1. AI & blockchain

The most read topic last year, was AI and blockchain. It showed to be tremendously interesting, especially because it’s starting to move from research and standalone projects to real applications.

To give some examples, deploying AI and machine learning in the space and medical industry can make enormous changes to efficiency for humankind. It helps avoiding sensing if transducers don’t exist or are too costly. It helps to define and predict what is remained unknown for classical data interpretation and algorithms, and opens up new improved ways for space exploration and surgery.

Explore our most popular perspectives on AI and blockchain:

• The added value of blockchain in ports & logistics
• How will AI change the space industry
• AI assisted robotic spine surgery

2. Circular innovation

On a second place our digital community liked content on sustainability and circular innovation. Not only our personal focus and interest in preserving nature increased, but many industries started making the shift, as well. The cornerstone of their innovation objectives changed by making products in circular loops, instead of linear, or by offering products as a service.

Organizations assessed that a further professionalization of their innovation organization is required to remain competitive and therefore involving KPIs. Improved innovation capacity was clearly a topic of interest to keep improving the success rate and make innovation more predictable, these topics likely will remain challenging in 2022.

Explore our most popular perspectives on circular innovation:

• 6 leverages for the circular paradox
• Strategies on circularity – Packaging sustainability & beyond
• Managing innovation as a predictable driver for growth

3. Direct-to-consumer business models

Thirdly we saw the first signals that the direct-to-consumer business model is on the verge of a clear breakthrough for incumbent FMCG companies. The D2C model requires some particular innovation design practices to ensure successes and to avoid the cannibalization of products sold through other channels. Read more about this topics in this perspective on developing connected devices.

Having turned the page on 2021, we’re curious to see what 2022 will bring and how innovation trends will shift. Our guess? Twofold robotic innovation will shift from robotic product development into real applications and consciousness of professionally organizing adjacent innovation will rise in core and disruptive innovation.

So keep reading and watching our content as we’ll continue sharing our insights throughout 2022.

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Solving new wicked problems

In many areas, we face new wicked societal problems which can only be solved when solutions available in the markets adapt. Hence, new solutions need to meet the new and rapidly evolving trends in sustainability, user experience and digitalization. Do you know how to start innovating the present, instead of innovating the future? In a series of 15 webinar you’ll learn how to tackle the social complexity of wicked problems and create agile innovation methods.

3 days, 15 webinars, select your favorite sessions

Tackling new wicked societal problems is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Different companies need different approaches. To address your specific needs, the InnoDays present 15 webinars in 3 main themes.

Tuesday 16 November • MyFutureProduct
How to develop user-centered, digital & sustainable products

9h00: Agility in innovation to maximize speed
9h30: Edge Computing, AI & IoT enabling truly new applications
9h55: Gear up your products for sustainability
10h25: Design for all senses
10h50: End-to-end digital & modular product platform design

Wednesday 16 November • MyFutureProduct
How to tackle design challenges for new technology applications
9h00: Agility in innovation to maximize speed
9h30: Edge Computing, AI & IoT enabling truly new applications
9h55: Gear up your products for sustainability
10h25: Design for all senses
10h50: The perfect brew. The perfect serve. The perfect product.

Thursday 18 November • MyInnovationFactory
How to transform innovation methods to accommodate new challenges & market needs
9h00: CASSINI, European Commission’s new initiative to support innovative entrepreneurs
9h30: IoT cloud architecture
9h55: High-current battery-powered handheld devices
10h25: Technology building blocks as benefit for agility in development
10h50: Creating true smart homes & appliances powered by edge AI

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The circular challenge

The challenge lies in the additional cost of using higher-value materials and changing the existing value chain to allow refurbishment, reuse, recycling and upcycling products. To reach this leap you’ll need to intensify front-end learning, incorporate new services and business models, new ecosystems and new partnerships, and consequently look different to the product ownership.

The circular solution

Product and packaging circular design is at the heart of the circular economy, but will need to be leveraged to a next level through new materials, leveraging upon ecosystems and services. Solving this paradox opposes challenges to continue decreasing the environmental footprint. This equation becomes more and more strategic, moving beyond circular products and packaging.

Program overview ‘The Circular Paradox’

Explore innovation in circular economy during the webinar on Thursday 23 September together with Henkel and UAntwerp. For more information about the topics that will be discussed, go to the full program of the webinar.

9h30: Environmental footprint of cosmetic products (Henkel)
9h55: From waste plastics to (precious) chemicals (UAntwerp)
10h20: Transformation towards circular ecosystems (Verhaert)

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Prepare your application

Want to learn more about getting started with circular innovation project and how VLAIO funding possibilities can boost your initiative? Join this breakfast session for insights on the specific call for SMEs that just opened! During our session we’ll help you prepare for the July application round to receive strategic advice or funding support for a strategic mentor, valued at up to €50k per year.

Agenda

In this breakfast session, our funding and circular innovation experts will help you not only discover how to connect the dots and start your circular ambitions, but also how to prepare a successful subsidy request.

• Short intro on the funding schemes, rules & selection criteria.
• Short presentation on recent and ongoing circular economy projects in various domains such as chemical industry, lighting, packaging and government.
• Work session with
  • subsidy canvases to shape your subsidy request and render it more successful.
  • sharpen your circular innovation project by connecting the dots in circular economy projects. You’ll also discuss first steps for you project and transformation to circular and map the current and future value chain.

