In the Campus Additive Innovations, which presents itself at Formnext 2021, 26 chairs of the University of Bayreuth from five faculties as well as four non-university research institutions bundle expertise, research and consulting activities and technical equipment. The CA.I sees itself as an inter- and transdisciplinary think tank. By bundling material development, application research and innovation management, the entire additive value chain can be represented. In addition, questions from jurisprudence and change management, business informatics and artificial intelligence as well as occupational safety and waste disposal are focused. This results in an application and business-oriented focus with a market-pull approach.
Additive manufacturing is leading to a revolution in industrial production through the tool-free production of complex lightweight structures. This makes new products and services possible, which sustainably strengthens the innovative power and competitiveness of the economy. In the field of additive manufacturing, there are still numerous technical and economic issues in material development, implementation and application as well as innovation management.
The establishment of innovation labs, the interdisciplinary processing of research and industrial projects, and joint public relations work under an umbrella brand will create a nucleus for innovation in northern Bavaria and beyond. This is to develop into an incubator for innovations and start-ups that specifically addresses the interdisciplinary nature of the field of additive manufacturing. In order to sustainably strengthen the small and medium-sized business sector and effectively implement additive manufacturing, a sustainable technology and knowledge transfer to the small and medium-sized business sector will be carried out by offering training and further education in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK). The Campus Additive Innovations is also expanding and focusing on the field of additive manufacturing in the academic training of highly qualified specialists.

Research and work focuses on application & design, new materials & processes, value chain & digitalization as well as business models & legal issues. As a result, an interdisciplinary excellence is growing on the campus of the University of Bayreuth, which aims to set groundbreaking impulses for innovations in research and development. This systematic networking of technical and non-technical issues and competencies in the field of additive manufacturing is already unique in Germany.