InnoVIEW: “Network means trust” – ELMUG profile

In conversation with Ines Fuchs, branch manager of ELMUG eG

The Cluster for Electronics, Measurement and Device Technology (ELMUG) brings companies together, promotes innovation, and creates a platform for exchange and cooperation. We discuss why membership is worthwhile, current topics, and what the future holds in this interview.

What role does ELMUG play in promoting innovation in electronics, measurement and device technology, and what are its primary objectives?

Fuchs: My goal is to make ELMUG a genuine platform for exchange and collaboration. Our members can openly discuss topics here – this leads to practical solutions and new partnerships. With events like the Solution Generator, we bring companies, research institutions, and partners together and deliberately open up networks across industry boundaries – from sensor technology and electronics to IT, medical technology, and emerging fields like retrofitting, digital product passports, and battery technologies. Equally important is providing our members with concise information from the political and economic spheres at an early stage and supporting them with funding opportunities, skilled personnel, and projects.

In which areas of specialization is ELMUG particularly active within RIS Thüringen, and where are the greatest opportunities for cooperation?

Fuchs: Officially, we are anchored in the specialization field of "Industrial Production and Systems," but in practice, we are much broader in scope because electronics, sensor technology, and measurement technology are cross-cutting technologies. Our members supply technologies to a wide variety of industries—from automotive and medical technology to mechanical engineering. This means we touch upon almost all areas of specialization.

Let's take predictive maintenance as an example: A sensor provides data – but then what? Customers need analyses and recommendations for action: What do the data reveal about the machine's condition? Sensor technology only delivers real added value when combined with AI, automation, or robotics. We're pooling these competencies here in our cluster.

How many members does ELMUG currently have? Which industries are represented – and how do the members benefit from their membership in the cluster?

Fuchs: ELMUG currently has approximately 70 members – 21 cooperative members and 50 partners. The majority of our members are companies, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to research-oriented businesses. We also have research institutes and consultancies on board. In addition, we have strategic partnerships, such as with the sensory association AMA. These collaborations disseminate information nationwide and simultaneously bring market knowledge back to the cluster.

Our members benefit from four key advantages: They quickly receive the most important information, establish new business contacts, gain access to specialists and increase their visibility – whether through events or social media.

How would you assess Thuringia's role as an innovation hub in the field of electronics and measurement technology in a nationwide comparison, and where does the cluster see further development potential?

Fuchs: Thuringia is very strong in the field of electronics and measurement technology and is a leader nationwide. We supply our expertise worldwide. The Ilm district, in particular, is developing dynamically, for example with CATL and many suppliers. The greatest future opportunities lie in the interplay with new technologies. We have the best conditions for this in Thuringia: short distances, committed companies, and strong research.

What typical challenges or barriers to innovation do companies in your industry face?

Fuchs: The electronics and measurement technology sector is grappling with the same issues as many others: high energy prices, demographic change, and the resulting shortage of skilled workers. I view the decline in student numbers in Ilmenau critically, as it directly affects our companies closely linked to the university. Constantly changing regulations are also a major problem. This places an enormous burden on SMEs.

Here's where we offer support: We filter the multitude of requirements, reduce them to the essentials, and develop practical recommendations for action. For example, from over 1,000 criteria in the EU sustainability reports, we've extracted 54, such as those relating to building technology, material selection, or the integration of solar panels. This allows our members to get started concretely without being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of requirements.

As branch manager, you coordinate the network's activities. What exactly does your role entail?

Fuchs: I see my main tasks in three areas: observing trends, gathering and disseminating information, and organizing events that bring people together for conversation. One example of this is our solution generator, which was used during Cross-Cluster Week and provides companies with new impetus for specific problems.

In addition, I handle public relations. Our members have great products and services, and I make sure they get the attention they deserve.

How does ELMUG promote technology transfer and what projects or events are currently taking place?

Fuchs: Battery technology is a huge field of the future, and we are directly involved through measurement technology, because every battery production process requires monitoring of temperature, load, and durability. Within the framework of BatterieMD, we have developed a modular training catalog – from fundamentals and safety to recycling – so that companies can specifically build up the necessary expertise. This was based on a needs analysis of the companies.

Furthermore, we inform companies about the digital product passport, which will become mandatory from 2027, at various events. With our "elmug4future" format, we also offer an industry meeting; this year's program focuses on "Measurement Technology for Life Science" in cooperation with medways eV.

What significance do sustainability and resource efficiency have for the electronics, measurement and device technology industry, and how does ELMUG address these topics?

Fuchs: Sustainability and resource efficiency are key concerns for us. One example is retrofitting: Old machines are equipped with sensors so they can continue running instead of being scrapped. This saves resources and costs. Many of our members develop solutions that increase energy efficiency or integrate renewable energies into production processes – from smart building technology to cloud-based solutions for digital energy management.

They collaborate with partners such as the Thuringian Center for Mechanical Engineering, the Ilmenau SME Digital Center, and LEG's "Innovativ Thüringen" at the "Smart Manufacturing" industry forum. What makes this collaboration particularly valuable?

Fuchs: The valuable thing is that we're truly doing it together – not just side by side, but with each other: developing topics, coordinating dates, sending out invitations. This is how events with a wider reach and more interested participants are created. At the same time, we experience mutual support and appreciation, which shows that we're not alone in facing challenges.

Securing skilled workers is crucial for many companies. What initiatives, besides BatterieMD, does ELMUG utilize to support its members in recruiting and training skilled workers?

Fuchs: One initiative is the youth entrepreneurship workshops. We currently collaborate with one or two schools in Ilmenau. At the Ilmenau Technology and Start-up Center, we supervise seminar papers together with our member companies, thus facilitating valuable contacts within the regional economy. The feedback from a former student who contacted us again years later for her bachelor's thesis was particularly gratifying – proof that the commitment is worthwhile.

ELMUG eG is a founding member of the Cross-Cluster Initiative Thuringia (CCIT), a network of Thuringian networks from various industries. How does this collaboration work?

Fuchs: Through the CCIT, we network with other clusters, for example from mechanical engineering, IT, or medical technology. The differences are often smaller than you might think. Many challenges affect us all – skills shortages, energy costs, digitalization. The CCIT creates a trusting environment in which experts can exchange ideas. I like to use the image of a diamond: The experts sit at the corners, but innovation arises along the diagonals, when different disciplines meet.

What common topics or trends do the clusters in Thuringia want to address more jointly in the future?

Fuchs: Decisions are made jointly. However, one thing is certain: digitalization, sustainability, energy prices, and securing skilled workers are at the top of the list. These topics appear in all clusters and are addressed jointly at events such as CCIT Week.

Looking five to ten years ahead: What role will ELMUG play as a cluster for the electronics and measurement technology industry in Thuringia in the future?

Fuchs: Over the next ten years, ELMUG should be the leading hub for electronics, robotics, AI, and automation, and the first point of contact for policymakers, researchers, and industry. A particular priority for me is the establishment of a Living Lab where new technologies can be showcased and tested. We also plan to develop a digital matching system that will connect partners and specialists more quickly, and we are committed to promoting spin-offs and attracting international companies to our region. Equally important to me is social responsibility: Our companies are visibly engaged in the region and society, thus contributing to a sustainable future.

Ms. Fuchs, thank you very much for the interesting conversation!