The memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by Peter Fritz, KIT vice president for research and innovation, Ulrich Breuer, KIT vice president economy and finance, and Peter Gutzmer, Schaeffler R&D executive. Globally active automotive and industry supplier Schaeffler who owns a 50 percent stake of Continental AG, will establish a presence at the KIT according to the "Company on Campus" concept and delegate experts to a lab on the Karlsruhe-based research institute.

The cooperation enhances the existing cross-disciplinary application research of the KIT Center for Mobility Systems. In particular, the research services demand for electromobility can be developed with respect to new Schaeffler system. "This move significantly strengthens the KIT e-mobility research in terms of systems, methods and processes", said Fritz.

The KIT Center for Mobility Systems bundles KIT's vehicle technology relates research activities. Within KIT, currently almost 40 institutes develop concepts, technologies, methods and processes for the mobility of the future. The scope of the projects includes the complex interplay of vehicles, driver, traffic, infrastructure and society.