Start-Up Companies Present Their Ideas to Schaeffler

First Schaeffler Venture Forum takes place in Herzogenaurach, Germany

Start-up companies present their ideas to Schaeffler

Schaeffler is continuously expanding its digital ecosystem in order to create new, digital services for its customers. Thirteen international technology start-up companies took the opportunity to present their innovative business ideas in the fields of sensor technology, data value creation, and autonomous systems/smart factory at Schaeffler in Herzogenaurach.

HERZOGENAURACH, May 30, 2017. At the first Schaeffler Venture Forum, thirteen technology start-up companies were given the opportunity to present their business ideas on all aspects of sensor technology, data value creation, and autonomous systems/smart factory to Schaeffler specialists and senior management representatives.

The contestants came not only from Germany but also other countries including Israel, Australia and Canada. From 100 start-up companies, 13 came through a pre-selection round. Those presenting the most convincing ideas and talents will be offered the chance to start business with Schaeffler as an investor, partner or customer.

“Digital services are increasingly complementing conventional business models in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries. As a supplier to these industries, we not only respond to this trend, but we are also actively shaping these fields, so that we are able to offer new, digital services and business models to our customers. In order to implement these quickly and in a target-oriented manner, we are continuously expanding our collaboration with start-up companies,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy CEO of Schaeffler AG at the first Schaeffler Venture Forum.

“Our day-to-day actions are characterised by our mission to ensure sustainable, profitable growth with our innovations and to shape the future of mobility. All of the ideas that the start-up companies presented today for our products and services were convincing. For this reason, we are going to remain in dialogue with all of them in order to initiate specific collaboration projects. After all, speed is a decisive factor for success in the digital age,“ said Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Senior Vice President Corporate Innovation at Schaeffler AG.

Being an innovation leader, Schaeffler is consistently expanding its research and development work,examples of which can be seen in collaborations with the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (“Schaeffler Hub for Automotive Research in E-Mobility” at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (SHARE at KIT), the Fraunhofer Institute in Munich, and the Munich Network. Furthermore, Schaeffler is a founding partner of the “Zollhof Digital Center for Founders” in Nuremberg and a partner of Factory Berlin.

Photographs: Schaeffler

Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Senior Vice President Corporate Innovation at Schaeffler AG (on the left), had the start-up companies’ business ideas explained to him and even tested one of the applications on autonomous systems/smart factory himself.

Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Senior Vice President Corporate Innovation at Schaeffler AG welcomed thirteen international technology start-up companies to Schaeffler’s first Venture Forum in Herzogenaurach, where they presented their business ideas focusing on sensor technology, data value creation, and autonomous systems/smart factory.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy CEO of Schaeffler AG, wants to continuously expand collaboration with start-up companies.

About Schaeffler

The Schaeffler Group is one of the world’s leading integrated automotive and industrial suppliers. The company stands for the highest quality, outstanding technology, and strong innovative ability. Its precision components and systems for engines, transmissions, and chassis as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for numerous industrial applications make the SchaefflerGroup a key contributor to the “Mobility for tomorrow.” The technology company generated sales of approximately 13.3 billion euros in 2016. With around 86,600 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest companies in family ownership. It has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, and sales companies at approximately 170 locations in over 50 countries.

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