NÜRNBERG (dpa-AFX) - Industry President Siegfried Russwurm is calling on "politicians to promote innovation without ideological blinkers." It must focus much more on the transfer between science and business, the president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) said Thursday at an opening ceremony for laboratories of Nuremberg universities at the MAN plant in Nuremberg. "Openness to technology paves the way to climate neutrality. This results in innovations that convince customers worldwide and are in demand by them," Russwurm said.

Truck manufacturer MAN, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, is conducting research into new drive systems together with the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Nuremberg Technical University. "Initial projects in the areas of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells have already started," MAN said.

The company leases space formerly used for diesel engine development on the Nuremberg plant site, which has since become vacant, to the Technical University, which was looking for new space. The first students have been working there since summer 2022, and five test beds are already in operation. A total of eight test benches for batteries and fuel cells are to be built, as well as a materials laboratory.

MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp said, "In the future, the most economical battery packs, fuel cells and electric motors will be developed and produced here for our customers with scientific support." Niels Oberbeck, president of the Technical University, said universities could help shape the transformation through application-oriented research and give students insight into new technologies.

Starting in 2025, battery packs for MAN trucks and buses are to be mass-produced in Nuremberg. The investment of around 100 million euros will be supported by the Free State with 30 million euros./rol/DP/stw