Aim of the promotion

  • The potential of photonic sensor and manufacturing processes is gaining in usability for the realization of flexible digitalized and automated production
  • To this end, technological foundations for the integration of such processes into production processes are to be created and new sensor principles based on photonic and quantum technology principles are to be developed
  • Production processes are to be made more efficient by researching the technological basis for new automated, photonics-based manufacturing processes.
  • This includes technologies for the fusion of different sensor modalities in order to provide precise information about production processes, as well as the development of evaluation methods, algorithms and AI systems for the rapid evaluation of data.
  • The criterion here should be the improvement of the production process.

Object of the funding

  • High-risk, pre-competitive research and development projects that contribute to making photonic processes usable for the digitalization and automation of production processes-
  • Funding is provided within the framework of two modules.

Module A:

  • Proposals that are directly related to applications and aim to use the advantages of photonic processes for digitized and automated production processes.
  • Project proposals must demonstrate the practicability of the proposed solution or the researched technology during the project period
  • There are various possible topics:
    • Technologies for new automated production processes, in particular machine vision and understanding
    • Technologies for flexible production in the context of complete process chains

Module B

  • Addresses project proposals that aim to explore new photonic or quantum technology-based sensor principles for digitization and automation
  • Researchers from different disciplines will work together to realize new concepts and provide the technical basis
  • These alliances require at least one industry partner as an associated partner
  • The findings should form the basis for further research and development work in collaboration with industry in the future
  • Possible topics:
    • Novel sensor principles and concepts
    • Combination of photonic and quantum sensors
    • Sensor concepts based on materials with a subwavelength structure
    • Concepts for energy self-sufficient and self-networking photonic sensor networks
  • The subject areas listed in modules A and B are exemplary; others that pursue the stated objectives can also be supported within the framework of the announcement.

Period of validity

These funding guidelines take effect on the date of their publication in the Federal Gazette. The term of these funding guidelines is limited to the date of expiration of the AGVO, plus a six-month adjustment period, until June 30, 2027. An extension beyond December 31, 2030, is not possible.

Announcement – BMFTR

Back to the overview of all subsidies

Further subsidies