Germany boasts an unparalleled density of renowned R&D institutes and world-leading manufacturers and suppliers for electrical and electronic materials, components, and equipment across the value chain; ranging from microelectronic components to electrical household appliances, automation systems, electronic medical equipment, and automotive electronics.
Investment opportunities are many and varied. Plug in and find out why Germany satisfies the essential conditions for market success in one of the world’s most dynamic industry sectors.
Additive manufacturing technologies have an important role to play in the supply of materials in the corona crisis, with urgently needed components being produced in short lead times.
Around the world, innovative manufacturing solutions are in great demand to meet the medical challenges created by the global coronavirus pandemic. Significant shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks and glasses as well as prohibitive production times of life-saving respirator valves have led to 3D printing technologies being deployed to slow down this global emergency.
The European Commission has called for additive manufacturing companies, Fablabs, Makerspaces, and 3D printing users across Europe to make printed components available. More than 250 companies from all industries including the automotive and sportswear sectors have answered the request to date.
All proposals are currently being reviewed and validated by the European Commission, which is being supported in Germany by the Association of German Engineers (VDI).
Industry pledges support
An increasing number of additive manufacturing plant operators and the industrial 3D printing systems manufacturer EOS have also pledged their support.
The aim is to be able to provide fast and direct support for the expected – and in other countries already concrete – demand for spare and wear parts for medical devices using 3D printing processes.
"3D Printing Fights Corona"
3D Printing Fights Corona is an initiative of MGA - Medical Mobility goes Additive e.V. and its members as well as a number of additive manufacturing actors. Pooling resources from the additive manufacturing industry in Germany and beyond, the initiative aims to build the necessary infrastructure and help the general public through the ongoing crisis. Virtual sessions and a special website provide a platform for knowledge sharing and development of urgently needed medical equipment including PPE and spare parts for ventilators.
Siemens makes design services available
Siemens is making its Additive Manufacturing Network (AM Network) available to all who require medical device design or print services in order to address the growing shortage of medical devices needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the Siemens initiative is to enable fast and uncomplicated 3D printing of spare parts such as fans. The AM Network connects users, designers and 3D printers.
German Institute for Standardization opens up standards
DIN, the German Institute for Standardization has, in agreement with all members of the European standards organization CEN and CENELEC, decided to make a series of European standards (ENs) for medical devices and PPE freely available in a concerted move to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision will help tackle the current shortage of PPE and other products in a number of European countries. By providing free access to the standards, companies will be able to reconvert their production lines to manufacture the urgently needed equipment. In Germany, DIN is making standards for breathing apparatus, eye and face protection equipment available free of charge to ensure that as many companies from as many industries as possible are able to participate.
FDI Destination Germany
Germany remains a top destination for foreign direct investment – despite the disruption caused by the ongoing corona crisis. Find out how Australian 3D printer manufacturer SPEE3D set up business in Lübeck at our markets Germany website.
Germany is recognized the world over as an innovative microelectronics production and research location. The country is by some distance Europe’s leading production and sales market. One in three chips produced in Europe today is made in Germany.
The German Education and Research Ministry’s brochure "Photonics in Germany 2019" provides information about the latest innovations in research and industry, long-term trends and hot international topics in optical technologies. On pages 12-13, Germany Trade & Invest discusses the importance of the photonics industry for a variety of German economic sectors and opportunities for foreign investors in the country.
The publication outlines the current long-term trends in the area of microsystems technology. It informs about current developments and results from German science and industry.
Germany is a major microelectronics force, securing its place at the top of the international table as Europe’s leading semiconductor production location.
Stefan Ritt, Vice President EMEA operations - SPEE3D
“Choosing Germany as the location to found our subsidiary was a decision driven by a combination of economic power, stability, technical infrastructure and favorable logistics as not only the biggest but also most central country in the EU. Furthermore, the reputation of a highly and well developed metal manufacturing environment as well as expected stability in economic development and governmental support did support our decision making.” (2020)
Roberto Multineddu, Managing Director - DAIKIN Applied Germany GmbH
„We are an applied dedicated company, sales and service for large scale air-conditioning for commercial and industrial applications. In 2016, we decided to expand our business especially in Germany, because there is a big market for us. The reason why we chose Frankfurt is that it is a central location within Europe, an international environment, and a vibrant start-up scence. To reach this conclusion, we had big support from the GTAI team to study the market and German culture in a very short term, which we appreciate very, very much!“ (2018)
"Formlabs, the leading manufacturer of accessible 3D printing solutions, chose Germany to establish its European operations. From our EU headquarter in Berlin we are able to work with leading engineering companies to implement 3D printing into their prototyping and digital manufacturing needs. Germany is the land of engineering and the perfect place to develop Formlabs' innovative 3D printing solutions." (2016)
Ed Nabrotzky, Chief Solutions Officer - Omni-ID Inc.
“Germany has long been a thought leader in manufacturing and automation. Most recently, the vision and investment in Industrie 4.0 has started bringing together some very interesting vendors and concepts that we are convinced will play a big part of the future of the plant floor. Being an engaged part of this ecosystem was a major factor in founding our new German subsidiary last year.“ (2016) .
"Germany is a high-tech country, one in which we treasure the professionalism, knowledge and high level of education among the workers. Talented workers are the most important conditions for the development of a company and the key element of Germany’s global competitiveness. That is a reason for us to select Germany as an investment location." (2013)
Our Industry in Numbers
EUR 191.5 billion turnover
872,000 employees in Germany (+ 706,000 abroad)
29% of all R&D employees in Germany
EUR 17.2 billion R&D expenses
EUR 26.5 billion innovation expenditures
24% of total R&D expenditures of German industry
26% of total patent applications in Germany (12,000 per year)
"Leadership in materials, equipment, and device manufacturing makes Germany an ideal place to bring next-generation electronics to market."
Oliver Seiler, Director Mechanical & Electronic Technologies, Germany Trade & Invest
Market Opportunities: Internet of Things
Internet of Things applications are of significant strategic importance for microelectronic manufacturers. According to McKinsey, IoT will create up to USD 11 billion in value added in 2025. This is equivalent to around 11 percent of global economic output; with the most lucrative application markets being the production (up to USD 3.7 billion), cities (USD 1.7 billion) and health economy sectors (USD 1.6 billion). Within Germany, IoT-generated turnover is expected to double in just two years from a forecast level of EUR 24.5 billion in 2018 to more than EUR 50 billion in 2020 according to Deloitte.
The Internet of Things also gives rise to the age of the “connected car” and, ultimately, autonomous vehicles. The automobile sector is driving increased chip demand, with increased digitalization and electrification creating semiconductor growth of more than 100 percent over the last 18 years. Automotive electronics account for around 80 to 90 percent of innovations in modern vehicles and is the semiconductor sector’s main industry sector client, accounting for around 45 percent of domestic industry demand. Germany shows the highest growth rate forecasts in the usage of microelectronic for vehicles in Europe.
Australian maker of 3D printers SPEED3D hasn’t let the Covid-19 pandemic hinder the founding of a German subsidiary. And the company may have an ace up its sleeve.
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