For research institutes: developing high-temperature solutions together
Collaboration models for research institutes: developing high-temperature solutions for defence applications together, with industrial implementation expertise.
Initial situation
Research institutes such as Fraunhofer, DLR, the Bundeswehr universities and technical universities develop new high-temperature materials and processes for defence applications. The transfer from laboratory to industrial application frequently fails for want of implementation expertise and industrial manufacturing capacity.
Defence-related research projects (EDF, BMVg studies, EU Horizon) increasingly require the involvement of industrial partners able to raise the technology readiness level (TRL) from 3–4 (laboratory) to 6–7 (demonstrator) and beyond.
Applying for funding (EDF, BMBF, BMVg) is made easier by involving SMEs with proven industrial expertise — SME quotas and bonus scoring are built into many funding programmes.
Many high-temperature research projects require test furnaces, test rigs and industrial test environments that research institutes do not maintain themselves — an industrial partner with the appropriate infrastructure closes this gap.
Our solution
An industrial implementation partner for the TRL leap: from laboratory sample to an industrially manufacturable solution. Scaling up material formulations, developing manufacturing processes and building prototypes to industrial quality.
Test infrastructure: access to industrial furnaces, firing plant and test rigs for high-temperature trials under realistic conditions — temperatures, atmospheres, load cycles.
Joint project applications: participation as an industrial partner in research applications (EDF, BMBF, ZIM, BMVg). Contributing industrial expertise, manufacturing capacity and market access to the consortium application.
IP strategy: joint patent applications with a clear exploitation agreement. The industrial partner takes on commercial exploitation; the research institute receives licence income and publication rights.
Long-term research collaboration: a framework agreement for recurring cooperation — jointly supervised doctoral candidates, bachelor's theses, working students and guest research visits.
How we proceed
Initiation and ideas phase
A joint workshop to identify research topics at the interface between high-temperature technology and defence applications. Matching the institute's scientific expertise with the company's industrial capabilities and market access.
Project design and application
Joint preparation of the project application: research plan, work packages, resource planning, budget. The research institute takes the scientific lead, the industrial partner the implementation and exploitation plan. Coordination with the funding body.
Execution and technology transfer
Parallel work in the laboratory and in the industrial environment. Regular milestone reviews and technology transfer workshops. The industrial partner successively builds up manufacturing expertise for the new technology. Joint publications and patent applications.
Exploitation and follow-up projects
Industrial exploitation of the research results: product development, customer validation, series introduction. Evaluation of the collaboration and planning of follow-up projects. Building a long-term research partnership.
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Dipl.-Ing. Aleksandr Stepanov
Deputy Operations Manager & Project Manager
Refractory construction, industrial furnace construction and plant engineering
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