The agreement, announced during the IAA Mobility event in Munich, is designed to connect MAN with Europe’s largest deep tech start-up ecosystem and strengthen collaboration between the manufacturer, the Technical University of Munich, and early-stage technology companies.
The two sides have already worked together on projects including ATLAS-L4, which focuses on autonomous trucks, and NEFTON, a research initiative on charging infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles. The new partnership is expected to expand this cooperation and help MAN identify emerging technologies that could be integrated into future products and services.
“Networking between industrial companies, start-ups and universities is crucial to remaining competitive in the international innovation arena,” said Dr Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research and Development at MAN Truck & Bus.
He added that the company sees the partnership as an opportunity to launch further joint projects with TUM Venture Labs.
TUM Venture Labs is a joint initiative of the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM, a centre for start-ups and innovation. The network currently includes twelve labs dedicated to different technology fields, with the aim of connecting start-ups, researchers, investors and established companies.
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