Siemens Launches Lighthouse Project of Made for Germany Initiative

In the presence of political leaders and representatives of the business community, Siemens today laid the cornerstone for the new Siemens Technology Campus in Erlangen, Germany. A lighthouse project of the Made for Germany initiative, the Technology Campus will further strengthen the economic viability of Germany and the region primarily in the area of power electronics. In this initiative, leading companies and investors have teamed up across sectors to foster a strong, succcessful and sustainable economy in Germany.

In the first step, a leading-edge center for logistics, services and flexible automation with workspace for up to 300 people will be built in Erlangen by 2027. The center will cover around 7,000 square meters or the area of a soccer field. The construction of a development and innovation hub for power electronics combined with additional space for manufacturing activities is planned for the second step. This facility, which is scheduled for completion by 2030, is to house, among other things, the development of a new generation of converters and controls that will steer the movements of systems and machines even faster, more precisely and more efficiently.

“The Siemens Technology Campus in Erlangen is a lighthouse project of the Made for Germany initiative because our colleagues at the location are a role model for Germany’s innovative power and competitiveness,” said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG. “Here, we’ve got superior products and a radical approach to customer value coupled with a relentless focus on digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence. With these success factors, we’re securing Germany’s economic future. Siemens delivers. Now it’s up to policymakers to implement the necessary structural reforms.”

Siemens is investing €500 million in the transformation of the Erlangen location. The investments are part of the global investment strategy of around €2 billion that the company unveiled in 2023. Of this amount, €1 billion will be invested in Germany. The Technology Campus will make Siemens’ Erlangen location the world-leader in technology activities for the industrial metaverse. Developed especially for industrial applications, the industrial metaverse is a virtual environment in which companies can leverage technologies like artificial intelligence and digital twins to digitally simulate, test and optimize processes, products and systems before they are implemented in the real world. 

“Siemens’ investment offensive is a clear signal for Germany, Bavaria and Erlangen as well as for the around 3,000 people working on Frauenauracher Strasse,” said Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian State Minister of the Interior. “The Siemens Technology Campus in Erlangen will be a blueprint for research and development as well as for the production of Siemens’ future-oriented technologies. It will drive the digital transformation and further strengthen Bavaria’s position as a leading technology region.”

Already today, key components for industrial automation and digitalization are being developed and manufactured in Erlangen. A total of around 3,000 people are employed in the areas of production, research, development and administration at the city’s Frauenauracher Strasse location. 

“The Siemens Technology Campus is also a lighthouse project for Erlangen,” added Erlangen mayor Dr. Florian Janik. “It will further strengthen our city as a science and innovation hub and create a living environment for talents and companies. We’re proud to be a partner in this future-oriented project, which combines sustainability and digitalization in an exemplary manner.”

Sustainability and digitalization played a decisive role already in the planning phase – long before the groundbreaking ceremony. For example, the new campus and its buildings were initially planned, simulated and rigorously trimmed for sustainability with the help of a digital twin situated in the virtual world. In addition, the entire site is being developed as a net-zero location: plans include an innovative energy infrastructure, green energy supply and energy storage in partnership with the city of Erlangen, and the use of Siemens’ digital building technology solutions. 

When demolishing the existing buildings, Siemens recycled as much material as possible and minimized emissions. In a first, all the construction vehicles and machinery used at the demolition site were powered exclusively by green energy. Three buildings covering an area of nearly 25,000 square meters were disassembled. Of the resulting 12,800 tons of rubble, Siemens reused 96 percent for new construction. Altogether, 70 tons of CO2 or 24,000 liters of diesel oil were avoided.