From traditional production to the digital value creation of tomorrow.
Research.
The Institute.
The New Production Institute emerged from the interdisciplinary research group “Value Creation” of the Laboratory of Production Engineering at the Helmut-Schmidt-University in Hamburg.
As a think tank for the future of value creation and production, the experts at the New Production Institute are involved in various projects dealing with the transformation of value creation systems against the backdrop of new possibilities for networking and production in times of digital transformation.
Values of the future.
Open Production
Principle of “openness”
Our research focuses on operationalizing the principle of “openness” in new modes of value creation.
Open Source
New value creation patterns
Open source is freely accessible software and hardware whose source code and instructions can be viewed, modified, and used by third parties. Open source can mostly be used free of charge.
Open Mind
Interdisciplinary networking
Through numerous memberships in scientific associations, the institute can draw on many years of international and interdisciplinary project experience.
Blog.
- VDW podcast: Pop-up factories – from vision to reality
In the new episode of Tech Affair – Industry for Future, Dr. Manuel Moritz from the New Production Institute and Dr. Susanne Vernim from the software company Tulip Interfaces talk about pop-up factories – how flexible, mobile production structures are becoming a reality, what opportunities they offer for industry and society, and why they could change the future of production. - dtec.bw Annual Conference 2025: Research with added value for all dimensions
The dtec.bw Annual Conference 2025 at Helmut Schmidt University focused on research with added value for all dimensions. Topics discussed included digitalization, future technologies, and local production concepts such as Fab City. Interactive exhibits and live demonstrations offered practical insights into the circular economy, resilience, and innovative production approaches. - Guide to urban production and sustainable value creation
Newly published: The Fab City Hamburg Playbook is here – a practice-oriented guide to local, digital and circular production in cities. The result of a four-year transdisciplinary research project shows how urban value creation can be designed sustainably.
Publications.
“Value creation” is the central concept of our interdisciplinary research.
Since 2010, we have been looking at the theory and change of value creation systems – in the form of scientific publications, in project work, and with an interdisciplinary perspective.
The team.
The New Production Institute team consists of 30 members from various scientific disciplines. The spectrum ranges from mechanical engineering and manufacturing technology to design and value creation theory, knowledge and social economics, participation research, economic geography, and law.
