Innovate with space

Verhaert, imec.istart and Galaxia Space Innovation bundle their activities to bring space and other sectors closer together. ESA Space Solutions Belgium makes the bridge between technology transfer and business incubation. In this way, innovations are fed and marketed in an interesting way.

“To be successful in technology transfer and incubation, you need more than just coaching. Product development is an essential element in the process to create successful innovations,” says Koen Verhaert, CEO of Verhaert Masters in Innovation. “ESA Space Solutions Belgium offers support to entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas using space technology and/or know-how.”

Technology transfer

ESA Space Solutions Belgium gives Belgian entrepreneurs a boost to innovate with space technology. Companies that want to use space technology or know-how receive financial support up to 35.000 euros to set up feasibility studies or demonstration projects. In addition, they also get access to the extensive database of ESA patents and technologies.

The Belgian space policy has always supported the importance of a broad valorization of space technology. From solar panels to satellite navigation, various technological innovations developed for space were key to successful applications on Earth. Technology and know-how from space offer even more solutions for all kinds of societal challenges and technical issues.

Business incubation

The incubation program of ESA Space Solutions Belgium is aimed at start-ups working with space technology on new solutions (space spin-out) or seeing an application in space for their own technology (space spin-in). Galaxia Space Innovation and imec.istart guide start-ups in the development of their new idea into a complete business model.

ESA Space Solutions Belgium works in Wallonia with Galaxia Space Innovation, the regional consortium of Skywin, Idelux, CSL and WSL. In Flanders there is a collaboration with imec.istart, the leading acceleration and incubation program of imec. Interested Belgian start-ups can apply for open calls to receive up to 50.000 euros funding.

Launch event

Last Wednesday Verhaert presented ESA Space Solutions Belgium to about 140 guests in Agoria’s BluePoint Brussels. Before the official opening, a matchmaking activity took place with more than 230 one-on-one meetings. “With ESA Space Solutions Belgium, we want to bring space companies in contact with other sectors in the first place. Personal interactions are crucial to create new collaborations”, says Sam Waes of Verhaert Masters in Innovation and program coordinator at ESA Space Solutions Belgium. “In addition, we want to make entrepreneurs aware of the different support options in the Belgian space ecosystem.”

First 3 start-ups announced

During the launch event, the first 3 start-ups of the incubation program were announced. Veoware Space uses high resolution images of satellites for geographical information projects (GEOINT). Heart Kinetics developed an instrument to accurately monitor heart functions in a non-invasive way. AirShaper offers an online platform to assess aerodynamics through a simulation performed on a cloud-based wind tunnel software.

Press release

Download the press release (English, French and Dutch) and pictures.

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Conversational bots creating new experiences

Nowadays companies are constantly improving their customer support services. There is a strong demand for new technologies that can, in addition to improving the type of service, save money by reducing human resources.

On the other hand, there is a growing demand by end consumers to solve their problems more quickly, using instant messaging to interact with the organization, using channels available online or even a physical conversational bot on the sales spot that sees the consumer and adapts to different inputs (e.g: sentiment, age, local, hour, …).

“For those channels and solutions, there are ways to explore the human-computer interaction by exploring artificial intelligence methods and machine learning applied to the user experience during the interaction, in order to make this interaction the richest possible”, says Innovation Day speaker Davide Ricardo, Chief Technology Officer at Load.

How can blockchain help us in the fight against fake news, corruption and hacking?

An oracle is – in the context of blockchains and smart contracts – an agent that finds and verifies real-world occurrences and submits this information to a blockchain to be used by smart contracts.

“Smart contracts contain value and only unlock that value if certain pre-defined conditions are met. When a particular value is reached, the smart contract changes its state and executes the programmatically predefined algorithms, automatically triggering an event on the blockchain”, says Pieter Zuliani, Technology Evangelist at PegusApps. “The primary task of oracles is to provide these values to the smart contract in a secure and trusted manner.”

