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To remain competitive in the long term and sustain or expand market share, companies rely on continuous innovation. In practice, investment decisions are typically based on expected economic value, although such evaluations are challenging in early innovation phases due to limited data availability. In particular, the future economic potential of the results from fundamental research is difficult to predict. The Collaborative Research Center 1368 investigates the influence of an oxygen-free atmosphere on the active zones in production processes as an innovation to develop future-proof production technologies. One example is the compound casting of oxide-free aluminum-copper composites with full-surface metallurgical bonds, which significantly improves thermal conductivity compared to conventional joining methods. A relevant application lies in computer components such as graphical processing units, where power electronics generate substantial heat loss and demand efficient, sustainable cooling solutions. These require improved material performance to reduce thermal resistance and enable more effective heat dissipation, potentially extending the product use phase. While the innovation introduces additional manufacturing effort, it also offers potential long-term economic benefits during the use phase. This paper proposes an approach to integrate use phase benefits into early-stage innovation evaluation, capturing economic effects that extend beyond the production stage. This study supports a more holistic and forward-looking assessment of innovation potential by focusing on functional performance improvements and their relevance for customer value, particularly through the extended product use phase. The findings can be fed back into the development process, helping identify and improve key value drivers early on.

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Use Phase-Oriented Innovation Assessment in Early Development Stages: A Value-In-Use Approach for Thermal Interface Materials

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Friederike Stefanowski,
  • Timon Steinhoff,
  • Luca Köhnen,
  • Christian Klose,
  • Matthias Schmidt,
  • Hans Jürgen Maier,
  • Peter Nyhuis

摘要

To remain competitive in the long term and sustain or expand market share, companies rely on continuous innovation. In practice, investment decisions are typically based on expected economic value, although such evaluations are challenging in early innovation phases due to limited data availability. In particular, the future economic potential of the results from fundamental research is difficult to predict. The Collaborative Research Center 1368 investigates the influence of an oxygen-free atmosphere on the active zones in production processes as an innovation to develop future-proof production technologies. One example is the compound casting of oxide-free aluminum-copper composites with full-surface metallurgical bonds, which significantly improves thermal conductivity compared to conventional joining methods. A relevant application lies in computer components such as graphical processing units, where power electronics generate substantial heat loss and demand efficient, sustainable cooling solutions. These require improved material performance to reduce thermal resistance and enable more effective heat dissipation, potentially extending the product use phase. While the innovation introduces additional manufacturing effort, it also offers potential long-term economic benefits during the use phase. This paper proposes an approach to integrate use phase benefits into early-stage innovation evaluation, capturing economic effects that extend beyond the production stage. This study supports a more holistic and forward-looking assessment of innovation potential by focusing on functional performance improvements and their relevance for customer value, particularly through the extended product use phase. The findings can be fed back into the development process, helping identify and improve key value drivers early on.