Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi)
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi), as a supreme authority of the Federal Government, performs legislative, administrative and coordinating functions for the Federal Republic of Germany, for example in energy, industrial and innovation policy as well as in competition, SME and European policy. Its central task is to secure lasting prospects for employment, investment and growth in Germany with a forward-looking economic policy. The guiding principle for this is a policy based on the principles of the social market economy. Essential fields of action for the Ministry are the support and promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, stimulating and accompanying investments and innovations, maintaining and expanding the international competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location, and creating the necessary framework conditions. In doing so, it is also responsible for ensuring that important challenges of our time such as digitalisation, the effects of demographic change, the energy transition and other economic transformation processes for climate protection and a secured prosperity and growth also in the future are adequately addressed and taken into account. The increased attention and commitment paid to this growing range of tasks is reflected by the Ministry's most recent name change into Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)
Fraunhofer IKTS forms a triad of materials, technology and systems expertise. Advanced ceramics make up the core working field where everything from basic preliminary research through to the entire range of applications is being covered. Superbly equipped laboratories and technical facilities covering 30,000 sqm of useable space have been set up for this purpose at the sites in Dresden (Saxony) and Hermsdorf (Thuringia). Based on comprehensive materials expertise in advanced ceramic materials, the institute’s development work covers the entire value creation chain, all the way to prototype production. This outstanding competence is enhanced by the highest level of extensive materials diagnostics for materials beyond ceramics. Chemists, physicists, materials scientists and engineers work together on an interdisciplinary basis at IKTS. All tasks are supported by highly skilled technicians. The institute operates this way in nine market-oriented divisions in order to demonstrate and qualify ceramic technologies and components as well as non-destructive test methods for new industries, product ideas and markets even outside the traditional areas of use.
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) is a supreme technical-scientific authority organised under the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWi). It provides sovereign and public services and is the central research and advisory institution of the German Federal Government in the field of geosciences and raw materials. Its central tasks include providing advice on raw materials and geosciences to ensure the long-term supply of raw materials and energy for the Federal Republic of Germany, on the final storage of highly radioactive waste and sustainable geo-resource management, as well as the collection, standardisation, harmonisation and provision of geoscientific and raw materials data at federal level and the necessary coordination work with the State Geological Surveys of the Länder. It is involved in national and international geoscientific and technical cooperation in the fields of geosciences, raw materials, soil and groundwater as well as geohazards and the final disposal of radioactive waste, and participates in the promotion of science and industry through geoscientific research and development, knowledge and technology transfer, participation in university teaching and the provision of information. It is also responsible for the Federal Earthquake Service and for monitoring compliance with international agreements, for which it operates the National Data Centre (NDC) and seismological and infrasound stations as part of the International Monitoring System (IMS). Through the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA) as national information and consultancy platform, the BGR also undertakes to advise the German economy since October 2010 on issues relating to the availability and sustainable use of raw materials and on current market developments, and in the field of international marine research, the BGR carries out demand-oriented departmental research.
Aufbereitung von Baustoffen und Wiederverwertung e. V. (ABW)
The aim of the association ABW is the promotion of teaching, research and training in the field of processing of building materials and recycling. In this range ABW supports networking between scientists and industrial partners and promotes research, publications and the implementation of research results.
