Joint research
The wide range of research issues raised by
combustion engines can only be addressed with interdisciplinary cooperation. Our
approach is to bring together industry experts with academics from the fields of
natural and engineering science. The focal point of our work is pre-competitive
joint research: fundamental research projects managed on an efficient
cost-sharing basis. The projects are defined by experts from the member
companies on a bottom-up principle.
Industry and science moving on a common path.
The wide range of research issues raised by combustion engines can only be
addressed with interdisciplinary cooperation. Our approach is to bring together
industry experts with academics from the fields of natural and engineering
science.
The focal point of our work is pre-competitive joint research: fundamental
research projects managed on an efficient cost-sharing basis. The projects are
defined by experts from the member companies on a bottom-up principle.
Organizational structure of the FVV
The highest body of the FVV is the Meeting of the Members. It elects the
Executive Committee, which is responsible for all the FVV activities and their
financing as well as determining the association’s strategic orientation.
The Advisory Board includes representatives from all the member companies. It
makes proposals to the Executive Committee regarding focal areas of research and
budgets. The Advisory Board is split into six planning groups for the engines
division and one planning group for turbines. Each planning group supervises and
steers its own area research programmes.
From the idea to the project
Any employee of a member company can submit an idea in the form of a project
outline to the competent planning group. The proposal is then evaluated with
regards to the association’s interests and checked for its pre-competitive
quality. This is followed by the creation of an industry discussion group which
defines exactly the scope of the project, selects appropriate research
facilities and files the application for the project. The planning group then
discusses the application and decides whether to finance the plan with the FVV’s
own funds or to apply for public funding.
Another possible source of
ideas are the broad-themed workshops. The FVV and its network offer an excellent
platform for the exchange of ideas between companies. Longstanding contacts to
prestigious research institutes ensure valuable scientific contributions to the
discussions.
Direct knowledge transfer in practice
The results of a current research project are regularly discussed with the
working committee in charge of the project. The representatives of the member
companies have the possibility to steer the project and to consult and support
the research institutes as regards the subject matter. Additionally, the results
of the research are passed on directly to the industry on completion.
Our
members have an unrestricted right to use all the results achieved by the FVV
projects. Twice a year, information meetings are held where up-to-date overviews
of the research programme are provided.
Publication of research results
On completion of a project, the results are published in the form of a
research report in the FVV publication series. These reports are available to
all members free of charge. Research engineers are additionally informed about
our work at international conferences and in technical journals. When research
results are published as software, they are fully documented and available to
the members free of charge.
