The ECOMAT research and technology centre
Bremen's contribution to the key technology of lightweight construction
The ECOMAT Research and Technology Center is located just a few minutes’ walk from Bremen Airport.
It brings together Bremen’s expertise from industry and academia in the fields of climate-neutral aviation, lightweight construction, innovative materials, surface technologies, and the digitalization of development processes.
ECOMAT stands for “Center for Eco-efficient Materials & Technologies.” Located in the heart of Bremen’s Airport City, the research complex is situated in the immediate vicinity of major industry players such as Airbus and ArianeGroup. Around 500 experts from industry and academia work together under one roof to develop new technologies.
They have access to numerous modern laboratories and facilities, including a dedicated technical center. This not only reduces costs but also creates opportunities for joint investments and collaborative research projects. An overview of the organizations involved in ECOMAT can be found on the ECOMAT website.
Summary: ECOMAT in Bremen is a research and technology center where around 500 experts from industry and academia work together on pioneering technologies. Its key areas include climate-neutral aviation, lightweight construction, innovative materials, and digitalized development processes. Shared laboratories, facilities, and research projects promote collaboration and reduce costs.
- Name: ECOMAT – Center for Eco-efficient Materials & Technologies
- Concept: Research and technology center
- Project implementation: 2013–2019
- Commissioning/completion: April 26, 2019 / summer 2019
- Location: Airport City Bremen, Cornelius-Edzard-Straße 15, 28199 Bremen, Germany
- Net floor area:
- approx. 21,800 m², comprising laboratories, technical facilities, and office space across four floors
- approx. 11,500 m² of rental and usable space
- approx. 10,300 m² of technical, circulation, and communal areas
- Financing: The investor is WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH; refinancing is provided through rental income.
The ECOMAT partners are dedicated to interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration in the key technology of lightweight construction. This approach involves observing and analysing technologies as a system, from an application-focused perspective. Lightweight construction entails making the most efficient and effective use of materials, as well as developing new materials. That means carrying out research into topics such as how to design products and segments – through the integration of new material properties, the convergence of materials and sensors, and building methods which are better suited to the materials – and then applying the results in practice. The focus on application also extends to the associated processes, and to incorporating the technological findings into production techniques.
A long-term partnership established within the context of the technology centre offers added value by facilitating technical discussions and through an understanding of scientific and commercial requirements. It also provides synergies in the areas of teaching and training. The results derived from R&D activities flow into future products and applications. They also make it possible to identify future requirements for skills training and staffing levels, which can be met by Bremen's business and research community.
The developer and owner of ECOMAT is H.A.G.E. Grundstücksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH. Construction of ECOMAT was financed through a loan of approximately €58 million and therefore without direct public funding.
The ongoing operation of ECOMAT is managed by WFB. Its responsibilities include leasing laboratory and office space, property management, as well as communication and public relations activities within the project.
ECOMAT is launched! Joint R&D projects and cooperations are realized by the ECOMAT partners. The full array of tools and services from Bremeninvest and Bremen's development bank (Bremer Aufbau-Bank) are available to support innovative projects, in particular ones from SMEs in Bremen. More on funding and support options
As part of its coordination of ECOMAT, the State of Bremen supports the ECOMAT partners in applying for development projects, organises workshops and events, represents the ECOMAT and its partners at trade fairs and conferences, and keeps the network partners up to date through newsletters.
The Senator for Economy, Labour and Europe of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is responsible for coordinating the activities of the ECOMAT partners and the network. As part of the Bremen Operative ERDF Program the Senator works in close cooperation with WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH and the innovation portal ECOMAT e.V..
Bastian Müller
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation
ECOMAT project manager
+49 (0) 421 361-32292
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