Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials
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| Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials |
| Formation | 1986 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Headquarters | Bremen, Germany |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organization | Fraunhofer Society |
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials is a German research institute focusing on production engineering and materials science, located in Bremen and integrated into the Fraunhofer Society network. The institute engages with industrial partners, academic institutions, and public agencies to advance applied research in manufacturing processes, biomaterials, and surface technologies.
History
The institute was founded in the late 20th century amid restructuring of German research institutions, forming part of the Fraunhofer Society expansion that included contemporaries like Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology and Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology. Early activities connected to regional development initiatives in Bremen and collaborations with universities such as the University of Bremen and the Technical University of Munich, alongside partnerships with companies including Siemens and Airbus. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the institute aligned with European funding programs like the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development and worked with organizations such as the European Space Agency and the German Research Foundation, while participating in consortia that included institutions like Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Max Planck Society institutes. In the 2010s the institute expanded capabilities in additive manufacturing and biomaterials, collaborating with entities such as Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation and international universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich. Recent years saw integration into industry 4.0 initiatives alongside partners like Bosch and Daimler AG, and involvement in cross-border projects with agencies such as the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Research Areas and Competencies
Research at the institute spans additive manufacturing, surface engineering, biomaterials, and microsystems, with thematic links to organizations like Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics, Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems, and Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research. Competencies include development of metal powder processes relevant to companies such as GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce, polymer composites relevant to BASF and Covestro, and bioresorbable materials connected to research groups at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Heidelberg University Hospital. The institute conducts research in orthopedic implant surfaces in contexts shared with Johnson & Johnson research units and collaborates on microscale manufacturing with institutions like Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems and Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. Projects often intersect with standards and regulatory frameworks involving bodies such as DIN and ISO, and with innovation programs run by entities like the European Investment Bank and the German Aerospace Center.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Facilities include laboratories for powder metallurgy, electron microscopy suites comparable to those at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, cleanrooms akin to facilities at Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, and pilot production lines used in joint projects with firms such as ThyssenKrupp and Lufthansa Technik. The institute houses testing rigs for fatigue and corrosion testing used in collaborations with Germanischer Lloyd and operates characterization equipment similar to that at Helmholtz Association centers. Shared infrastructure arrangements exist with the University of Bremen and regional innovation clusters that feature partners like EADS and Meyer Werft, enabling scale-up activities and technology demonstration for stakeholders including KfW and regional chambers of commerce.
Collaborations and Industry Partnerships
The institute maintains partnerships with multinational corporations such as Airbus, Siemens, and Bosch, while also engaging small and medium-sized enterprises associated with networks like German Mittelstand clusters and regional technology parks linked to Bremen University of Applied Sciences. International collaborations include projects with CERN, NASA, and research groups at Imperial College London and Tsinghua University, and participation in consortia funded by the Horizon 2020 program and successor initiatives. Joint research centers and competence networks involve stakeholders such as Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, and academic partners like RWTH Aachen University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, fostering translational projects in sectors that include automotive industry suppliers and medical device manufacturers.
Technology Transfer and Commercialization
Technology transfer is pursued through licensing agreements, spin-offs, and cooperative development contracts, mirroring practices at institutions like Max Planck Innovation and TU Munich's UnternehmerTUM. The institute has incubated start-ups and partnered with venture networks such as High-Tech Gründerfonds and private investors including Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, facilitating commercialization of additive manufacturing techniques and biomaterial coatings applied in products by firms like ZF Friedrichshafen. Technology demonstration and certification activities are undertaken in conjunction with testing organizations such as TÜV Rheinland and standards bodies including DIN, supporting market entry for partner companies and startups.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
Organizationally the institute is embedded within the Fraunhofer Society governance model, with leadership roles including directors, department heads, and scientific advisory boards similar to governance at Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics. Scientific directors coordinate research groups in additive manufacturing, biomaterials, and surface technologies and report to supervisory bodies that include representatives from regional ministries such as the Bremen State Ministry for Economic Affairs and advisory stakeholders from industry partners like Airbus and Mercedes-Benz Group. The institute engages external advisory panels with experts from institutions such as ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, and Stanford University to align strategic research priorities with international technological trends.