Projektbeginn: Juli 2010

Software-Cluster
„Softwareinnovationen für das Digitale Unternehmen“
(www.software-cluster.com)

Objectives:

Digital companies work in extremely flexible Internet-based corporate networks and dynamically align their business models and processes with these. All data concerning processes, facilities and resources of the real company are available at all times and in all areas for planning, control and optimization activities. The objective of the software cluster is to enable normal companies to be transformed into completely digital companies, in which ICT forms the decisive driver for product and process innovations. Studies forecast that 430,000 new jobs will be created in the software industry in Germany by 2030. Other objectives of the software cluster include the training of 5,000 specialists over the next 5 years, the foundation of 30 companies within the cluster’s core area, and attracting leading foreign companies to settle in the cluster region. Based on current figures, at least 300 million euros will need to be invested.

Approach:

The software cluster will develop concepts, technologies and business processes for emergent software within six projects – this represents an innovative leap within the corporate software sector, which is one of the most important areas of the German economy. Emergent software combines a wide range of components from different manufacturers in a dynamic and flexible manner, in order to fulfill the highly complex requirements of digital companies. Implementation of the cluster objectives demands a great deal of shared effort from both the science and business sectors as well as cross-company cooperation within the software cluster.

Region:

The software cluster includes the centers in Darmstadt, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Saarbrücken and Walldorf.

Partners:

Strategy board: DFKI - German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH, IESE - Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering, IDS Scheer AG, IMC information multimedia communication AG, intelligent views gmbh, proAlpha Software AG, SAP AG, Seeburger AG, Software AG, Technische Universität Darmstadt
Industry & regional IT networks: CAS Software AG, Competence Center Computer Science, ConWeaver GmbH, Corisecio GmbH, CyberForum e.V., 1&1 Internet AG, EUROSEC GmbH, IHK Darmstadt Service GmbH, Insiders Technologies GmbH, John Deere Werke Mannheim, KOBIL Systems GmbH, mineway GmbH, Netbiscuits GmbH, Ontoprise GmbH, SIEDA GmbH, Sirrix AG, STI Software Technologie Initiative Kaiserslautern e.V., Technologie-Initiative smartFactory KL e.V.
Research & development: DFKI - Innovative Retail Laboratory, Computer Science Research Center at the University of Karlsruhe, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research, Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Technical and Economic Mathematics, KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), Kaiserslautern University of Technology, University of Saarland

Project Duration:

5 years (start 07/10 - end 06/15)

Support:

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), with investments of more than 80 million eur