How it’s OWL is strengthening SMEs with new technologies and services

Dr. Stefan Breit, Chairman of the Cluster Board and Managing Director at Miele, is confident for the domestic SME sector: “The global economy has the potential to grow more strongly again in 2025. This became very clear at the recent Economic Forum in Davos.” Artificial intelligence is a crucial key for companies to develop new data-based business models and thus promote growth. It is also important to keep an eye on climate protection: “Sustainable innovations are the turnover of the day after tomorrow. With the tailwind from it’s OWL, we will strategically exploit our opportunities and emerge as winners from the transformation,” says Breit.

The technology network it’s OWL – Intelligent Technical Systems OstWestfalenLippe has been a driving force for innovation in local industry for 13 years. In over 80 projects, companies and research institutions have worked together to make new technologies applicable and develop concrete solutions for SMEs. The 20 projects currently underway focus, for example, on AI in production and the world of work, the circular economy and energy efficiency as well as sustainable business models.

Recipe for success: intelligent technical systems and engineering expertise

But how can industry in OWL generate new growth impetus and become resilient? “We now need to focus on our core competence – intelligent machines and systems. To do this, we need artificial intelligence and powerful hardware. Only those who master the interaction can fully exploit the potential and keep pace with the rapid development,” says Prof. Dr. Roman Dumitrescu, Managing Director of it’s OWL Cluster Management and Director of Fraunhofer IEM. “Our engineering expertise – i.e. the ability to develop and support intelligent machines and systems over their entire life cycle – is the great opportunity for medium-sized industrial companies in OWL,” emphasizes Dumitrescu.

To this end, the two Fraunhofer Institutes IEM and IOSB-INA, it’s OWL, regional universities and companies are pooling their expertise in the new Engineering Automation Center. The aim is to automate development processes with the help of AI and digital technologies. Routine activities are taken over and developers are relieved. “What’s more, intelligent co-pilots facilitate access to complex tools, for example through voice input, and even provide support for challenging development tasks. In short: ChatGPT for engineers,” explains Dumitrescu. The result: developers gain valuable freedom and can concentrate on what makes the difference – creative problem solving and the development of advanced products with a real competitive advantage.

As early as the product planning stage, AI helps to systematically identify customer needs and technological trends. In requirements management, AI helps to analyze heterogeneous data sources, filter relevant information and translate it into comprehensible requirements. The Service Center offers a range of services to help SMEs implement engineering automation step by step – from potential analysis and initial concepts through to deployment in product operation.

Using interdisciplinary research results for new solutions and further training

The application-oriented research and high culture of cooperation at the universities is an important success factor here. “The four state universities see themselves as innovation partners for industry and are firmly on the side of local SMEs. We contribute results from numerous research projects to the activities of it’s OWL – not only from the engineering sciences and computer science, but also from the humanities and social sciences,” explains Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, Chairwoman of Campus OWL and President of Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. “Especially in the areas of climate protection, energy transition and securing skilled workers, we need this interdisciplinary view – and the willingness to boldly break new ground.”

Breaking new ground and developing solutions – this is what companies and research institutions now want to tackle together in five new focus groups. Topics include technology management, generative artificial intelligence, digital twins, engineering automation and IT security. “From our companies’ perspective, these are the key technologies for growth and innovation. We have built up extensive knowledge in these areas, which we are now putting to broad use together. And from which we are developing new products and solutions,” explains Günter Korder, Managing Director of it’s OWL Cluster Management. In the Technology Management focus group, for example, a model for the evaluation and introduction of new technologies is to be created. The Generative AI focus group plans to develop model AI solutions for individual areas of the company in small projects.

Another format is the “Stratosfare” initiative, in which it’s OWL provides technology scouting for companies such as Claas, Melitta, Miele and Wago. This creates collaborations between companies and start-ups that offer added value for both sides: The companies can benefit from new technologies and the start-ups find renowned lead customers.

In addition, results and experiences from companies and research institutions are to be processed and marketed for the qualification of skilled workers. The Next Learning Hub OWL, which was developed as part of the BMBF project Weiterbildung 4.OWL, serves this purpose. In future, companies, employees and further education providers will be able to use this platform to offer and find tailored training courses on technological developments – and use digital tools to create high-quality didactic courses. You can find more information at: https://next-learning-owl.de/

A driving force for the region and a nationwide role model

District President Anna-Katharina Bölling emphasizes the importance of it’s OWL as a driver of innovation in the region: “it’s OWL is a prime example nationwide of how business and science develop innovations together. Especially in difficult economic times, it makes sense to join forces in the region and thereby strengthen our SMEs. The Detmold district government will therefore continue to actively support the activities of the cluster initiative in the state and encourage other regions in NRW to follow the example of OWL.”