15 months after the ground-breaking ceremony, the innovation laboratory of the research institute Edelmetalle + Metallchemie (fem) in Schwäbisch Gmünd is nearing completion. The final floors are currently being laid, office furniture installed, the laboratory equipment integrated into the building management system and all systems tested for functionality.
The appearance of the innovation laboratory proves that aesthetic aspects were not neglected in the planning process, despite the focus on optimizing the technical systems: "We are delighted that we and our project partners have succeeded in combining function and aesthetics so well. This combination will contribute greatly to a creative working atmosphere in our new building and is also something special architecturally," says Prof. Dr. Holger Kaßner. On an additional 4,500m2, the fem will intensify practice-oriented R&D work in materials science and surface technology for the important future fields of energy technology, resource efficiency and digitalized process technology and expand technology transfer to SMEs and industry. Around 50 new jobs for scientific and technical staff will be created at the fem in the coming years. The project is being financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
