The Transformation in SMEs and Industry Department mainly assists small and medium-sized companies with innovation-related processes. In order to withstand global competition, companies are compelled to design and manufacture high-value products, both in terms of functionality and quality, within ever-shorter innovation cycles and in a temporally, materially and energy-efficient manner. In many cases, this is only possible through networking as well as through collaborative arrangements with other companies or research facilities.
The Transformation in SMEs and Industry Department’s focus is therefore put on such networking and collaboration as well as on innovation projects from which innovative products, processes and services emerge. The structure of Germany’s industrial economy is reflected in the department’s areas of thematic focus.
Its Technology and Applications Cluster concentrates on the following content-related topics:
- Electrical engineering, measurement and systems engineering, information and communication technologies
- Sensor technologies, nanotechnologies, optical technologies, microsystem technologies
- Energy-related technologies, environmental technologies, renewable resources, environmental process engineering
- Health-related research and medical technology, bio-technologies, bioprocess engineering
- Material-related technologies, production technologies, construction technologies, textiles research, physical measurement technologies
- Automotive and traffic management technologies, aviation and aerospace technologies, mechanical engineering
- Food technology, animal husbandry and breeding, plant utilisation and cultivation.
Its industries of focus are:
- Mechanical engineering
- Computer, electronic and optical products manufacturing
- Information technology and related services
- Metal products manufacturing
- Textiles, clothing and leather
- Electrical equipment manufacturing
- Chemical products manufacturing
- Construction
- Automotive manufacturing
- Energy supply
- Food and feedstuffs manufacturing