Closing event of the SAFIR partnership : Date:
In mid-November 2025, Ingolstadt hosted the closing symposium of the SAFIR partnership, which has helped shape the collaboration between the THI (Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt) and companies in the region for almost a decade. SAFIR set itself the goal of turning the city and region of Ingolstadt into a real-world test bed for connected mobility and autonomous driving.
Vehicle safety, autonomous driving functions, and the so-called “Vision Zero”, i.e. reducing road traffic fatalities to zero, have been the focus of SAFIR projects over the past nine years. At the closing symposium, the network partners came together for an afternoon to review this period and look back on project successes.
“SAFIR has demonstrated how close cooperation between science and industry can lead to innovation,” said THI President Professor Walter Schober at the symposium. “Thank you to all researchers and partners for their important contribution to establishing and expanding our research expertise in the field of mobility.”
In addition to a look at current and completed projects, the programme for the closing event also included an exhibition, a laboratory visit, and a panel discussion entitled “From the road to the air – safe and automated mobility of the future”, which addressed the question of how research, industry, and society can work together to shape the next dimension of mobility. Afterwards, the participants met for discussions and networking at the evening get-together.
Although funding for the partnership through the BMFTR funding line FH-Impuls is coming to an end, SAFIR will continue to operate in the Ingolstadt region. Maintaining contacts and cooperation between the university and companies was an important project goal, and partnership management will continue to ensure active exchange and transfer of knowledge between the parties involved.