Digital empowerment of older users

“Many older adults don’t find their way to online services that are commonly used. The fact that each app requires learning to work with a specific interface is a huge barrier. The target user wants simplicity and consistency, no overload of info”, says Lene Schroyen, Project Manager at Verhaert.

Smart home technologies have become more affordable and accessible, however the older adults are under-represented among the users. “Yet it’s easy to imagine a fitness tracker, smart socket, fitness watch … contributing to keep older adults active (socially, physically and mentally). That’s exactly what they want. I’ll share insights from the Vizier project at the Innovation Day.”

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How to approach Machine Learning for innovation projects?

Divide and conquer your Machine Learning project! “We will take a look at the steps that are specific to machine learning projects and discuss the common pitfalls and how to mitigate them.” Jochem Grietens, consultant PhysicsLab, is looking forward to sharing a step-by-step approach that will guide your organization to successfully manage a Machine Learning project.

Use Artificial Intelligence to make smart decisions

“Through the decades, AI has gone through periods of euphoria and deep depression. The most widely-known AI experiment is also one of the first: The Turing Test developed by Alan Turing in 1950 at the University of Manchester”, explains Pieter Zuliani, Technology Evangelist at PegusApps and speaker at Innovation Day. “The Turing Test contains criteria to determine whether a computer has human-like intelligence by convincing a human questioner that she or he is speaking to a human, not a computer. Since this time, the concept of AI has ballooned to include machine learning (deep learning), computer vision, natural language processing, robotics and more. But remember, all these AI technologies go to serve the goal of AI: to exhibit human-like behavior and intelligence.”

Improving quality of life through human centered robotics

It’s not about or robots or humans. The future is for robots and humans who work together. “The strengths of the robots are the humans’ weaknesses, and vice versa. By letting humans and robots join forces, we open a whole series of fantastic new possibilities”, says Lennert Vierendeels from Brubotics.

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Integrating AI techniques to build meaningful product concepts

In June Load organized a hackathon on using data for a better world: 48 hours of intensive team work on ideation, experimentation and fast-prototyping. “Building demonstrators to learn fast, that’s what a hackathon is all about”, says Jochem Grietens, consultant PhysicsLab. “Our team came up with a solution as a behavior changer, regarding the recycling issue as a helper to build a sustainable world. To help citizens collecting their garbage in the right bin, we built an app using object image recognition through smartphone camera and Artificial Intelligence.”

Circular economy in the chemical sector

Paul Poelmans, Key Account Manager Advanced Materials will give you guidelines to start your circular economy journey. “Is your organization ready for circular economy? We have a lot of tools to guide your organization towards a circular vision. There are simulation tools for ecosystems, design planning for ecodesigns and readiness assessment. Let’s dive into them.”

New toolset to give your product portfolio a circular make-over

A circular economy requires new business models, because the new situations focuses on the use of products instead of the consumption. “Producers transform into service providers”, says Gerd Van Cauteren, consultant DesignLab. “The key in sharpening your Product-As-A-Service business model? Secure and create added value during the product lifetime. How? With tools that guide you during exploration, analysis and design.”

Circular approach of passenger aircrafts

Have you ever wondered how aircrafts end up at the end of their life? And what they have in common with elephants? Toon Wassenberg of Aerocircular will show you a shocking truth.

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Innovating the smart city

“Our society is in transition. We’re navigating towards a smart city: a data driven and connected system”, says Dany Robberecht, Director Innovation Consultancy. “Cities are experimenting, a lot of fragmented things are going on. How do we avoid an innovation bubble? How to build a model to create a better world?” During this session you’ll discover new solutions to become radically better in something you’re not familiar with.

Nudging, design concepts to change behavior

Nudging can be defined as a value-based approach which proposes a positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence user’s behavior. “Fortunately, there are better ways to change behavior”, says David Pas, Coordinator DesignLab, about the great example below on how not to change behavior. “At the Innovation Day next week, we will tell you more about nudges and behavior”, says Louise Haazen, Consultant DesignLab, “Looking forward to share with you insights and lessons learned from recent projects.”

