Bavaria’s Additive Manufacturing industry and research come together to form Bavaria Makes alliance
Bavaria Makes, a new ecosystem for the industrialisation of Additive Manufacturing, is being created in the German region of Bavaria. The alliance, bringing together industry, SMEs, research, and the state government, aims to make Bavaria a leading location for AM within a decade. Founding partners include Bayern Innovativ GmbH, Colibrium Additive, EOS GmbH, MTU Aero Engines AG, Oerlikon AM Europe GmbH, Siemens AG, the Technical University of Munich, and toolcraft AG.
“Bavaria is the prime address for high-tech companies and has very good conditions to also take the lead in 3D printing,” stated Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger.” With Bavaria Makes, we are bringing together the best minds to support us on this path.”
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The Bavarian State Government is providing significant funding for the project. A new hub for metal Additive Manufacturing is being created at the Advanced Manufacturing Campus of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Garching. Currently, more than thirty professors at the TUM.Additive academic network are studying the future of Additive Manufacturing in collaboration with researchers.
Bavaria’s Science Minister Markus Blume stated, “Bavaria is a pioneer in 3D printing. We are excellently positioned in the field of Additive Manufacturing – and we want to get even better, because Additive Manufacturing is a rapidly growing market. Bavaria Makes bundles the know-how from production and research – an alliance of real champions. Following the principle of ‘Support, Enhance, Empower’, we are further developing the entire ecosystem of Additive Manufacturing in Bavaria and creating efficient structures. As a Ministry of Science, we are contributing five positions and special funds of €1 million to get it started.”
Bavaria Makes members’ foundation work
The structures already in place, in combination with those being developed, are expected to enable Bavaria Makes and its members to decisively drive research and industrial implementation in AM. One example noted by the organisation is the close cooperation between science and industry: TUM-Oerlikon Advanced Manufacturing Institute, which combines academic and industrial research within the framework of the Industry-on-Campus concept. The TUM Venture Labs are also actively embedded into the campus ecosystem, supporting over 100 start-ups and entrepreneurial researchers. This joint initiative by TUM and UnternehmerTUM is also partly funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts.
“This unique combination of excellent research, targeted start-up support, and close industrial integration creates the perfect breeding ground for the settlement of further AM activities,” says Professor Peter Mayr, Bavaria Makes Chairman. “The Advanced Manufacturing Campus will thus become a central hub for the future of Additive Manufacturing.”
MTU Aero Engines already operates its own Center of Excellence for metallic Additive Manufacturing in Munich. An interdisciplinary team of around forty employees develops and produces AM components for aerospace propulsion systems.
toolcraft AG, headquartered in Georgensgmünd, combines the entire process chain under one roof.
“Bavaria Makes differs from classic co-operations in that internationally leading corporations, medium-sized companies, universities, and associations are working together here,” says Christoph Hauck, Member of the Executive Board for Technology and Sales at toolcraft AG and Bavaria Makes Executive Board member. “The association serves as a catalyst for the Bavarian industry by utilising knowledge transfer, collaboration, targeted R&D projects, and the support of the Free State of Bavaria.”
Siemens AG is active in Bavaria both as an AM equipment supplier and as a producer and user of AM components for rail technology or medical technology.
“We are contributing our know-how in software and automation to the association,” says Dr Karsten Heuser, Vice President – Additive Manufacturing at Siemens AG and member of the Executive Board of Bavaria Makes. “By bundling the forces of Bavarian global companies with universities and SMEs in focused hubs, our customers and we ourselves will become faster and better.”
Recently, technology experts from Siemens AG have also moved into the TUM campus to advance research activities around hybrid manufacturing processes and production optimisation.
“Collaborative innovation along the AM value chain is urgently needed to withstand the growing innovation pressure in Europe and unlock the full potential of the technology,” added Dr Marcus Giglmaier, Managing Director of Oerlikon AM Europe GmbH.
Bavaria Makes also continues to rely on the successful work of the Coordination Office for Additive Manufacturing of Bayern Innovativ GmbH. The innovation agency bundles the Bavarian competence in manufacturing technology in a nationwide network of around 200 companies and links it with leading industries such as medical technology, automotive, security and defence, or the construction industry.
Dr Matthias Konrad, member of the Management Board of Bayern Innovativ GmbH, stated, “With this cross-industry networking, we have been successfully driving knowledge and technology transfer around additive manufacturing for years. With the combination of technology know-how and strong networks, we will also accompany and support the activities of Bavaria Makes in the future.”
From October 23-24, 2025, Bayern Innovativ will offer an international platform with the Next Gen Manufacturing Congress to inspire attendees and showcase new application potentials of Additive Manufacturing.
