Future Technologies and Europe
The department Future Technologies and Europe sees itself as a pacemaker for new developments in the sector of European research and innovation policy by systematically detecting and tracking new trends and developments. In doing so, it fulfils an initiative function for the company's new activities in Europe. It establishes and develops new forms of European cooperation, initiates measures designed to support innovation and research, manages complex networks and projects and makes use of Europe's diversity for clients.
The department Future Technologies and Europe mainly works in technology policy projects financed by the European Commission. Important are also activities directly financed by the industry. In addition, the extension of management functions in European R&D projects is an important goal of the sector Innovation Europe.
Project Examples
EPoSS – European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration
The technology platform EPoSS is a cross-application network with its focus on smart systems and micro-nano integration. Public and industrial stakeholders from this field are brought together here. The incentive is to establish durable structures and initiatives, which further the European innovation policy and research environment. Since 2005, VDI/VDE-IT has been responsible for the management of the EPoSS’ agency.
IoT-A: Internet of Things - Architecture
IoT-A is the first major research project which aims at creating an universally applicable architecture for the future Internet of Things on an European level – consisting of hardware, software, network and further components. The VDI/VDE-IT co-ordinates the projects in which the German industry is strongly represented.
IoT-i: Internet of Things-Initiative
The project IoT-i is a co-ordination measure. It aims at bringing together the fragmented group of parties which is involved in the development of the Internet of Things. These parties come from the industry, research and public institutions. The measure is intended to quicken the transfer of research concepts and results into marketable solutions. VDI/VDE-IT is a strong partner within the project and is responsible for the community building and the communication work. Further partners are SAP, Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Telenor.
National Contact Point for Microsystems Technologies
The objective of the National Contact Point (NCP) for Microsystems Technologies is to simplify access for German participants to projects of the research programme, especially SMEs. This contributes to the intensification of their participation in European projects. The NCP also facilitates an efficient representation of German MST actors’ interests on a European level, through its incorporation in the EU’s direct information flow as well as providing feedback from European projects for the BMBF. VDI/VDE-IT functions as the national contact point for the research programme Microsystems Technologies.
Promotion programme Electromobility
The programme promotes field studies in automobile and commercial transport as well as furthering the development of recycling drive batteries. Additionally, it studies the ecologic and economic use of electro mobility. The programme supports the networking of electric vehicles and economic use of energy systems. It does this through the help of modern information and communication technologies in E-Energy model regions. Additionally, it supports the acquisition of Diesel Hybrid Busses by municipalities. As project manager, the VDI/VDE-IT organises the design of projects and the implementation of the promotion programme.
