The lightweight technology community is networked across various sectors. Its importance for resource and energy-efficient technologies is visible both nationally and internationally.

As a future-relevant cross-sectional and key technology, lightweight technology contributes decisively to economically-successful climate and resource protection. With the establishment of the federal Leichtbau BW state agency in 2013, the federal state government has paved the way for lightweight technology to take root and flourish. Over the past ten years, Leichtbau BW has continuously developed the understanding of lightweight technology across all sectors and intensified cooperation between science and industry. It has done important pioneering work in its field at exactly the right time.

The innovation topic of lightweight technology has long since reached the federal government, which has increasingly embraced it. Because of the federal government's lightweight technology initiative, we now see an opportunity for greater visibility of lightweight technology activities in Baden-Württemberg, both at a national and European level. This shifts the priorities in the federal state's support with regard to lightweight technology. The original mission to increase lightweight technology’s visibility beyond the state border has been fulfilled. Thanks to Leichtbau BW, Baden-Württemberg is strongly positioned in the field of lightweight technology – both in research and in business.

Innovation dynamics are created from a willingness to adapt and change. Against the backdrop of current developments – particularly at the federal level – the federal state government has decided to realign its support for lightweight technology as an innovation topic. In light of the above, the federal state government has decided to end Leichtbau BW’s operational activities on 31 December 2022, after which it will transfer the promotion of lightweight technology in the federal state to a new format. Considering the steadily-increasing innovative pressure when it comes to resource and energy-efficient technologies, the innovation topic of lightweight technology will remain a high priority in Baden-Württemberg.

Source: Press release Leichtbau BW, 13.12.2022