RWTH Aachen To Receive up to 60 Million Euros from the Research Campus Funding Initiative

21/12/2012

The Aachen university was convincing in the funding initiative "Research Campus – Public-Private Partnership for Innovations" of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): two submissions from RWTH Aachen Campus clusters were successful. Research on digital photonic production and electric grids of the future will be funding with up 30 million euros for a maximum of 15 years. 

 

The competition had a broad response from the German research community. With two submissions, RWTH Aachen managed to be among the ten winners. Federal Minister of Research, Annette Schavan announced the winners with both jury chairs Henning Kagermann, President of the National Academy of Science and Engineering, acatech for short, and Ernst Rietschel, President of the Leibnitz Association.

Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, will deliver the grant letters in Aachen on:

Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 11am, Manfred-Weck-Haus, Steinbachstraße 19, Conference Room 3rd floor, Aachen.

Electrical Grids of the Future

The goal of the cluster Future Electrical Grids is to enable a more efficient and flexible transfer and distribution of electrical engergy, without compromising the security of supply in Germany. It observes the direct current networks for all three voltage levels. In order to ensure compatability with the exisiting grid infrastructure, possible cross-sections of new systems are extensively investigated. The cluster also observes a growing permeability between different energy networks such as electricity, gas, heat, for example the conversion of (excess) wind energy into water or change into synthetic biogas with the help of power to gas technology. There is great potential for the storage and transport of energy in existing structures.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Rik W. De Doncker
RWTH Chair of Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, E.ON Energy Research Center
0241 / 8049667

Digital Photonic Production

The goal of the cluster Digital Photonic Production is to research basic physical effects and new methods for the use of light as a tool in the production of the future. Digital photonic production allows for direction production of virtually any products of digital data. In contrast to conventional processes, small quantities and complex products in small dimensions, different materials, and the most complicated geometries can be produced at a reasonable cost. This partially includes a new industrial revolution. In order to completely use the potential of digital photonic production, process chains must be considered as a whole. The new construction of industrial process chains ranges from upstream and downstream stages of production to the building component design to completely new business models such as mass customization or open innovation.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Reinhart Poprawe
RWTH Chair of Laser Technology, Fraunhofer Institute of Laser Technology
0241 / 8906110

RWTH Aachen Campus

The University wishes to become one of the leading technical universities worldwide with RWTH Aachen Campus. In the coming years, up to 19 research clusters will be created on 800000 square meters. University institutes and companies from the industry will work together on defined focuses in these clusters. National and international partners can be located on the Campus and contribute to the research and further training activities long term.

The RWTH Aachen Campus will be expanded through two areas: with Campus Melaten in the northwest of the city and Campus West on part of the West Train Station. The campus stretches over a total of 2.5 square kilometers, on which around 100 businesses, 18 of which are international, and 31 RWTH Aachen chairs and one teaching area from the FH Aachen are currently located.

Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Christian Haag
Campus Development
0241 / 8025332