How the robotics company German Bionic is revolutionising heavy physical work with exoskeletons and artificial intelligence
Occupational safety meets wearables with AI-supported data analysis
The health of skilled workers is more important today than ever before – especially due to demographic change. The Augsburg-based start-up, German Bionic, has set itself precisely this goal. With exoskeletons worn on the body as wearables, they make work in manufacturing industry, construction, logistics, and care more comfortable, sustainable, and thus healthier. For example, they can relieve the strain on the lower back when lifting by up to 30 kilograms. Moreover, AI-supported analysis of real-time ergonomics data also helps reduce fatigue and injury symptoms. Launched as a university project, German Bionic testifies to the innovative strength of Bavaria as a research location. The success story of German Bionic started when scientific funding by the university ended, and the company was founded as a commercial enterprise. Now, German Bionic is about to conquer the American and Asian markets with its innovative technology from Bavaria.
This is why Bavaria is so good at cross-industry innovation in life sciences.
Diverse business opportunities
R&D combined with strong business savvy is the lifeblood of cross-industry innovation in life sciences: In Bavaria, world-class research at universities and research institutions, venture capital and state funding as well as the presence of important multinational players blend together to create a thriving start-up scene in addition to a multitude of corporate innovation programmes. The R&D and business landscape is broad and varied: including biotechnology, medical technology, digital health, pharmacy, pharmacology, nutritional science, food technology and environmental engineering.
Access to talent
Of the thirty universities and universities of applied sciences in Bavaria, most have faculties with world-class programmes in all major life science disciplines with varying R&D focus areas. In addition, renowned non-academic institutions such as Max Planck Society are important life science R&D hubs, drawing talent from all over the world.
Effective networks
Apart from the state-funded cluster initiatives that have created, for example, the famous BioM cluster, a variety of hubs and networks have been launched to bring together the different players required for cross-industry innovation in life sciences. Most recently, digital health has been a particular focus of new networking initiatives.
Glocal perspectives
All major innovation networks collaborate internationally. The European Institute of Technology (EIT), headquartered in Munich, specifically fosters cross-border networking and projects. Also, major life sciences companies have their global, European or German headquarters here and many of Bavaria’s “hidden champions” are world market leaders in their field.
Inveox
Inveox is rethinking pathology with the help of a strong network.
Inveox’s goal is to bring automation to histopathology labs. This makes the process of cancer diagnosis through tissue samples more reliable and faster – from biopsy to slide review. Inveox made it on the Forbes list of the “100 most promising start-ups of 2018”. Support from a strong cross-industry innovation ecosystem made a significant impact: in 2017, Inveox was selected as one of five start-ups in Batch 1 of Roche’s Munich based Digital Health Accelerator. The program closely collaborates with Werk1 incubator and Silicon Valley’s renowned Plug&Play accelerator, which also runs a programme in the Bavarian capital.
Mecuris
At Mecuris, a globally minded team is bringing easy to use 3D technologies to the world of prostheses and orthoses.
Mecuris, a Munich-based start-up, wants to help orthopaedic technicians translate their traditional craftsmanship into digital workflows and patient-specific products without prior knowledge in 3D-design. Mecuris was founded in 2016 as a spin-off of the Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital in Munich with an idea that originated from two different research projects. Today, “Mecuris strives to be the key enabler for digitally created O&P solutions worldwide.” Its team’s efforts are being recognised well beyond Bavaria’s borders: It has won not just multiple national awards but also international innovation and start-up awards.
How does the Bavaria´s unique ecosystem accelerate time-to-market for cross-industry innovation in life sciences?
Jörg Traub is a computer scientist and seasoned entrepreneur. As Head of Bayern Innovativ Health he is an expert in the Bavarian Health, MedTech & Life Science sector. We talked to Jörg about the key success factors of the Bavarian innovation ecosystem and why it is a particularly good time to found a business in the Health, MedTech & Life Science sector right now.
Bavarian Life Science Innovation
Cross-industry innovation in life sciences is happening all over Bavaria with different regions focusing on different themes. Discover the hotspots and key players running the show.
The Innovation and Start-Up Center for Biotechnology in Planegg-Martinsried along with its location in Freising has developed into one of the top 10 biotechnology centres in the world since it was founded in 1995. In addition, two Munich based institutions work to promote cross-industry innovation in biotechnology state-wide:
Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk GmbH
In short: IBB Netzwerk – has been taking on the task of networking its more than 100 partners from major industry, SME and research since 2008.
Since 1997, BioM is the central network organization for the biotechnology sector in Munich and Bavaria, commissioned by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.
See cross-industry innovation in action
All year long we will be reporting on what’s happening in the field of cross-industry innovation in different sectors such as XR and mobility.