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Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen AG, gives lecture at BME

2012. 11. 02.

• Lecture on VW’s “modular transverse engine platform” (MQB)
• Exemplary cooperation between industry and higher education
• Support of technical innovation with new electrochemistry project

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen AG, held a lecture today at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) on modular construction strategy before an audience of more than 400 university students and representatives of Hungarian economy and politics.Audi, Volkswagen and BME have been strategic partners for years. In the future their cooperation will be extended to electrochemistry as well.

 “The new generation of engineers is the future of the automobile industry. Much depends on their knowledge and commitment to innovation in the decades to come. This is why I am pleased to be able to contribute this year again to the knowledge transfer between science and economy at BME”, said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen AG. “The new modular construction strategy is what drives the growth of our concern technologically and economically today. This is a great step forward for us in all areas of technology. Both the Győr-based factory and the Hungarian automobile industry are going to profit from this.”

This is the seventh time that Martin Winterkorn, who in 2007 received the title “Honorary Citizen of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics”, gave a lecture at one of the largest and most prestigious universities of Budapest. The lectures that he has given over recent years have focused, among others, on innovative materials used in vehicle manufacturing and electromobility. For the Volkswagen Group year 2012 has passed in the spirit of the modular transverse engine platform: Audi A3 and the new Volkswagen Golf are the first vehicles to be built on MQB basis. Besides classic internal combustion engines, MQB is also able to use alternative drivers such as natural gas, hybrid and electric drivers.

Cooperation with the university plays a significant role in securing the succession of engineers for Volkswagen and Audi. With that in mind, Audi Hungaria cooperates with other major universities in Hungary in many areas. Elements of cooperation include, among other things, trainee programmes, shared research and development projects and university lectures.

The successful cooperation between the Volkswagen Group and BMEA has been recently extended to a new topic. With the support of Volkswagen AG’s Group Research Centre, an Electrochemistry Group was established at the university’s Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. The Group is involved in the simulation and analysis of electrochemistry systems and mechanisms, and was established for the purpose of implementing future-oriented projects. The cooperation between Volkswagen and BME is focused on the elaboration of new professional seminars in the field of applied chemistry, as well as the mentoring and supporting of diploma and doctoral theses and scientific projects.

In joint sponsorship with BASF, the Volkswagen Group set up an internationally acknowledged “Science Award in Electrochemistry” in 2012, with a high grant amount. On 22 October 2012, the award was presented to Prof. Dr. Naoaki Yabuuchi of Japan for his achievements in the improvement of the efficiency of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The foundation of the Electrochemistry Group and the research award demonstrates how significant electrochemistry is for the Volkswagen Group.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn started his career in the automotive industry at Audi in 1981. From 2002 to 2007 he was Chairman of the Board at AUDI AG. Since 1 January 2007, Prof. Winterkorn has been Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at AUDI AG, as well as Honorary Professor at BME since 2003. In 2006 Prof. Winterkorn was decorated with the Cross from the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic for his contribution to the development of the Hungarian automotive industry, and was awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen of Budapest University of Technology and Economics” in 2007 for his support of educational and research activities.

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