According to the slogan »Embracing change through innovation«, around 300 exhibitors presented the results of their research and development projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). These demonstrate the innovative strength of the German Mittelstand. On a tour, Federal Minister Dr. Robert Habeck, State Secretary Michael Kellner and Dr. Daniela Brönstrup, Head of the Digital and Innovation Policy Department of the BMWK, took a closer look at projects which this year focused on top priorities such as sustainability, climate protection, digitalisation and health.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a new strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from seagoing ships in London on 7 July.

The most important result of the strategy are the revised climate protection targets for the shipping sector.

Greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime shipping are to achieve net carbon neutrality by around 2050 in line with the long-term temperature target of the Paris Agreement.

In addition, IMO has set targets for the use of climate-neutral technologies, fuels and energy sources.

Until now, analyses of the exhaust gas levels of vehicles with combustion engines have focused solely on their pollutant emissions. With the »zero-impact emissions« approach, the concentration of pollutants in the ambint air forms the basis for assessing the exhaust gas level. Through several projects, the FVV is expanding pre-competitive research and laying the the groundwork for the development of »zero-impact vehicles« whose emissions have no impact on air quality.

The EU's planned ban on the entire PFAS group of substances (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) would endanger many industrial processes - especially the technologies of the energy transition: Fuel cells, heat pumps, solar plants, hydrogen electrolysers. Many entrepreneurs from the mechanical and plant engineering sector are calling for the ban to be stopped and for a differentiated view of the approximately 10,000 substances. A comprehensive PFAS ban, as planned by the EU due to environmental hazards in consumer products, would have a devastating effect in the industry. It would be as excessive as it would be unjustified. This is because, according to the OECD, the so-called "polymers of low concern" are not a danger to the environment and must therefore be excluded from a ban, requests VDMA in a new position paper.

R&D remains a central topic in mechanical engineering. This is evidenced by the increasing expenditures of the companies.