“Schaeffler Hub for Advanced REsearch at Friedrich-Alexander University”, or SHARE at FAU for short – is the name of the new collaborative research project between Schaeffler and the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. 
The cooperation agreement with the FAU, which was signed on July 22, enables intensive collaboration with Schaeffler. Research topics will be examined in the context of an industrialization at an early stage thanks to the presence of the automotive and industrial supplier from Herzogenaruach at the campus (Company on Campus concept). Suitable rooms can be rented on campus at short notice. A special advantage is that both partners can bundle expertise and infrastructure such as test stands, laboratories, and knowledge networks.
“Schaeffler and the FAU have already successfully carried out joint projects over the last few years. With this collaborative research project, we will lay a solid and long-term foundation for increased cooperation”, said Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer at Schaeffler AG. The start of the collaboration project took place in January, when Professor Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of the Friedrich-Alexander University, visited Herzogenaurach with 10 other professors for a joint exchange. The initial ideas were developed during this meeting.
For Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, the new dimension of the collaboration with Schaeffler is also an important step for the profile of the FAU in terms of digitalization: “The innovation processes are changing very rapidly in today’s world. Companies are increasingly using the innovative potential of universities and research institutions to strengthen their own research & development”, explained Hornegger. “With a major partner like Schaeffler and SHARE at FAU, we will be able to create a highly attractive research environment in Franconia for engineers, economists, humanities scholars, social scientists and system-oriented scientists, from which both partners and the entire region will benefit. I am delighted that our joint plans are gaining momentum.”
SHARE at FAU will be structured in a similar way to SHARE at KIT (The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). This collaboration project, which was established at the end of 2012, has, among other things, the objective of developing joint solutions for future mobility. In terms of content, the topics should complement the development at the KIT. The focus of the research undertaken by SHARE at FAU is on the digitalization and processes in production, the product, services and business model.
Research work will start during the course of this year. Both partners want to process around ten joint projects during the startup phase. “The two partners will benefit due to the close cooperation between people from industry and science. I am convinced that SHARE at FAU will become a talent factory for innovation in the digital environment, explained Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Director of Corporate Innovation at Schaeffler.
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