- Initiative is part of the €2 billion global investment strategy in 2023 to drive growth, innovation and resilience in all regions;
- New campus will become a global hub of development, production and core of technological activities for the industrial metaverse;
Siemens is rigorously executing its €2 billion investment strategy announced in June of this year. Of this amount, the company will allocate around 1 billion euros in Germany to reinforce the innovative power of the country.
In the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the company announced the creation of its new Technology Campus in Erlangen, with an amount of around 500 million euros to expand its development and production capacity. As a result, Siemens is transforming Erlangen into a global research and development center with a core of global technology activities for the industrial metaverse. These steps will allow Siemens to accelerate its overall growth, drive innovation and increase its resilience.
The announced investments focus mainly on new production capacities, innovation laboratories, educational centers and other Siemens units. They also reinforce Siemens' commitment to the Nuremberg metropolitan area.
Before construction work begins, buildings for the new Technology Campus in Erlangen, Germany will be planned with the Digital Twin. Photo: Disclosure
With around 3,500 employees, the current unit already houses a world-class factory for key products in industrial automation and digitization. Today, production in Erlangen is already highly automated, with people and robots working side by side. Through this investment, Siemens is creating a blueprint for the industrial metaverse, a virtual representation of the real world – photorealistic, physics-based and real-time. The targeted use of relevant physical data and the application of artificial intelligence are creating the high tech generation, which produces more sustainability and can flexibly respond to market changes.
“This investment is a big sign of Germany as a place of innovation and production. The state-of-the-art factory being built in Erlangen is a good example of how our economy is moving towards a climate-neutral future – as a strong industrial country and good sustainable jobs.” .
Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, reinforces that Siemens is betting on innovation in Germany and launching the next stage of digitalization, creating the basis for the industrial metaverse in the greater Nuremberg region. “Here, on the new campus, we combine the real and digital worlds. Together with partners, we are developing new digital technologies in the metaverse and revolutionizing the way we will produce in the future – with much more efficiency, flexibility and sustainability”.
New campus combines high-tech development and production
The campus – which will be built in the western part of Erlangen – will focus on sustainable and forward-looking high-tech production, activities related to research and development, and opening the site to an ecosystem of partners from the scientific and business communities. The investment plan for the site also envisages conversion of existing facilities and expansion.
Before the construction works begin, the new research and development, production and logistics buildings will be planned and simulated in the digital world and then implemented in the real world. In the process, an exact replica is created in the digital world, in which the entire existing factory layout is optimized and later readjusted in the real world via the industrial metaverse. The Erlangen plant produces power electronics components and machine tool controls for machine building, which are key elements of Germany's economy and industry.
Investment is another important point in Siemens' strategy to combine the real and digital worlds. The company is transforming its Erlangen site into a hub for digital production concepts – for example, through the use of the industrial metaverse and modern technologies such as industrial 3D printing and innovative power electronics. In addition, employees are improving their skills through future-oriented work concepts and training (NextWork), not only to prepare for the digital transformation of the world of work, but also to actively shape it.
Environmentally sustainable site
The Erlangen expansion is based on a comprehensive, forward-looking energy and sustainability concept. Covering approximately 200,000 square meters, the space is being rigorously designed to be a zero-emissions location that meets the highest sustainability criteria. Plans include an innovative energy infrastructure, green energy supply and energy storage in partnership with the city of Erlangen, as well as extensive use of Siemens' digital and sustainable building technology solutions. The new campus in Erlangen will be implemented by Siemens Real Estate, the company's real estate arm.
Strengthening Germany as an industrial country
Germany is Siemens AG's home market and one of the world's most important locations for production, research, development and employment. The technology company employs around 86,000 people in the country, including around 38,500 in the metropolitan region. Thanks to its investments, the company is again contributing to the development of the city of Erlangen. The Nuremberg metropolitan region, for its part, is committing itself to Bavaria as a high-tech location, betting on the future viability and innovative strength of the region as an industrial area to deliver its products to the whole world.
As part of its global investment strategy of around €2 billion, Siemens
announced plans in regions such as the US, China and Southeast Asia. Earlier this week, the company presented its latest investment project: the construction of a new headquarters in Spain with funds valued at 160 million euros.
