SKZ presents successful research projects at the Innovation Day for SMEs 2025 in Berlin
At the invitation of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), SKZ – The Plastics Center presented four successful research projects at the BMWE's Innovation Day for SMEs 2025 in Berlin on June 5, 2025. The event gave around 1,800 guests from the worlds of business, politics, and science an impressive insight into the innovative strength of German SMEs.
The SKZ team at the BMWE's Innovation Day for SMEs 2025 in Berlin: from left to right: Johann Erath, Anika Fuhrmann, Franziska Eichhorn, Linda Mittelberg, and Kurt Engelsing (source: SKZ)
Focus on research successes: SKZ presents practical solutions for the plastics industry
Four projects – four practical solutions
At the BMWE Innovation Day for SMEs 2025 in Berlin, SKZ employees Franziska Eichhorn, Anika Fuhrmann, Dr. Linda Mittelberg, and Dr. Kurt Engelsing demonstrated how applied research creates concrete added value for industry and society:
Rohr-Perm – Permeation measurement on plastic pipes (IGF 22636 N)
This project developed a method for accelerated measurement of the gas permeability of plastic pipes, including oxygen. The results enable improved quality assurance and contribute to the longevity of piping systems.
Online quality assurance for foamed injection molded components (IGF 20865 N)
The SKZ validated application-oriented inline measurement systems that monitor the quality of foamed plastic components directly in the production process. The solution facilitates the implementation of foaming technologies and increases process reliability.
RecyQuant – Foreign material detection in plastics recycling (ZIM KK5435701PH1)
In cooperation with ColVisTec AG from Berlin, an innovative system for the inline detection of foreign materials in the recycling process was developed. The technology increases the purity and efficiency of plastics recycling.
Mechanical testing of plastics under media influence (ZIM KK5068010)
In collaboration with IPT Institut für Prüftechnik Gerätebau GmbH & Co. KG in Todtenweis, Bavaria, a testing device has been developed that offers new possibilities for investigating the influence of various media on the stress crack resistance of plastics. This enables better service life assurance for plastic components in critical applications.
Strong message from Berlin for German SMEs: BMWE releases additional funding
There was also particularly good news at the BMWE Innovation Day for SMEs: at the suggestion of the BMWE, the German Bundestag's Budget Committee has released additional commitment authorizations of up to €272 million. These funds will be made available for important innovation support programs such as IGF, ZIM, and INNO-KOM.
“This decision sends an important signal to everyone who works hard every day to promote innovation and progress in small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Dr. Johann Erath, who represented the SKZ's Innovation and Technology Transfer department at the event in Berlin. “After months of uncertainty, companies, research associations, and institutes such as the SKZ can once again work on innovation projects with planning security. This is a strong signal for Germany as a location for innovation.”
Innovation you can touch
Despite a brief rain shower, the atmosphere at the Innovation Day was characterized by exchange, curiosity, and the common goal of actively shaping technological change.
The SKZ projects impressively demonstrated how funded research can lead to marketable solutions and how the SKZ, as an institute of the Zuse Community and one of Europe's leading plastics research institutes, is helping to shape this change.
Funded by
The projects presented were funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Industrial Collective Research (IGF) and the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag.