Collective intelligence: a dystopian innovation path today, a utopia tomorrow

Multi-sided business models will help you to open data monetization for multiple users while lowering costs of the system for every stakeholder. During this session Frederik Wouters, Business Development Director at Verhaert, takes the car as example which is evolving to a central platform for the future. “Together, all cars offer connectivity, great computing power and a lot of sensors offering hyperlocal information. Building a collective intelligence system by using car data will offer a challenge for both technology and business models.”

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Verhaert’s Innovation Day is an annual conference to encourage innovation and R&D professionals to innovate. With 16 inspiring sessions in 5 tracks you learn from insights, best practices, tools, cases and concepts on product and innovation management, and technology development. This year we’re celebrating the 15th edition. Register quickly because place are limited.

Program

Track 1: Circular economy for a better world
The end of ownership, new servitization and transport innovation create opportunities for a truly circular world resulting in completely new value chains.

1.1 Integrating AI techniques to build meaningful product concepts
1.2 Circular economy in the chemical sector
1.3 New toolset to give your product portfolio a circular make-over
1.4 Circular approach of passenger aircrafts

Track 2: Digital technologies for a better world
Our fast growing virtual world creates opportunities and challenges: realizing an experience economy, fighting digital crime and improving ambient living.

2.1 Conversational bots creating new experiences
2.2 How can blockchain help us in the fight against fake news, corruption and hacking?
2.3 Digital empowerment of older users

Track 3: Robotics for a better world
Fusing Artificial Intelligence and robotics technologies lead to endless possibilities ready to improve our world.

3.1 How to approach Machine Learning for innovation projects?
3.2 Use Artificial Intelligence to make smart decisions
3.3 Improving quality of life through human centered robotics

Track 4: Design for a better world
Changing the complex world cannot be achieved by a single person, company or sector. Gathering data from and controlling behavior of all actors through collective intelligence are pathways to innovation.

4.1 Innovating the smart city
4.2 Nudging, design concepts to change behavior
4.3 Collective intelligence: a dystopian innovation path today, a utopia tomorrow

Track 5: Space technology for a better world
Space technology becomes more and more an imminent opportunity to innovate. Future space exploration and space data deliver technology transfer occasions for a better world.

5.1 The social relevance of Earth observation data
5.2 Optics for science exploration
5.3 Scaling production of cell based therapies

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Objective

The objective of the workshop is to exchange innovative ideas and form a network among innovation drivers and possible end-users in the field of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Description

Advanced manufacturing technologies are considered those which reduce the limitations induced by traditional manufacturing processes or concepts. Many such technologies have emerged in the non-space industrial domain and it is the intention of his workshop to identify new manufacturing technologies which show a high potential for space applications (spin-in).

Pitch your ideas on innovative manufacturing technologies that may bring added value compared to traditional manufacturing such as lead-time reduction, cost reduction, performance improvement, design freedom, or even enable new capabilities. Identified topics of interest cover additive manufacturing, in-line process monitoring, embedded sensors, NDI, etc. Possible materials include, but are not limited to, aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steel, CFRP, and ceramics. Whereas the focus of this workshop is primarily on actual manufacturing technologies, it can be seen in the general context of the end-to-end process including industry 4.0 concepts.

Organization

At the start of this 50 minute workshop ESA will briefly highlight the current technology development strategy on advanced manufacturing technologies, followed by an open discussion to introduce possible innovations and breakthrough technologies.

Submit your idea

To structure the workshop and allow for a grouping of innovative technologies, interested companies are asked to describe their ideas in a brief outline (max. 1-2 PowerPoint slides or 1 A4 page) and send it to advanced.manufacturing@esa.int by 1 September 2018.

