TALKS & DEMOS
4 thematic tracks, paving the way to successful innovation
Standing at the crossroads of change, let’s dive into the key areas of innovation, the challenges they face, and the different avenues to overcome them.
Timetable
9h00: Welcome
9h30: Introduction
10h00: Your chosen track
12h15: Lunch
13h45: Your chosen track
16h00: Wrap-up
16h15: Reception
Robotics as a catalyst for global innovation
Personalized healthcare, from risk to impact
Jumping the hurdles of sustainability
The next wave of digital innovation challenges
INTRODUCTION
Navigating the crossroads of change
Innovation has plenty of social support as the go-to tool for tackling major challenges like sustainability, aging and security – no debate there! The urgency? It’s crystal clear. And while the areas for innovation have been set in stone for years, progress seems to be moving slower than expected. Add in today’s budget squeezes, economic pressures and inflation, and it feels like we’re pumping the brakes even more. So here we are, at a crossroads, knowing the directions we could or should take, yet hesitating. Together we’ll identify actionable paths forward. Let’s accelerate the innovation journey toward impactful change!
By Koen Verhaert, CEO at Verhaert Masters in Innovation
As robotics become essential to meet labor needs, the demand for precision and fail-proof solutions is skyrocketing. So why aren’t these autonomous solutions getting adopted more quickly? Well, these robotic systems tend to be complex. Tackling ever-changing variables in the use case and environment requires an integrated, customized approach. In this track, we’ll dive into the exciting world of Industry 4.0, exploring how to cut through the complexity and bring these game-changing solutions to market. Faster, smarter and ready to achieve rapid impact.
1. Open innovation to accelerate
Industry 4.0
In a world where products become smaller, and both speed and precision are everything, how do you keep up? Enter advanced tracking and high speed motion system. Modular, open and scalable solutions enable integrators across industries to build the future of high-tech automation. Join us for a deep dive into the exciting technical and organizational complexities of modular robotic and sensor systems. Discover how cutting-edge engineering and smart managerial solutions showcase the implementation of open innovation, transforming the way you approach industrial automation.
Guus Colman, Consultant EmbeddedLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
Klaas Hofman, Consultant EmbeddedLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
2. Modular design to make custom robotics accessible
As e-commerce sets the pace for progress, Movu Robotics – Stow’s newly branded business – leads the charge with cutting-edge shuttles and AGVs designed to handle the ever-growing variety of packages. Staying ahead means more than just speed though, it’s about agility and adaptability. Join us as we dive into modular architecture and design strategies – for both hardware and software – that are revolutionizing industrial automation. Creating flexible, scalable solutions enables you to tackle today’s challenges and prepare you for the future.
Thomas Goossens, Mechanical Design Engineer at Verhaert On-site Consulting
Personalized healthcare has the potential to revolutionize how we approach treatment effectively, not only by improving lives but also by reducing costs and pressure on professionals. Regardless of all the benefits, game-changing breakthroughs remain just out of reach. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at the hurdles holding us back and explore the challenges that come with making treatments truly personalized. Through real-world examples and innovative solutions, we’ll discover how to finally unlock the full potential of personalized healthcare.
1. Advanced diagnostics, from technology to impact
Imagine if your treatment could be identified within 4 hours, ensuring it’s the right one from the start. With SoundCell’s rapid antibiotic screening technology, this is becoming a reality. By matching the right antibiotic to an individual’s infection, SoundCell not only improves patient outcomes but also fights antimicrobial resistance. Let’s explore how optics and photonics engineering, alongside automation, are tackling industry hurdles and turning diagnostics technology into a user-friendly medical device that fits seamlessly into healthcare workflows.
Didier Beghuin, CTO at Lambda-X High-Tech Innovation
2. Risk management in next-gen (medical) product development
The medical device industry is at the forefront of integrating high levels of personalization to improve patient outcomes. However, this innovation landscape is fraught with challenges such as stringent regulations, privacy concerns and significant commercial risks. Transforming these obstacles into opportunities requires a holistic approach to risk management that goes beyond safety to include reliability, developmental and overall success risks. By proactively addressing these elements early in the product development cycle, companies can shift from making unpredictable promises to a tangible impact in everyday clinical practice.
Thomas Degreef, Consultant PhysicsLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
Margo Billen, Consultant PhysicsLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
Everyone agrees that sustainable innovation is the cornerstone to addressing environmental challenges and lasting economic growth. The truth is that making meaningful changes is difficult and sometimes feels like speeding ahead and hitting the brakes at the same time. What’s holding us back? In this track, you’ll dive into the tricky obstacles slowing down progress and shine a light on fresh, forward-thinking approaches that can break the cycle.
1. Design for sustainability, from an incremental toward a more radical strategy
Making your products sustainable can’t be an afterthought. Years of meticulous design for performance and cost means you can’t just swap materials and call it a day. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at what it really takes to embed sustainability into your products without sacrificing what makes them great. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, you’ll learn how to navigate the delicate balance between sustainability, performance and budget. Ready to master the sustainability tightrope?
Jeroen Wilms, Consultant MechLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
2. The search for sustainability impact
Large companies face a unique challenge in their sustainability journey: big impact requires big opportunities, but the most valuable ideas often start small. Like uncut diamonds, these opportunities don’t shine at first glance. In this session, you’ll explore how corporations can embrace startup-inspired thinking to uncover hidden gems and turn small steps into large-scale sustainability wins. Join us for an inspiring dive into the strategies that turn humble beginnings into significant sustainability breakthroughs.
David Pas, Customer Success Manager at Verhaert Strategic Innovation
Laurien Wolfswinkel, Head of Operations at Beacon Masters in Innovation
For years, the MVP mantra ruled digital innovation to kick off the product journey. With connected devices, the rhythm of incremental updates kept products evolving: smarter, faster, and better with each release. As digital innovation has matured, so have user expectations, raising the stakes like never before. Today’s MVPs must not just meet regulations, but exceed usability, connectivity, and cyber security expectations. In this track, we’ll take a deep dive into real-world cases to explore how MVPs have evolved and why building secure, feature-rich products from the start is now a must.
1. A minimal viable product to explore emerging markets
In a world of growing complexity and circularity needs, digital innovation is rewriting the rules. This session dives into the role of digital tools in this transformation, featuring an exciting case study from the construction industry, Reynaers Aluminium. Learn how they’re developing a minimal viable product with a digital passport for window systems, boosting traceability, sustainability, and transparency throughout the product lifecycle. Ready to learn how Reynaers is strengthening connections with installers and end customers by embracing digital innovation?
Dennis Daems, Technology Manager at Verhaert Digital Innovation
2. Mapping the EU Cyber Resilience Act on digital products
From day one, cybersecurity has to be baked into the core of every product with digital elements. With the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) setting the bar, MVPs are definitely included to meet stringent security requirements. How do you balance innovation and regulation without compromising your vision? In this session, you’ll get insights on how to map the CRA highlights and real-world strategies to implement security from the start. Get ready to tackle the next wave of digital product innovation challenges while keeping your MVP secure, compliant, and ready to scale!
Bart De Vos, Consultant EmbeddedLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
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The Innovation Day is organized by Verhaert Masters in Innovation, a pioneering innovation company.