MAI Projects

Campus Carbon 4.0 is an initiative of the MAI Carbon cluster of excellence, Composites United e.V. and the University of Augsburg, which aims to establish carbon as a material in the Swabia region and to help it achieve a global breakthrough. The topic of lightweight construction continues to be highly relevant in industry. In this context, knowledge in the field of lightweight construction and, in particular, in the field of fiber composite materials, is an important know-how advantage for German industry. The resolutions adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference will also further increase the importance of lightweight construction in order to achieve the climate targets that have been set. This will enable Campus Carbon 4.0, as well as MAI Carbon itself, to further expand its position and strength. The strategy of Campus Carbon 4.0 is closely linked to the strategy of the Leading-Edge Cluster MAI Carbon and takes up many elements of this strategy, but also sets new priorities. The goal remains the industrial breakthrough of carbon composites, innovation leadership in this field, an established SME supplier industry, and a social anchoring of the material. To achieve these goals, Campus Carbon 4.0 has defined the following fields of action:

• Production systems: In addition to industrialization and increasing material utilization, this field of action also addresses the topics of multi-material and functionalization.
• Engineering: The system understanding of composites and suitable construction methods is to be expanded. At the same time, the necessary design and simulation tools are to be further developed to enable efficient design.
• Public perception: This topic aims to firmly anchor carbon composites in society and politics. In addition to providing information about the material, it is also important to generate enthusiasm for it.
• Digitalization: The buzzwords “Internet of Things” and “Industry 4.0” are ubiquitous. Within the framework of the campus, the processes and workflows of the carbon composites industry are to be combined with the digital world, thus making them fit for the future.
• Recycling: In addition to establishing optimized recycling processes, the activities at Campus Carbon 4.0 will also focus on developing new applications for recycled materials.

The strategy of Campus Carbon 4.0 provides the basis for stabilizing and strengthening the network in the long term, as well as for further advancing the industrialization of carbon composites.