ElringKlinger’s primary development objective is to respond to the core challenges facing the automobile industry. The current focus here is on the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption as well as alternative drive technologies. In our New Business Area, we are currently working on innovative solutions related to fuel cell and battery technology. ElringKlinger sees its role as that of collaborating with the automobile industry in the development of a whole range of future drive technologies from the conventional combustion engine to hybrid and electric cars.
The Group’s R&D activities are predominantly carried out at its sites in Germany and at ElringKlinger Abschirmtechnik (Schweiz) AG in Switzerland. This structure offers the best form of protection for our technological know-how and intellectual property rights. Our Centers of Excellence provide many of the R&D services required by the ElringKlinger Group as a whole.
The value we place on development can be seen from our R&D ratio. Under IFRS, in fiscal 2011 R&D costs were equivalent to 4.8% (5.1%) of Group revenue. Total R&D expenses were EUR 49.9 (40.6) million, slightly below the previous year’s figure in absolute terms. As at December 31, 2011, the number of employees involved in R&D stood at 416 (316).
A summary of the specific development methods employed by ElringKlinger:
