Bayern - Automotive Cluster Services

The automotive industry is a highly dynamic sector. Changes in global markets, social developments, policy guidelines and new technologies lead to ever shorter innovation cycles in technologies, vehicles and mobility options. Those who want to achieve long-term success in the automotive industry must therefore constantly question their products and business models – and redefine their competencies in the context of emerging trends. With its large network and comprehensive range of services, the Automotive Cluster helps companies overcome these challenges.

Our goal

The Automotive Cluster sustainably strengthens the international competitiveness of Bavarian vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. Together with you, we recognise new trends at an early stage and support you in transforming these trends into new products and business models in cooperation with suitable partners. True to the motto: "Achieving more. Together".

Your benefits

• Transparency of competences in industry and science with relevance to the automobile
• Added value through cooperation between companies and scientific institutes
• Market-relevant joint projects between the Bavarian companies and institutes in the prioritised subject areas
• Cross-industry exchange of information and experience
• Interdisciplinary networking

Our offer

The Automotive Cluster offers cluster meetings at companies and research institutes, the conception and organisation of large congresses, the management of working groups and workshops as well as the management of joint projects. In addition, the cluster supports its stakeholders in accessing funding programmes at state, federal and EU level and is actively involved in these projects as a partner.

The network of the Automotive Cluster comprises more than 700 companies and institutes from the automotive sector and all areas relevant to the automobile. Furthermore, the Automotive Cluster contributes to many activities of its sponsor, the network organisation Bayern Innovativ, as an idea generator and catalyst. In many projects, the cluster works closely with professional associations, economic departments, regional clusters and disseminators.

The Automotive Cluster operates in five fields of innovation and specifically links them with each other:

Electromobility

The path from the combustion engine driven vehicle to new types of drive is not only a technological challenge for the established vehicle industry. At leading international congresses such as "CoFAT", the Automotive Cluster brings together the relevant players in electromobility and is looking for innovative approaches for vehicles, charging systems and forms of mobility.

Electrics and electronics

In the field of electrics / electronics innovations, the Automotive Cluster deals, for one thing, with the hot topic of highly automated and connected driving. The annual forum "EcoSystem Highly Automated Driving" explores the technical aspects of the vehicle, the urban infrastructure and the media in the vehicle, and also covers the topics "big data" and data protection.

In the field of "on-board networks", the Automotive Cluster annually hosts the eponymous high-profile forum and working group. Both have varying main topics, such as on-board network design suitable for automation, variant reduction or material substitution. Another wide subject area, in which the Automotive Cluster hosts a large forum every year, are the "driver assistance systems".

Drive concepts

The powertrain with its diverse components is the heart of every vehicle — whether it is a vehicle with an internal combustion engine or an electric vehicle. Innovations are needed in all areas to make drives and components more efficient, to save resources and reduce emissions. With forums, workshops and matchmaking, the Automotive Cluster provides an important stimulus and secures value creation potential for Bavarian companies.

Interior and comfort

The car of the future is less and less about transportation from A to B. Autonomous vehicles are a mobile office, a place for entertainment and well-being or a private retreat. The new way of travelling enables the passengers to work, read, eat or just relax along the way. This largely changes the requirements for interior design. In the innovation field of interior and comfort, the Automotive Cluster focuses, among other things, on: new seating concepts, functionalised surfaces and new materials.

Intelligent mobility

Our mobility behaviour will change dramatically over the next few years. This is mainly due to people`s attitude to mobility and other important aspects of life and, of course, has demographic, economic and technical reasons as well as reasons based on transport and energy policy. Digitalisation opens up completely new potential and business models to both traditional representatives of the automotive industry and new players. The Automotive Cluster explores the trends in the field of "intelligent mobility" with forums such as the "Conference on Smart Mobility", "Cross-thinking Mobility" and the "Micromobility Think Tank". Together with our stakeholders, advisory boards and partners, we develop new solutions and products across industries.

Partner package with added value

Participation in activities and offers of the Automotive Cluster is open to all companies and institutes. The three-stage partner package also offers companies and research institutes access to special services of our open, technology- and project-oriented network related to innovations in the field of mobility.