Funding programs – Baumgaertner Innovation https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/ Go innovation. Go future. Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:31:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-apple_touch_icon-32x32.png Funding programs – Baumgaertner Innovation https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/ 32 32 Autonomous or humanoid https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/services-en/autonomous-or-humanoid/ https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/services-en/autonomous-or-humanoid/#respond Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:54:57 +0000 https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/nicht-kategorisiert/autonomous-or-humanoid/

Autonomous or humanoid? This question was the focus of the first ideas workshop on the future of construction machinery automation.

On June 26, 2025, the 7th network meeting of the ZIM innovation network AutoRobXL took place at a particularly suitable location: in the test hall of the Chair of Construction Machinery at TU Dresden. ?️
? The highlights:
– Three ongoing ZIM projects presented exciting interim results for the first time.
– Three new project ideas were presented – one of which is already ready for application.
– With the Ideas Workshop, we are launching a new format for trend analysis and idea development for future R&D projects.
? To kick things off, we discussed the provocative question:
? “Do we really want to make construction machinery autonomous – or will we simply place humanoid robots on existing machines in the future?”
A question that is more than just an abstract approach. It opens up the view of:
– system innovation vs. system integration
– costs vs. complexity
– platform change vs. adaptation of existing technology
Both have potential – and both need research, courage and support.
? At the end, there was a joint family photo in the test hall – a symbol of the strong community and the will to create in the network. We look forward to the next stages with you!

 

About AutoRobXL

The ZIM innovation network AutoRobXL pursues the goal of realizing automated work processes using mobile work machines and large-scale manipulators. Large-capacity manipulators are often long, elastic boom structures, some of which are subject to strong deformations and vibrations. Examples include truck-mounted concrete pumps, mobile cranes and cherry pickers. High movement accuracy and precise positioning of such structures are already important for manual work and are essential for the automation of the associated work processes. As part of the network, new solutions are therefore to be developed that enable the precise positioning of corresponding boom structures and the associated work tools. Building on this, we want to gradually expand the AutoRobXL innovation network website into a developer platform for the automation of large construction machines.

AutoRobXL

AutoRobXL automates the construction site

Objective

The development of intelligent control and operating concepts for construction machinery booms and large-scale manipulators to enable precise positioning and automation of work processes on construction sites.

Network partners

The AutoRobXL network partners:

Research facilities:

The developer platform for the automation of large construction machines

The AutoRobXL network manager is Whiterock AG in Stuttgart. AutoRobXL is funded by the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) in a first funding period from August 2023 to July 2024. The AutoRobXL network cordially invites all interested companies and developers to participate in phase 2, which started on 1.11.2024.

Intelligent control and precise positioning of construction machinery booms and large-scale manipulators for the automation of work processes

Further information can be found on the official website: autorobxl.de

]]> https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/services-en/autonomous-or-humanoid/feed/ 0 The Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) has been relaunched https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/services-en/the-central-innovation-program-for-smes-zim-has-been-relaunched/ https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/en/services-en/the-central-innovation-program-for-smes-zim-has-been-relaunched/#respond Fri, 02 May 2025 15:00:58 +0000 https://baumgaertnerinnovation.com/nicht-kategorisiert/the-central-innovation-program-for-smes-zim-has-been-relaunched/

Dhe good news: it has been greatly improved. The Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) is the program of choice for manageable technical innovations from SMEs that are to be developed and brought to market in 1-2 years. Not well suited for software projects.

  • Maximum grant per company: EUR 168,000 – 336,000
  • Lump sum: On proof up to +100% of personnel costs for companies, 85% for research institutions
  • Subsidy: 25-60 % of the costs + lump sum
  • Funding body: Federal Government -> BMWK -> AiF/VDI VDE-IT#
  • Program budget: approx. 650 million euros per year
  • Funding topics: Development of innovative products, processes or technical services without restriction to specific technologies and sectors
  • Eligible to apply: SMEs and medium-sized companies with up to 1,000 employees
  • Formats: In-house (individual project), consortia (2 or more SMEs), networks (6 or more SMEs)
  • Application: single-stage, possible on an ongoing basis
  • Requirements: Innovation, technical risks, economic exploitation
  • Difficulty level: Easy

The ZIM program

ZIM is the largest technology and sector-open funding program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) for innovative SMEs in Germany. It supports research and development projects by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cooperating research institutions.

Goals:

  • Strengthening the innovative power of SMEs

  • Bringing new products, processes and services to market faster

  • Promoting cooperation between business and science

Funding opportunities:

  • Individual projects: R&D projects of a single company

  • Cooperation projects: R&D projects involving several partners

  • Innovation networks: development and management of networks with common development goals

ZIM grants are non-repayable subsidies and can be combined individually – also with international partners.

Whiterock ZIM Projektformen en

In addition to individual projects, ZIM offers various forms of collaboration in cooperation projects (above) and innovation networks (below)

ZIM funding rates

The following table shows the subsidy rates (in yellow) for different company sizes. The classification is based on the number of employees and turnover/total assets. Higher funding rates apply for young companies and companies in structurally weak regions. There are also higher funding rates for cooperation partners with international participation.

ZIM Fördersätze en

Click on the table to enlarge it. Further information: www.zim.de

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