Bavarian AM leaders launch Bavaria Makes alliance
Consolidating the region's leadership for the manufacturing of the future
Bavaria Makes, a high-tech alliance formed by Bavarian and global additive manufacturing leaders, brings together global corporations, SMEs, top universities, and the Bavarian government to industrialize additive manufacturing across multiple industrial sectors. Located in Garching near Munich, the initiative positions Bavaria as a global leader in 3D printing within the next decade. The initiative has been incubating for a long time, as far back as 2019, initially envisioned and driven forth by Oerlikon Chairman Dr. Seuss.
Government and academia backing innovation
The Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs provides major funding to boost the additive manufacturing ecosystem. A new hub focused on metallic materials is being developed at the Advanced Manufacturing Campus of the Technical University of Munich. This site will foster seamless collaboration between research and industry, with over 30 professors from the TUM.Additive network already involved.
Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger explained that Bavaria has the ideal conditions to lead in 3D printing as “[Bavaria is] the prime address for high-tech companies and has very good conditions to also take the lead in 3D-printing. With ‘Bavaria Makes’ we are bringing together the best minds to support us on this path.”
Bavaria’s Science Minister Markus Blume emphasized that additive manufacturing is a fast-growing market. His ministry contributes five research positions and €1 million in funding to accelerate progress. Institutions like the TUM-Oerlikon Advanced Manufacturing Institute exemplify how closely academia and industry work together under the Industry-on-Campus model.
TUM’s Venture Labs are another crucial element. They support over 100 start-ups and early-stage researchers, also known as sciencepreneurs, focused on 3D printing. Backed by UnternehmerTUM and public funds, these labs help turn breakthrough ideas into scalable businesses.
AM leaders as founding members of Bavaria Makes
Bayern Innovativ GmbH, Colibrium Additive, EOS GmbH, MTU Aero Engines AG, Oerlikon AM Europe GmbH, Siemens AG, the Technical University of Munich, and toolcraft AG co-founded the new association. Their shared goal is to shorten the path from research to real-world production. Christoph Hauck of toolcraft AG notes that this initiative goes beyond standard collaborations, uniting corporations, SMEs, and academia in a dynamic ecosystem.
MTU Aero Engines already operates a dedicated Center of Excellence for metallic 3D printing in Munich, producing propulsion components for aerospace. toolcraft AG has been pioneering the field since 2011, offering the full additive manufacturing process chain under one roof.
Siemens AG contributes expertise in additive manufacturing hardware, software, and automation. Their engineers are now based on campus, developing hybrid manufacturing systems and production optimization technologies alongside TUM researchers. Dr. Karsten Heuser of Siemens emphasizes that by concentrating resources in key hubs, they can improve both speed and quality for customers and internal development alike.
Ongoing support through strategic networks
Bavaria Makes will continue the work of the Coordination Office for Additive Manufacturing at Bayern Innovativ. This unit connects over 200 companies across sectors, including medical, automotive, security, and construction. Dr. Matthias Konrad from Bayern Innovativ states that their strong networks and cross-industry collaboration have accelerated technology transfer for years. He adds that they are proud to support Bavaria Makes as it scales even further.
To highlight Bavaria’s growing leadership, Bayern Innovativ will host the Next Generation Manufacturing Congress on October 23–24, 2025. This international event will showcase breakthrough applications and spark collaboration among innovators in additive manufacturing.
From cutting-edge research to full-scale industrial deployment, Bavaria Makes is building a vibrant, sustainable, and globally connected ecosystem. For many readers of this website, Bavaria Makes is highly reminiscent of the US-based America Makes initiative. This shows how powerful a single region such as Germany’s Bavaria is in the global AM landscape and how fragmented Europe is in establishing a single, coordinated continental effort.
