SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG

Their core work

Schaeffler is a major German manufacturer of rolling bearings, linear motion products, and automotive drivetrain components, headquartered in Herzogenaurach. In H2020 projects, they contribute deep expertise in bearing technology, powertrain systems, and advanced materials for high-load mechanical applications. Their R&D involvement spans cleaner combustion engines, hybrid vehicle drivetrains, intelligent bearings with embedded sensors, and railway running gear inspection. They operate as an industrial end-user and technology integrator, bringing real-world manufacturing scale and application knowledge to research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2018), Schaeffler focused on cleaner internal combustion engines (diesel, gas, gasoline) and laser-based surface processing, reflecting priorities around automotive efficiency and advanced manufacturing techniques. From 2017 onward, their focus shifted toward bearing materials under extreme conditions (high load, high temperature), railway component inspection, and CO2 utilization — signaling a move from pure automotive propulsion toward mechanical durability, transport infrastructure maintenance, and sustainability. This evolution tracks the broader industry transition from optimizing combustion engines to preparing for electrified and rail-based mobility.

Schaeffler is pivoting from combustion engine optimization toward durable mechanical components for electrified and rail transport, plus green chemistry — expect future interest in e-mobility drivetrain components and predictive maintenance.

How they like to work

Schaeffler exclusively participates as a partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for large industrial companies that contribute application expertise and testing infrastructure rather than leading research agendas. With 96 unique consortium partners across 21 countries, they work in large, diverse consortia and do not appear tied to a small set of repeat collaborators. This makes them an accessible partner: experienced in multi-national consortia, comfortable in a supporting industrial role, and likely to bring pilot-scale validation capabilities.

Schaeffler has collaborated with 96 unique partners across 21 countries, indicating a broad European network without strong geographic concentration. Their consortia span automotive OEMs, research institutes, and railway operators, reflecting their position as a Tier 1 component supplier embedded in multiple value chains.

What sets them apart

Schaeffler brings something rare to EU consortia: they are one of the world's largest bearing and precision component manufacturers, with the ability to test and validate research results at industrial scale. Unlike universities or research institutes, they can move innovations from lab to production line. Their combination of mechanical engineering depth (bearings, gears, drivetrain) with growing expertise in sensor integration (iBearing) and non-destructive testing (Gearbodies) makes them a strong partner for projects that need to bridge fundamental materials research and real-world product deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• THOMSON
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 1.7M) — focused on mild hybrid drivetrain solutions for mass market adoption, reflecting Schaeffler's strategic bet on electrification.
• HILOGEAR
  Only project where Schaeffler participated as third party, focused specifically on their core competence: advanced materials for gears and bearings under extreme conditions.
• CO2EXIDE
  Unexpected diversification — a bearing company contributing to CO2-based chemical synthesis suggests Schaeffler is exploring sustainability beyond its traditional mechanical engineering domain.