30.09.2024

The topic area "Photonics for digitized and automated production" is to be funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on the basis of the research program "Quantum Systems - Developing cutting-edge technologies, shaping the future".

Agile and digitalized processes in the sense of Industry 4.0 are indispensable for ensuring the competitiveness of German companies. Photonic manufacturing processes and photonic measurement systems, sensor technology and associated IT systems are an important part of this. Germany is already a leader in several areas of the photonics, manufacturing and production technology sectors, so the potential for German companies should be further exploited. The BMBF's announcement aims to pursue the following objectives and verify their achievement:

• Production processes are to be made more efficient through technological foundations for new automated, photonics-based manufacturing processes
• Laser processing methods are to be made usable for networked, automated production by combining them with innovative sensor concepts
• Additive photonic manufacturing processes are to be developed by combining them with suitable sensors for stable and certifiable production of individual areas
• By supporting research activities on the fundamentals of new photonic and photonic-hybrid sensor technologies, new fields of application in production and production measurement technology are to be opened up

Funding is provided in particular for pre-competitive industry-led collaborative projects that pursue a clear application objective and in which expertise from different areas such as production research, IT, laser technology and photonic sensor technology is brought together. Funding is provided within the framework of two modules for high-risk, pre-competitive research and development processes:

• Module A: Project proposals with direct application relevance that use the advantages of photonic processes for digitized and automated production processes. The project proposal must include at least one company with market access to the targeted area of application.
• Module B: Project proposals that aim to research new photonic or quantum technology-based sensor principles for digitalization and automation. Researchers from various disciplines such as materials science, laser research and molecular biology should work together.

Companies from the commercial sector as well as universities and non-university research institutions are eligible to apply.

The project outlines must be submitted in electronic form via the electronic application system "easy-Online" by November 30, 2024.

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