ISD registration

To be able to attend the workshop, participants are kindly asked to register for the ESA Industry Space Days by 27 July 2018 at: industryspacedays.com (free of charge). In addition, when the online meeting catalog opens at the end of July, participants should select the ‘Workshop on additive and advanced manufacturing technologies’ to register.

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Innovative design language

The West Flemish company Novy is continuously innovating. Verhaert’s senior product designer David Pas coached Novy to take a fresh look at kitchen ventilation, in the context of the 5X5 project by Designregio Kortrijk. Thanks to smart sensors, the ‘Novy Mood’ is able to interact with the circumstances of the cooking environment. Furthermore, the user can customize the kitchen hood by choosing the desired light intensity and color temperature.

Design as accelerator

The design of ‘Mood’ is a reflection of Novy’s company DNA: the ambition to enhance our quality of life with solutions that are both innovative and user driven. Verhaert sees design as an accelerator for strategy development. Together, we created a new design language which underlines the future vision of the Belgian quality brand. We’re very proud and like to thank the jury of Creative Belgium for this recognition and award.

Curious about the ‘Novy Mood’?

Watch the special episode of Focus WTV about the search for the kitchen hood of the future.

www.creativebelgium.be

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How to innovate successfully?

The Advanced Engineering event focuses on creating innovative products that affects different sectors. The place to be if you work on tomorrow’s products.

Integrated and on-site product development
Innovation has become a critical process that should be mastered in performance and delivery. Verhaert and Moebius Design – both member of Masters in Innovation, a pioneering product innovation group – help organizations and entrepreneurs to innovate successfully.

Technology transfer & incubation
Access to breakthrough technology with disruptive potential is essential. With our technology transfer program you get access to state-of-the-art technology from the European Space Agency (ESA).

Join a conference session or workshop

Inspiration session to use space technology on Earth

Space has always been a source of inspiration to innovate. To reach the next frontier you have to overcome technical and human challenges. With the increased speed of innovation in technology, also space gets disrupted. Join this session to discover the opportunities from space, its know-how and technology, for your business.

Speaker: Sam Waes, ESA Technology Transfer Network at Verhaert
Date: Wednesday 16 May, 10h50 – 11h30

Workshop to find solutions from space technology

Engineering challenges in space are characterized by energy efficiency, harsh environments, lightweight, durable materials, autonomous systems, remote monitoring and operation, extreme temperatures etc. Find solutions for your engineering challenges during this workshop, using space inspiration cards and examples.

Facilitator: Alexander Frimout, ESA Technology Transfer Network at Verhaert
Date: Wednesday 16 May, 14h – 16h

Why Advanced Engineering?

Advanced Engineering kills two birds with one stone: a free trade show with more than 100 stand holders who will help you make your products future-proof in combination with a strong conference with more than 50 top speakers.

• Meet more than 100 stand holders, experts and pioneers who will give you advice and assistance for your product upgrade.
• Upgrade your know-how during the extended conference with more than 50 speakers

More information and registration on www.ae-expo.be

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Pegus Apps will continue to work as an independent company in partnership with Load Interactive, the digital product development division of the Verhaert group. By this acquisition we create a joint digital product development capacity and technology base to help our customers throughout their digital transformation process.

About Verhaert

Verhaert is a pioneering product development company integrating design, technology and business consulting expertise in integrated product development services. The company supports its clients in the definition, business and concept development of innovative Internet of Things (IoT) applications in mainly medical, industrial, mobility and consumer applications. Furthermore Verhaert manages start-up incubation programs creating digital products and services based on Earth Observation data.

About Pegus Apps

Pegus Apps is an established Belgian software company with a staff of 15 specialists in the development of enterprise applications based on web, mobile, Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies. The company is based in Belgium with a strong B2B customer base.

verhaert.digital

About Load Interactive

Load Interactive is the digital product development division of the Verhaert Group. With its main office in Aveiro (Portugal) it offers research, development and introduction services with a specific focus on experience and interaction design.

www.load-interactive.com

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