Cooperations
As a leader in innovation, Schaeffler expands its work on research and development systematically in line with the requirements of the global market. In this, considerable value is placed on partnership with universities, institutes and research bodies, which gives rise to continually forward-looking ideas and innovations.
Research cooperation with SHARE at FAU
Company-wide competencies in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) are not only decisive for continued existence and competitiveness in the market, but also a fundamental driver for Schaeffler's persistent ability to innovate.
As Germany's most innovative university (according to the Reuter Innovation Ranking), the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) has been able to record a continuous increase in competence in these fields since 1975 and is expanding them further as part of Bavaria’s High-Tech Agenda.
More than 60 chairs conduct research and work on various aspects related to the subject area of AI. Furthermore, the two departments of Data Science (DDS) and Digital Humanities and Social Studies (DHSS) enhance FAU's AI profile with a total of eleven additional professorships.
The SHARE at FAU was founded in July 2016 with the aim of transferring innovative approaches in the context of AI at an early stage into industrial application scenarios. It is located at the Röthelheimcampus in Erlangen and enables both cooperation partners – Schaeffler and FAU – to successfully implement their joint research activities within the company-on-campus concept.
The KIT and Schaeffler: Solutions for a Mobile Future
Schaeffler and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been promoting mobility solutions as part of the SHARE concept for ten years. Around 80 employees work with KIT scientists, doctoral candidates and students on projects in the fields of electric drives, battery storage systems, hydrogen technologies or automated vehicles.
At SHARE at KIT, for example, significant progress was made with research projects into fuel cells. The joint venture "Innoplate" was founded by Schaeffler and Symbio in the summer of 2022 to manufacture and mass produce bipolar plates for fuel cells.
Cooperations in China as a Market for the Future
Particular attention is paid to our cooperations in China as a market for the future. We see our sites in China not only as a central component of our worldwide manufacturing network but also as an important of our global research and development network. For this reason, we need close contacts and cooperations with prominent universities and educational facilities in that very area. Important milestones in this respect are the contract for cooperation with the Chinese Henan University of Science and Technology (HUST) and the Endowed Chair for Automotive Engineering at Tongji University in Shanghai.
Schaeffler and HUST have been cooperating since 2011 on diverse research projects and are also working closely together in the area of technical standardisation. Furthermore, the contract envisages reciprocal scientific exchanges: leading engineers from Schaeffler are active at HUST as consultants and visiting lecturers. In return, scientific employees and professors from HUST have the opportunity to participate in Schaeffler research projects.
The partnership with Tongji University in Shanghai dates back to the founding of an endowed professorship by Schaeffler in 2006. Since then, engineers from Schaeffler have held seminars at Tongji University. Schaeffler regularly gives invitations to graduates and offers accompanied study services.