Registration closed

This webinar took place on Thursday 8 July, signing up is no longer possible.

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The post Breakfast session ‘Funding circular economy & innovation’ appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

Prepare your application

Want to learn more about how funding possibilities of VLAIO can boost your digital innovation initiative? Join this breakfast session for insights on the specific call for SMEs that just opened! During our session we’ll help you prepare for the July application round to receive strategic advice or funding support for a strategic mentor, valued at up to €50k per year.

Agenda

In this breakfast session, our funding and digital experts will help you not only establish a successful subsidy request, but also explain how digital innovation can leverage your business.

• Short intro on the funding rules & selection criteria.
• Examples of digital fundable projects in different fields, such as AI in products, processes, production & apps.
• Work session with
  • subsidy canvases to shape your subsidy request and render it more successful.
  • sharpen your digital innovation project by connecting the dots in end-to-end digital projects. You’ll also discuss first project steps and get inspired on the importance of data.

Machine Learning & Subsidy Canvas © VERHAERT

Registration closed

This webinar took place on Friday 2 July, signing up is no longer possible.

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The post Breakfast session ‘Funding digitization’ appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

The increasing focus on sustainability is all around us. Circular products and packaging concepts have to be designed in such a way that they address the users’ ‘sustainability’ needs and their expectations for upcycling and recycling. In addition, they need to reuse material or lower waste, while still delivering the ‘old’ added values. Keeping track of all these aspects, makes companies face a tough dilemma.

During this webinar we will discuss new, adequate methods to assist you in evaluating and defining ecosystems and product concepts to meet the new challenges one faces.

Want to get an invite for this event?

Leave your email address below, and we’ll let you know once you can register.

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The post Event announcement ‘Circular Packaging beyond the Hype’ appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

Enabling technologies to boost your innovation

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, new technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, photonics and biotech seem to drive the world more than ever before. Technologies are ubiquitously available and within your reach to innovate. This webinar on Thursday 6 May will look into such enabling technologies and their potential to boost your applications and ideas.

Interactive webinar with 5 debate sessions

Universities, research centers and agencies partner up with Verhaert’s product development services and work together to kick start innovation programs and overcome the challenges related to breakthrough product innovation. Join the 5 interactive debate sessions with experts from the University of Antwerp (UA), Flanders research center for micro electronics (imec), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the leading product development group Verhaert, sharing their views and insightful cases in different fields.

Registration closed

Missed our webinar on Tech-Driven Innovation?
Watch the recording on our webinars page.

Have you seen our technology portfolio?

Verhaert has an extensive portfolio of technologies to accelerate innovation. Within each technology domain there are different technology building blocks that can be used for different solutions. Visit our technology portfolio.

The post Verhaert organizes interactive webinar ‘Tech-driven innovation’ with imec, UA & ESA appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

The post Verhaert organizes interactive webinar ‘Tech-driven innovation’ with imec, UA & ESA appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

What to expect

Looking for solutions for operating at long distance, in vacuum or harsh environments, or with exposure to radiation? During this event Fusion for Energy and Verhaert will present fusion technologies available on the Technology Transfer Program marketplace and opportunities for remote handling.

Together with the entire technology broker network, we will discuss latest developments and most relevant technology packages available in the nuclear field. During this webinar, you can explore synergies between fusion technologies and non-fusion applications. In addition to the Fusion for Energy and ITER project ecosystems, we will introduce you to the Marketplace, the process and opportunities of the Technology Transfer Activities.

Program

The event takes place on 6 April 2021 and starts at 14h (CET).

Panelists

Carmen Casteras
Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer Officer at Fusion for Energy

Luisa Leroy
Technology Transfer broker at Verhaert Masters in Innovation

Alexandre Pages
Chief operations officer at GTD

Javier Varas
Chief operations officer at Cedrat

Examples of technologies available

Simple vision software for harsh environments

Tampere University

Thanks to the technology developed by Tampere University in collaboration with Fusion for Energy and TEKES, we are now able to locate the position and orientation of a piece of remote handling equipment in extremely harsh environments. This technology can have an added value for the space, off-shore deep sea exploration, rescue and energy industry.

Adaptable remote handling diagnostics tool

VTT

Are you looking for a system to know beforehand what data will provide relevant information to prevent failure of the system? For this reason it is important to have a flexible system that allows the creation of new diagnostic rules or diagnostic functions.

Cost effective Robot system ready for the market

GTD

The cost effective robot system developed by Fusion for Energy and GTD increases the safety and precise control of remote operations. A high-quality industrial software can now be used with any kind of robotic equipment for critical operations such as handling systems!

New piezo motor for thermal vacuum environments

Cedrat

Are you active in space, healthcare or nuclear applications and looking for a MSPA Piezo motor to operate in harsh environments? The Piezo motor developed by Cedrat and Fusion for Energy is able to travel long distances without needing maintenance. This solution is especially relevant for accurate micro and nano positioning applications in environments requiring reliability in lifetime in vacuum and thermal applications (30-360K).

Sign up

Signing up for this webinar is no longer possible.
Stay tuned for the recording!

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The post Webinar ‘Fusion technology opportunities for remote handling’ appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.