and figures on research and development, innovations and patents in machinery and equipment manufacturing.

The innovation prize honors practical solutions to problems. This year, it went to a VDMA member for the development of an energy-saving burner, among other things.

Growth and cutting-edge technological solutions characterize the world's leading trade fair for machine vision / Record number of exhibitors and strong increase in visitors in 2024

Strategic compass for the future: The special edition of the trend radar contains around 40 new topics that will play a decisive role in the future of mechanical and plant engineering.

The state should efficiently strengthen the competitiveness of the economy. The research allowance meets all the criteria for this and also strengthens companies in the face of unfair competition.