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F. Franek, A. Pauschitz, W.J. Bartz:
"Activities of Applied Research at the Austrian Center of Competence for Tribology";
Keynote Lecture: 17th International Colloquium Tribology, Ostfildern, D; 01-19-2010 - 01-21-2010; in: "Solving Friction and Wear Problems", Technische Akademie Esslingen, Ostfildern, (2010), ISBN: 3-924813-80-9.

In order to stimulate pre-competitive research work a number of programmes were initiated in Austria. One specific
programme was the frame of Kplus-initiatives, which enabled to establish the Austrian Center of Competence for Tribology
(AC²T). The thematic structure of the Center offered interdisciplinary research work in the main fields of tribology,
not least through the staff of more than 70 scientists representing the expertise in the relevant mother disciplines.
The presented paper gives an overview of the concept of AC²T and exemplarily sketches research projects on some selected
topics, such as advanced surface analytics, impact of fuel quality on lubricant conditions, and - as a specific research
target - tribology of switching contacts. For the future work an outlook is given for the period 2010 - 2014: AC²T as a
consortium leader placed successfully a proposal for a COMET-K2 Excellence Centre for Tribology (with a total budget of
about 59 mill. Euro) which is to extend its activities in 4 thematic "areas" with the necessary staff (about 180 persons), to install
new equipment, and to intensify or install cooperations with industry and as well scientific partners.

Project Head Friedrich Franek:
Tribologie