www.mobilitaet-thueringen.de
Since 2011, the Thuringian Innovation Center of Mobility Research (ThIMo ), which is based at Technische Universität Ilmenau, has been developing innovative technologies for safe, environmentally friendly, resource-saving, efficient, automated and connected vehicles and mobility solutions in close cooperation with partners from science, industry, cities and local authorities. This includes, for example, the scientific support of the automated campus shuttle CAMIL as well as the 5G project P:Mover of the city of Ilmenau.
When handing over the funding decision today, the State Secretary for Research, Innovation and Economic Development at the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society, Dr Katja Böhler, called ThIMo a "pioneer for sustainable mobility technologies - also on the international stage. Since its foundation in 2011, it has developed into a cornerstone of mobility research in Thuringia, accompanying the transformation process in the automotive industry. The 6.41 million for ThIMo marks a decisive step towards the mobility revolution."
With the new project funding from the Free State of Thuringia as part of its integrated funding of research, technology and innovation, the 13 specialist areas involved in ThIMo in the core competencies of drive technology, vehicle technology, radio technology, plastics technology, lightweight construction and power electronics are focusing on digital methods. Together with the scientists and engineers at the Thuringian Centers for Mechanical Engineering (ThZM) and for Learning Systems and Robotics (TZLR ), they are researching and developing new materials, components, products and processes and mobility services with the help of digital data. The Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research (TITK ) in Rudolstadt as an affiliated institute of the TU Ilmenau and the Bauhaus University in Weimar complement ThIMo’s Digital Mobility research offensive as strategic partners.
Technology development at the Thüringer Innovationszentrum Mobilität - one of currently five innovation centers in Thuringia - combines basic research with development solutions suitable for industry. Smart vehicles, electric drives and energy storage solutions, environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies for the vehicle interior of the future as well as automated and networked driving make important contributions to future-proof mobility in the face of climate change, demographic change, digitalization and security of supply. ThIMo draws on its cutting-edge research infrastructure such as the dynamic XiL driving simulator, the VISTA virtual road and state-of-the-art manufacturing methods for plastics technology and lightweight construction. In addition, the innovation center supports the transformation in the Thuringian automotive and supplier industry by exploring the needs of companies and providing tailor-made offers for technology transfer and further training.
In the 13 years of its existence ThIMo researchers have raised around 70 million euros in funding from the EU, federal government, state and industry - more than two and a half times as much as the actual project funding. With a network of over 320 regional, national and international customers and partners from industry and science, it has gained a reputation far beyond the state’s borders. The Thuringian Mobility Forum, which has been held in the "Business meets Science" format since 2012, also contributed to this. The seventh edition on September 25, 204 in the Stadthalle Bad Blankenburg will be held under the motto "Mobility in rural areas: Connecting regions. Moving people."
