One year in the planning, Germany's leading-edge Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institute is to officially open its 3D Innovation Center on 28 August, followed by a 3D Innovation Day at Berlin's International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) on 4 September.

A broad array of research bodies ranging from research institutes, private sector development labs and universities to radio stations and TV companies and telecoms are now engaged in planning and developing 3D production, 3D content, and 3D distribution. Yet most of these initiatives are standalone with little or no contact between them, say the Fraunhofer HHI.

The 3D Innovation Center, located in Berlin, offers the whole cast of actors a platform and a pre-competitive environment where they can exchange views and opinions, build contacts, put their products and systems to the test and present them jointly to a diversity of target audiences. The ready availability of know-how covering the whole 3D systems chain ought to generate new synergies - in terms of product development, marketing and sales as well as market positioning and public relations.

The 3D Innovation Center is planned to operate for an initial period of five years. The start-up phase of the enterprise is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).

Story filed 18.08.12