Fifty-three alliances throughout Germany applied for the “RUBIN - Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation” funding program, which is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular. The entrepreneurial alliance SAPHIR participated in the call to represent and market the interests of the predominantly small and medium-sized technology companies from the fields of advanced ceramics and electronics. 14 members from the TRIDELTA CAMPUS HERMSDORF, together with another five regional partners, want to develop the Hermsdorf region into the leading center for advanced ceramics in Europe. The 19 SAPHIR partners are 17 companies (including three associated partners) and two research institutions, Fraunhofer IKTS and Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena.

The goal of the alliance “SAPHIR - Advanced Ceramics from TRIDELTA CAMPUS HERMSDORF” is the substantial further development of know-how in the field of material development and manufacturing of advanced ceramics with decisive contributions to energy transition, electromobility, climate stability, health and digitalization. This will make the Hermsdorf region the leading center for advanced ceramics in Europe by 2027. TRIDELTA CAMPUS HERMSDORF e.V. expects an enormous acceleration for its chosen path to strengthen the technology region Hermsdorf. Prof. Ingolf Voigt, deputy director of Fraunhofer IKTS and board member of the Tridelta Campus, sees enormous potential for this: “Ceramic components play a key role in global technological progress due to their strength, durability and functionality. With its ceramic companies, the Hermsdorf region has a unique variety of ceramic materials. With SAPHIR funding, we will leverage this potential.”