Research, Innovation & Technology - vdma.eu

VDMA members have the opportunity to meet innovative startups at Hannover Messe 2026. VDMA Startup-Machine organizes curated 1:1 matchmakings for member companies with the aim of concrete collaborations.

Defence.Tech.NRW opens up new opportunities: apply now for funding for high-tech and dual-use innovations and benefit from the strong research environment in NRW.

How can generative AI create real value in industrial environments? Festo and Zeta Alpha share how a focused collaboration turned a proof of concept into a productive solution - and what startups and corporates can learn from it. An interview.

The High-Tech Agenda Germany sets new research policy priorities. What is behind the agenda? What significance does it have for the mechanical and plant engineering industry? How is the VDMA involved in its implementation?

The Research Association for Intralogistics (IFL) promotes the future viability of the industry with pre-competitive research. The Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board have now set the course for new projects.

Collaborations between mechanical engineering companies and startups arise where specific technological issues meet suitable solutions. "The Match" section highlights and classifies selected examples of collaboration.

Humanoid robots are seen as the next level of automation. Their success depends not only on technical performance, but also on safety, acceptance and the ability to reliably integrate complex systems into real environments.

Our startup community is constantly growing. On this page, we introduce new startups - with a focus on their specific contribution to mechanical and plant engineering and possible points of contact for collaboration.

The mechanical and plant engineering industry has continued to increase its spending on innovation even in difficult economic times. There is now a need to strengthen instruments such as research allowances and joint industrial research.

Mechanical engineering companies cooperate with startups to gain innovative strength, speed and new technological impetus. VDMA Startup-Machine supports with a new offer VDMA members in identifying suitable startups and preparing the initial contact.

The new BMFTR funding supports open hardware and software for quantum technologies. This will particularly benefit industry and mechanical engineering, which will gain easier access to quantum technology tools.

With its new format, IAK Research Needs Lab’, the Industry Working Group Research & Technology in the Glass Technology Forum brings together practice and science to identify open research questions and develop solutions.

The VDMA Startup-Machine (SuM) newsletter brings startups and the mechanical and plant engineering industry together. We present concrete collaborations, opportunities to get involved and relevant impulses from the innovation ecosystem.

Highlights from the showcase area of AG AM in the VDMA at Formnext 2026 in Frankfurt.

The market potential of deep tech is estimated at 8 trillion euros in the short term. However, it is research- and capital-intensive, with long development cycles. We show why this is relevant for mechanical and plant engineering.

The questionnaire for the survey of the 17th edition of the ITRPV has been published on our new digital platform. We look forward to your input until 15 January 2026.

The last meeting of the FAA (Technical Working Committee) Research in the FFP (Pump Research Fund) took place on 2 and 3 December 2025 at Brinkmann Pumpen (K.H. Brinkmann GmbH & Co. KG) in Werdohl.

Growth expectations rise to 6%, yet overall sentiment stays subdued. Discover key trends across sectors and what’s driving the market outlook.

VDMA Austria and VDMA Bavaria

Research, innovation and future topics from a single source. We pool expertise, network players and support the mechanical and plant engineering industry with the right experts for strategic and technological issues.

As part of a symposium organized by the consulting firm Gallehr Partner, the VDMA highlighted the potential for the electrification of thermal process technology in a presentation.

Innovative startups and established industrial companies can achieve great things together and make a significant contribution to the digitalization and competitiveness of domestic industry.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the "International Year of Women", the competition is aimed exclusively at female innovators for the first time.

The 2026 federal budget will provide more research funding for the maritime industry in order to secure the high-tech role of German shipyards.

ZIM research grants can now be submitted via the new Förderzentrale Deutschland

New materials and substances are among the biggest innovation levers in mechanical and plant engineering. But which developments are relevant and what influence will they have on tomorrow's value creation?

The event highlighted central funding programs at federal level and showed how companies can receive targeted support for innovation projects.

In the future, robots with a human resemblance could perform many tasks for which automation has not yet been worthwhile. Humanoid robots are being tested in more and more applications - but the road to market maturity is still a long one.

Who is driving the future of mechanical engineering? What characterizes real innovation? At the Startup Award Mechanical Engineering Summit, young technology companies show how progress is made in our industry.

At the OWL Maschinenbau-Kongress 2025 in Detmold, experts and executives discussed key future topics such as demographics, decarbonization, and cultural change as strategic levers for plant engineering.

Three new projects within the framework of Manufacturing NextMaterials demonstrate how cross-border cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands supports SMEs in scaling innovative materials and technologies.

The NRW Innovation Congress brings together stakeholders from business, science, politics, and funding networks to network and exchange ideas on current topics relating to innovation.

The startup VibroCut can look back on a very successful participation in the EMO Startup Area 2025. The company was already represented in 2023 - this year, however, the response was once again significantly increased.

FACTUREE celebrated its debut at the EMO Startup Area 2025, resulting in a successful appearance with numerous valuable contacts and plenty of tailwind for the future.

Five days full of entrepreneurial spirit, innovations and new contacts: From September 22 to 26, 2025, over 50 international startups at EMO Hannover showed that the world of production technology is on the move.

The final of the Startup Award 2025 was a highlight of the 15th German Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin. Three outstanding startups presented their innovations live on stage - in the end the audience decided and the victory went to RESONIKS.

The expert audience has made its decision: with its acoustic AI solution that detects even the smallest defects in metals, the Dutch startup RESONIKS prevailed over two other finalists in the live vote for the Startup Award.

The Research association IFL (Intralogistik / Fördertechnik und Logistiksysteme e.V.) has made important personnel changes for the future at its 22nd general meeting.

The effort involved in applying? Feasible! Do you have any questions? Then take advantage of our monthly online introduction and Q&A session on tax-incentivized research funding.

Exclusive series of events for research and innovation in mechanical and plant engineering. Find out which funding instruments and programs you can use for your research and innovation projects.

Fresh ideas, smart solutions and strong networks emerge in the Startup Area at EMO 2025

New INTERREG call: Over 38 million euros in EU funding for cross-border projects in NRW, Belgium and the Netherlands - focus on green transformation and future topics.

The "Circular Production NRW" (ZiPo.NRW) funding call is entering the next round: applications can now be submitted until December 15, 2025.

In the EMO Startup Area from September 22 to 26, 2025, startups presented new platform models and digital services for smart workflows and future-oriented business processes. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

VDMA Textile Machinery provides the results of the Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Textile Research Board (FKT).

In the EMO Startup Area, startups presented solutions for Smart Factory & Digital Enablement from September 22 to 26, 2025. The focus: AI, IoT, process digitalization and cybersecurity. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

In the EMO Startup Area from September 22 - 26, 2025, startups presented new components, production processes and machine solutions that make manufacturing more efficient and competitive. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

The majority of German machinery and equipment manufacturing research is conducted in Germany. Companies are keeping their research budgets high. However, there are threatening dependencies in key technologies.

The budget of the EU research program Horizon Europe has almost doubled - a positive signal. However, horizontal key technologies such as robotics, industrial AI and production technologies must be given greater consideration.

The bill presented by the Federal Government for an immediate tax program to strengthen Germany as a business location has also been passed by the Bundesrat. The following now applies: