Five finalists for NEO 2021: Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion awards innovation prize
Cover picture: NEO 2021 Innovation Award
At container terminals without private transport, the vision of self-driving vehicles has already become a reality. To prevent collisions between autonomous container cranes and workers in the terminal, the Karlsruhe-based company Yardeye GmbH has developed an anti-collision system for the safe interaction of man and machine. Using radio and sensor technology, people and vehicles are localized in real time and the shortest routes for the cranes are calculated. In addition to greater safety , Yardeye also promises greater added value. The reason: workers no longer have to leave the terminal during automated crane operation .
With this innovative approach, the Karlsruhe-based company has made it into the five finalists of “NEO 2021“. The innovation prize of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion (TRK) will be awarded on Friday, November 26, 2021, at a ceremony at the Badischer Gemeinde-Versicherungs-Verband. The laudator will be Frank Mastiaux, outgoing CEO of EnBW.
Business ideas successfully developed further
“This award is a key instrument for highlighting the innovations that come from the region,” emphasizes TRK Managing Director Jochen Ehlgötz. The NEO is awarded annually and has a different theme each year. In 2021, the theme is the successful transformation of companies and the further development of business ideas. “Alongside digitalization, this is currently a crucial topic. This is the only way for companies to maintain their competitiveness,” emphasizes Ehlgötz. Last but not least, the award ceremony is also a nationally renowned networking event with experts from science and business. According to Ehlgötz, one of the TRK’s most important goals is to bring research and companies together and jointly bring newly developed technologies to market maturity.
Efficient fertilization and sustainable aircraft
26 applications were received for the NEO 2021, 16 of which came from the TRK. In addition to Yardeye’s system, four other innovations were selected for the final at an initial jury meeting.
Supporting people with work processes in increasingly complex environments is the aim of the XTEND assistance system from Fraunhofer IOSB-INA R&D in Lemgo. In particular, low-skilled and cognitively impaired people are to be introduced to production processes.
Hybrid-Airplane Technologies GmbH from Baden-Baden, Germany, has developed a sustainable flying machine with the resounding name h-aero. Thanks to a gas cell filled with helium , the aircraft can take off vertically and then move freely in the sky in the style of a drone with the help of rotors.
Efficiency is the key to the RAUCH AERO 32.1 pneumatic fertilizer spreader from RAUCH Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH in Sinzheim. Sensors record the environmental data and ensure that no more fertilizer is used than absolutely necessary.
Rosswag GmbH in the municipality of Pfinztal has developed new metallic materials for 3D printing. As a result, the range of materials for the modern production process, which has been quite limited to date, can be expanded.
The NEO has been awarded since 2010. Previous winners have included companies such as SEW Eurodrive in Bruchsal and EnBW.