Press release

Stuttgart - The ARENA2036 research campus will receive information about the funding recommendation from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the end of 2023. This confirmation officially opens the next chapter in the further development of the campus as a leading center for research and innovation in the fields of production and mobility.

The lighthouse project at the Stuttgart-Vaihingen university campus is heading for a promising future from 2024: the final phase as part of the "Research Campus funding initiative" funding initiative is all about consolidation and independence for ARENA2036. Over the next five years, the research campus now has time to prove that it has the ability and potential to develop into a self-sustaining research and innovation center.

Funding for the third funding phase comprises the four new collaborative projects, which cover the thematic priorities of production, mobility, sustainability and connectivity. The clear thematic focus underpins the claim to continue to assert itself as an important research location in Germany and a central player in Stuttgart's research and industrial landscape.

Peter Froeschle, Managing Director of ARENA2036, welcomes the concrete commitment: "The BMBF's funding commitment for the third phase is a clear recognition of our successes to date and a vote of confidence in our vision for the future. With this support, we can continue to pursue scientific, innovative paths in mobility and production technology. Our goal remains to continue to challenge and push the boundaries of what is possible today in order to make industry in Germany fit for the future in the long term."

The "Research Campus Funding Initiative" was initiated by the BMBF and aims to establish long-term collaborations between science and industry. These partnerships promote innovative research and development in order to achieve technological breakthroughs, make them marketable quickly and thus strengthen Germany's competitiveness.

ARENA2036 (Active Research Environment for the Next Generation of Automobiles) is one of nine research campuses funded throughout Germany and is dedicated to researching and developing pioneering technologies in the fields of production, mobility, sustainability and connectivity. At its location on the Stuttgart university campus, ARENA2036 brings together experts from science and industry in numerous technology projects in the ultra-modern research factory. Another major step forward: the funding applications for the four major collaborative projects as part of the BMBF initiative have been submitted to the Ministry and have already been confirmed in part.

Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, Chairman of the Research Directorate, comments: " The approval of the third funding phase is a decisive step for ARENA2036 in realizing our ambitious research goals. The Well-defined, CARpulse, EcoFrame and Connect4HCA projects are an expression of our interdisciplinary strength and innovative power. They offer us the opportunity to develop pioneering solutions in the areas of production, mobility, sustainability and connectivity that will have a positive impact on society as a whole, beyond the automotive industry."

These projects are central to the strategic objectives of the third funding phase of ARENA2036 and cover the four thematic cornerstones:

1. Production: In the project "Well-defined" project, the adaptability and flexibility in production will be expanded so that it can react dynamically to changes and microfactories, for example, can be controlled decentrally. In addition, processes and workplaces are to be designed in such a way that no expert knowledge is required to work as a human being in a wide variety of positions.
2. Mobility: The "CARpulse" project is researching a safe and sustainable vehicle architecture, especially for autonomous vehicle platforms. The aim is to enable safe individual transportation and to develop a user-centric occupant environment that integrates technologies such as virtual reality and mixed reality.
3. Sustainability: The "EcoFrame" project is concerned with developing a framework for sustainable design and production along the entire value chain. To this end, the circular economy is being integrated into sustainable, resilient production networks.
4. Connectivity: "Connect4HCA" focuses on human-centered automation in production. To this end, production processes are to be designed in such a way that they adapt to people in order to create an efficient and productive environment. The decentralized intelligence required for this in various systems and machines should work as a networked, self-learning system for people and not the other way around, as was previously the case.

Developing innovative solutions for the challenges of the future and shaping the German research and industrial landscape: this is the guiding principle behind all projects and undertakings at the research campus. The research and development activities in close cooperation with the University of Stuttgart and other universities not only contribute to the success of Germany as a business location, but also attract, promote and retain talent directly on site.

In addition to the operational work in projects, the next five years at the research campus will be used in particular to finalize the strategy for the sustainable continuation of work at the site. Based on more than a decade of experience and preliminary work, concrete business cases will be developed and existing partnerships intensified. In this way, the ARENA2036 research campus will continue to build important bridges between companies, disciplines and subject areas beyond the fifteen-year term of the "Research Campus Initiative" in order to keep Germany firmly established as a research location.

The official kick-off for the third funding phase will take place as part of the major event über:morgen on June 13 and 14, 2024 at the research campus in Vaihingen. Please refer to the ARENA2036 newsletter for regular information.

 

---

info@arena2036.de - ARENA2036 - Pfaffenwaldring 19 - 70569 Stuttgart

ARENA2036 stands for "Active Research Environment for the Next generation of Automobiles" and is the innovation platform for mobility and production of the future. The research campus is part of the funding initiative "Research Campus - Public-Private Partnership for Innovation" in Germany. ARENA2036 is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is run as a registered association with members from science and industry. ARENA2036 is currently in its second funding phase and has over 45 partners. The innovation platform based in Stuttgart stands for cooperation between science and industry under one roof. ARENA2036 aims to make its contribution to actively shaping the work, mobility and production of the future in the context of digitalization. The partners are active in various disciplines - from the automotive industry to aerospace technology, textile and materials research through to ergonomics.