microTEC Südwest

microTEC Südwest is the competence and cooperation network for intelligent microsystems technology solutions for Europe. In Baden-Württemberg microTEC Südwest is the central contact point for all microsystem technology activities. The central service for members are technological and application oriented special interest groups in which microTEC Südwest’s capabilities are bundled for further innovation in the field of microsystem technology. As a link between science, business and government microTEC Südwest supports its members with applications for and management of funded projects. This compromises matchmaking activities as well. Main topics are:

Technology-oriented: Energy supply for microsystems, Printing technologies, Surface Engineering, Smart Systems; Application-oriented: Intelligent implants, In-vitro diagnostics, Strategy-oriented: Cooperative innovation processes.

Current support actions include industry 4.0 for the region, where microTEC Südwest is responsible for the cyber-physical systems/smart sensors and actuators part of the initiative (www.i40-bw.de).

The 116 members (July 2017) come from companies, research facilities and institutions. There are global players such as Bosch, Festo, Roche Diagnostics, ABB, Zeiss, Endress+Hauser, Sick, Balluff and Testo, as well as many innovative small and medium-sized companies. Among the research facilities are the institutes of Innovationsallianz Baden-Württemberg (innBW) as well as the Fraunhofer Institutes. Colleges and universities are also members, such as the Institut für Mikrosystemtechnik (IMTEK) of the University of Freiburg as well as the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT).

This cluster meets the excellence criteria of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) and has been awarded with the gold label.