ERFURT – Innovative manufacturing technology from Europe, based on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light and enabling even more powerful microchips, plays a crucial role in global digitalization and megatrends such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. Thuringia is also involved in this technology. This was a key message at InnoCON 2023, Thuringia's leading innovation policy event, which took place today, Thursday, June 29, 2023, at the Arena Erfurt. Dr. Michael Bolle, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, explained in his keynote address at the conference how Carl Zeiss AG, in collaboration with partners, is advancing the revolutionary EUV technology. As part of this cooperation, Zeiss supplies its strategic partner ASML with high-precision optics, the "heart" of the world's most advanced microchip production facilities. “EUV technology enables microchip manufacturers worldwide to create increasingly smaller structures and thus produce more efficient microchips. The following comparison illustrates the technological ambition: Using the optical system, a laser beam deflected from Earth could hit a golf ball on the lunar surface,” explained Dr. Michael Bolle, highlighting the leap in innovation made possible in part by Thuringian ingenuity. “Such key technologies make a significant contribution to achieving the technological sovereignty of the European economy!”
“Technological sovereignty” – this was the central theme of this year’s InnoCON. This refers to the desire to shape key technologies internationally on an equal footing and to ensure security of supply in times of multiple challenges, for example, for semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, or specialized machinery. Nearly 200 visitors attended “InnoCON 2023,” and the question of how Thuringian stakeholders can achieve greater innovation, technological competitiveness, and technological sovereignty was discussed extensively – not least in light of the new EU funding period 2021-2027.
At InnoCON, Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee also emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty: “The global crises demonstrate how crucial it is to be able to act independently in certain vital areas. Therefore, we are intensifying our efforts in research and technology development. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has allocated the state's entire innovation funding program to this purpose.” “Thuringia MOTIVation – move to innovation” “By 2027, some 850 million euros from EU, state and federal funds will be available to support businesses, universities and research institutions in the development of new products, processes and services,” said Tiefensee.
The Thuringian Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts (TMWWDG) hosted InnoCON, and the event was organized by LEG Thüringen. "In Thuringia, we are on the right track to bringing the concept of technological sovereignty to life," said LEG Managing Director Andreas Krey, who opened InnoCON together with Minister Tiefensee. "LEG supports our companies and research institutions in this endeavor with its broad range of services – from technology and cluster management to full-service support for complex business development and expansion projects in the Free State." InnoCON is generally an important forum for the further implementation of Thuringia's innovation strategy, whose office is located within the Thuringian Cluster Management, a division of LEG. In addition to the keynote address by Dr. Michael Bolle, the day also featured a diverse range of presentations, including the keynote speech by Christoph Glingener, CEO of the Meiningen-based company Adva Opticals/Adtran, who spoke about deglobalization in telecommunications.
In addition to the presentations, the focus of the conference was on the exchange among the attending innovation drivers from business, science, politics, and networks. The guests took the opportunity to learn about the latest developments and innovations in Bavaria and to further their networking. The InnoMARKT exhibition, where 30 stakeholders presented their expertise and potential, offered insights; the InnoCON also traditionally includes the InnoPITCH, which, with its dynamic format and short presentations on forward-looking projects and initiatives, provides input and ideas.
Background:
In the summer of 2010, the European Council adopted the "Europe 2020" growth strategy to promote smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth across Europe. All 271 European regions were asked to develop regional innovation strategies to use increasingly scarce structural funds more efficiently and to develop a distinctive specialization profile. These strategies are a key requirement for each region to access EU funding for research, development, and innovation in the current funding period. The Thuringian Innovation Strategy was adopted by the Thuringian Cabinet on June 10, 2014, and subsequently confirmed by the European Commission. Implementation of the strategy began in early 2015. The Thuringian Cluster Management (ThCM), located at the Thuringian Development Corporation (LEG), operates on behalf of the Free State of Thuringia, is co-financed by the European Union (ERDF), and is responsible for implementing the Innovation Strategy. On behalf of the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society, it organizes InnoCON Thüringen as a high-level event.
Further information can be found at: www.innocon-thueringen.de
