https://www.dlr.de
We, the German Space Agency, undertake statutory tasks in the space sector on behalf of the German Federal Government. Under the "Raumfahrtaufgabenübertragungsgesetz" and within the scope of the tasks effectively assigned to us, we implement the space strategy of the Federal Government, develop and manage the national space programme, and represent the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany in space-related international bodies in accordance with the tasks assigned to us. We advise the Federal Government and develop initiatives and strategic approaches for space policy. All of our activities are based on the guidelines laid down by the Federal Government in its space strategy.
The form of the DIH DLR
The DIH is based on the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics at German Aerospace Centre (DLR) located close to Munich. The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics develops a wide array of robots to enable humans to interact more safely and efficiently with their surrounding environments. The robots are designed to act in surroundings inaccessible or dangerous to humans as well as to support humans in everyday life and work. Around 240 full time researchers of the institute have been working on different robotics projects using a wide network of partner companies in Germany and in Europe. Robotics for inspection and maintenance is an important part of field robotics, one of the key research areas of the institute. DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is embedded in different local networks for industrial research and development. The institute is involved in DLR wide technology transfer activities and support the establishment of start-ups. The DIH coordinates the activities related to industrial inspection and maintenance.
Funding opportunities investigation
Category: Incubator/accelerator support
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Advising on of funding opportunities, support for the applications
Format (how?): Meetings
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Business developers
Involvement, effort from DIH: DIH business developers, senior project leaders
Financial charge for customer: Free
Funding, business plan: Subsidised by DIH
Research, development and innovation opportunities
Category: Project development
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Support for planning of R&D projects
Format (how?): Meetings, calls
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Business developer, project leader, technical expert
Involvement, effort from DIH: Meetings with researchers and project leader
Funding, business plan: Subsidised by the DIH
Awareness creation
Category: Ecosystem service, Community building
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Organizing of events for promotion of the robotics technologies and applications.
Format (how?): Events, meetings, webinars
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Developers, technical experts, business developers
Involvement, effort from DIH: Half or one day events
Financial charge for customer: free
Funding, business plan: Operational costs of DIH
Technical advising
Category: Ecosystem service, Strategy development
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Consultancy on application of robotic technologies and systems
Format (how?): Meetings, phone calls, webinars
Profile of DIH contact (who?): technical and application experts
Involvement, effort from DIH: short meetings with clients
Research and development collaboration
Category: Strategic RDI
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Validation of new technologies and systems at lower TRLs, consultancy, joint projects
Format (how?): Collaborative research with partners from industry and SMEs
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Project manager, technical experts
Involvement, effort from DIH: Support for preparation and submission of European or national proposals. Conduction of joint projects (usually 1 - 3 years) with experts from the DIH
Funding, business plan: Funded by European or national research programmes
Innovation projects: technology demonstrators, proof of concepts
Category: Contract research
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Validation of new technologies and systems at TRL 6, consultancy, joint projects
Format (how?): Short term projects with partners (from a few months to a few years)
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Senior researchers, technical experts
Involvement, effort from DIH: Support from experts to develop concepts and technical solutions for customer-defined problems.
Financial charge for customer: Paid by customers
Funding, business plan: Funded through contracts with customer, national and EU innovation programmes
Lab facilities, equipment for lease/use (sensors, robots, robot tooling, etc.), rapid prototyping
Category: Provision of technology infrastructure
Description of activity, value proposition (what?): Experiments and testing of customer technologies on aerial systems of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
Format (how?): Conducting experiments with the assistance of DIH personnel, joint short-term projects
Profile of DIH contact (who?): Technical experts, senior researchers
Involvement, effort from DIH: Planning, preparation and conduction of experiments or short-term projects with customers