GE celebrates 5 years of innovation in Europe
MANILA, Philippines - GE chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt joined Bavarian Minister of State Siegfried Schneider to mark the fifth anniversary of GE’s research and development center in Germany. At the celebration, GE Energy, GE Healthcare, and GE Global Research signed new European technology partnership agreements that will further strengthen GE’s commitment to the European region, while solving some of the world’s biggest environmental challenges.
These include the GE Healthcare and the Asklepios Hospital Group cooperation agreement to create and realize a “Green Hospital” concept focusing on an energy-efficient environmental design of healthcare facilities; and GE Energy’s new collaboration with Slovenian energy developer ECOS to install an innovative industrial waste-heat recovery system at an existing biogas power plant running with GE’s Ecomagination-certified Jenbacher gas engines. GE Global Research also announced a five million-euro partnership with the Technical University of Munich to advance research and development of carbon composite manufacturing technology.
“In just five years, the Munich technology center has become the hub of European technology and innovation for GE. The agreements signed exemplify the depth of expertise coming out of Global Research Europe,” said Immelt. ”Our scientists here are committed to redefining what’s possible in the healthcare and energy sectors. They work to improve the way we use and generate power, diagnose and treat disease, and envision the future of technology.”
“In the past five years GE Global Research has become an indispensable part and an exquisite enrichment of the broad and multifaceted research landscape of Bavaria. GE’s decision to build their only European R&D facility in Garching near Munich emphasized the international reputation of Bavaria as a location for world-class research and innovation. The research campus in Garching, with the TU and LMU faculties, as well as independent facilities, the research reactor FRM II, and the close relationship between business and science, offers ideal surroundings for the development of future technologies for tomorrow’s ideas and products,” said Siegried Schneider, Bavarian minister of state. “The Bavarian government strives to offer the best framework by investing in excellent education, cutting-edge infrastructure and new energy and environmental technologies. Our aim is to reach a new level of high technology offensive with a focus on green technologies, such as renewables and alternative energy. In the economic crisis, it’s especially important to intensify research and development to be in first place when the upswing comes. Congratulations to GE Global Research on its fifth anniversary and all the best wishes for a successful future!”
Throughout Global Research Europe’s five-year history, GE has invested 100 million euros in research and development at the site and it has become a driving force in GE’s commitment to both Ecomagination and Healthymagination.
GE Global Research Europe, located on the Garching campus of the Technical University of Munich, has rapidly established a strong research presence here. This state-of-the-art 10,000 square-meter facility was established and built as part of GE’s US$4 billion worldwide technology development effort since 2001 to expand its capacity for advanced technology development.
