Industrial collaborative research

IGF in profile

The precompetitive IGF builds a bridge between basic research and economic application and offers SMEs access to the latest scientific findings. The funding of sector-wide joint industrial research (IGF) projects aims to compensate for the structural disadvantages of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of research.

Pre-competitive and open to new topics
Basis for process and product innovation
Assured practical relevance
Contest of ideas
Active networking
Transfer included
Cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary and synergetic

Further information you can find at IGF-Portal.

Knowledge advantage

Get involved in projects on new thin-film and surface technologies
SMEs and large companies thus gain access to scientific results and can prominently present their own innovative strength
Get to know the new developments in thin film and surface technologies in an interdisciplinary manner
Contacts with future junior staff from the scientific environment
Direct access to the experts and thus valuable support in outlining, applying and formulating project proposals
We inform and consult to national and international funding programs, support you in finding the right partners and coordinate research projects and clusters in the national and international area.
We move you forward together and initiate cross-sectoral projects in industrial collaborative research

How to beome part of the Industrial collective research

You can participate in the specialist committees:
Develop ideas for the future together with other experts and implement them in an application-oriented manner. Present your research approaches to our experts and find partners who support you in arming your visions for industry.

Expert Commitees

Templates for submitting project outlines

New project ideas and project outlines can be submitted to the EFDS office before the meetings of the EFDS expert committees. We recommend that you contact us 8 weeks before the date of the meeting. The status of the project can be determined in a discussion and the next steps can be planned together.

Your contacts at the EFDS office

FA Biomedical Technology
Frau Anja Härtel | E-Mail haertel@efds.org | Tel. 0351 8718372

FA Optics, Electronics & Energy
Frau Linda Kappler | E-Mail: kappler@efds.org | Tel. 0351 8718375

FA Tribological Systems
Frau Linda Kapller | E-Mail: kappler@efds.org | Tel. 0351 8718375

Downloads & further information

content of project proposals [docx-file]
content of project proposals [PDF]
Information for proposal submission [PDF]

Dates of the expert meetings for IGF projects

In order to avoid delays in the application process, we recommend that you submit your completed applications to the EFDS at least 10 weeks before the next review meeting. Differently assessed projects are discussed and jointly evaluated at these meetings.

Recent list of experts 2025 – 2027 [PDF]

GAG 1 Materials:
23.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
15.01.2026 Aachen

GAG 2 Process engineering and energy technology:
18.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
27.01.2026 Essen

GAG 3 Business administration and organisation:
17.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
14.01.2026 Köln

GAG 4 Design and production:
09.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
28.01.2026 Köln

GAG 5 Applied chemistry:
16.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
21.01.2026 Augsburg

GAG 6 Medical technology and systems engineering:
11.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
22.01.2026 Nürnberg

GAG 7 Bonding technology and additive manufacturing:
03.09.2025 Webex-Meeting
13.01.2026 Webex-Meeting