Materials Innovation – an investment for the future
Materials are the driving force for innovative industrial product developments. They define the technological capability of our industrial society and improve the competitiveness of enterprises, reduce the effects of resource-saving and pollution have made a significant contribution to the medical care of patients. The materials technologies, together with the relevant fields of chemistry, nano technology, and process technology of great importance for industry and society.
Some industries contribute in a special way for Germany’s export strength. Vehicles and machinery, chemical industry, electrical engineering and electronics, information and communication technology and energy supply have a substantial share of the German trade balance surplus. All these sectors can benefit particularly exposed to developments in materials research.
Recent findings in materials research are important for new products and production processes with which new markets and more efficient production steps can be achieved. No less important for the production in Germany is that the material for research is also enormous cost reductions in production can be used. The proportion of material costs in the production of the manufacturing sector, for example, over 50%. Savings through an efficient use of raw materials can be a significant competitive advantage.
Innovations in materials sector, as soon as possible by the industry into competitive products and processes. This also applies to public-safety, sustainability and in particular the resources.
Tailor-made materials
The understanding of the properties of materials and construction was targeted only in the last 150 years with new scientific methods in solid state physics and chemistry. Since then, newly obtained knowledge used to produce materials always accurate and targeted “maßzuschneidern”. The modern material development has become highly interdisciplinary: Experts from process engineering, medicine, biology and computer science are just as needed as in chemistry, physics and Materialwissenschaftlen.
The BMBF since the 70s materials research and selected areas of chemical engineering. The late 90s came nanotechnology. The technological development and the coalescence of different research areas led to the “research material” and “MaTech – New materials for key technologies of the 21st century” and the assisted “Chemical Technologies” to a new framework programme together.
