INCUBATOR SMART SYSTEMS
Smart products for the future
From 2020 to 2024, the Smart Systems Incubator was managed by the Chair of Production Systems and advised interested start-ups (primarily from the engineering sciences) on the potential, implementation and prototype development of smart systems.
They park cars autonomously and optimise production processes: Smart systems collect and analyse data, make predictions and intelligent decisions. They are a central component of Industry 4.0, which refers to the networking and digital exchange of data between machines and people in real time.
In addition to the technical expertise of the Chair of Manufacturing Systems, questions of work organization and design were integrated into the consultation process by the RUB/IGM Joint Research Centre. The close cooperation resulted in a holistic and transdisciplinary T-O-P approach (technology - organization - personnel). Additionally, the incubator provided access to a network of supporters, application partners and potential customers.
Booklet “Good work” for start-ups
In cooperation with the Smart Systems Incubator, the RUB/IGM Joint Research Center has produced a booklet for start-ups and SMEs. The content shows what good work is from an empirical point of view and how it can be implemented. It focuses on interest representation as a sparring partner in company development. The booklet is intended to explain, inform and provide new ideas. It doesn't matter whether you are a founder or employed in a start-up.
THE LFF OFFERS EXTENSIVE EQUIPMENT:
- Modern laboratories and measurement technology
- Machine tools
- IT infrastructure of a smart factory
- Many demonstrators for production digitization
- Industrial robots
- Seminar rooms
On a floor space of more than 2000 m², research, teaching and training can be conducted and industrial cooperation can be implemented. The structure of the LFF is based on a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and is therefore oriented towards a production environment that is as close to reality as possible. Here, prototypes can be produced with great precision and tested directly in the production environment.
From 2025, it will still be possible to use the infrastructure of the LPS Learning and Research Factory (LFF) and the offices of the Chair of Production Systems (LPS) for start-up projects on request (see below).
ZESS
The Research Center for the Engineering of Smart Product-Service Systems (ZESS) also opens its doors to start-ups and provides support with offices for start-ups and contacts for business model development. In the ZESS building, teams can go through a complete start-up path following a business model innovation process in various phases such as idea generation, concept development, research, prototype development and testing. In addition, office facilities and interdisciplinary expertise from engineering (including digital engineering, production engineering, service engineering, additive manufacturing) and social sciences (sales, business administration, finance, ergonomics, human factors, psychology) are available to provide the teams with targeted support at critical points in the innovation process.
INQUIRIES
From 2025 - when its funding comes to an end - the incubator will continue to have a functional email that start-up projects from the main fields of the Chair of Production Systems can contact: wsc-smart-systems(at)lps.rub.de. If possible, a technical exchange will be arranged or the network of industry contacts will be notified.