FIT2016

Powering Smart Technologies for a Smarter Planet

In the 4th Fraunhofer Innovation and Technology (FIT) Platform, held on Friday 2nd Sept in Delhi, international technology experts bet big on the prospects of International collaboration in Smart Manufacturing, Smart Energy and Smart Cities in India.

The event was in co-operation with Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Power and Mines, Government of India and supported by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) and was inaugurated by Shri. Anant Geete, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises (HI&PE), Govt. of India.

The event was held in Delhi as the thematic focus was to warrant participation from senior policymakers and bureaucrats who are major stakeholders and decision makers in the implementation of various Government programs.

Fraunhofer has a number of ready-to-market technologies and products which was showcased to create an immediate interest in the Indian Industry seeking to leapfrog innovation and research. Specific technologies from various Fraunhofer Institutes were displayed with the objective to excite the Indian Industry with ready to market products and technologies for immediate implementation. A powerful presentation by renowned experts from Fraunhofer and Industry experts from India showcased the global scenario in the three core areas of Smart Manufacturing, Smart Energy and Smart Cities and provided suggestions for the road ahead for international cooperation.

'Smart Manufacturing' - Keynote AddressShri. Girish Shankar, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Govt. of India

Topics discussed: Digital Manufacturing and Industrial Data Space, Electromobility- Smart Mobility combines Smart Manufacturing, Green Advanced Technologies: A Great Way to Greater Benefits in Manufacturing, Designing Smart Components, Connected Adaptive Production - The Role of Manufacturing in Smart Production Environments, Manufacturing in the Indian market: Challenges and Opportunities.

"Smart Energy"Keynote address: Shri. Dr. Inderjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and Power.

Topics discussed: Renewables and their contribution to the Smart Energy Mix , Renewed Push for a more Sustainable Energy Programme in India, Smart Grids - an imperative to ensure reliable energy, View into the future – Foresight as an innovation strategy, Cold Thermal Energy Storage for Load Management of the Power Grid, Securing Energy for India’s requirements.

Smart Cities

Topics discussed: Smart City Labs: Best Practices from Global experiences, The Indian Industry’s participation in the Smart City Programme, India’s Smart City Programme and the role of Multipliers, German Smart City Consortium, What about Smart Villages?, Indo German Water Partnership.

Special Session by Fraunhofer Academy - Capacity building with India - Advanced Training made by Fraunhofer & Fraunhofer Spin Offs: Ready to market Technologies for India followed by a Concluding Plenary Session: High powered Panel Discussion.

September 1st: Exclusive Networking Dinner

An exclusive pre-event networking dinner was arranged on September1st for a blue-ribbon audience which witnessed the conflux of CEOs, bureaucrats, major stakeholders, decision makers, industry pioneers, policy makers and innovation experts from Government, Industry and Research. The exclusive pre-event networking dinner was preceded by impulse presentations by renowned experts from Fraunhofer to showcase the global scenario in the areas of Smart Manufacturing, Smart Energy and Smart Cities and suggestions to map the road for India-Fraunhofer cooperation.

Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office India evoked the session followed by the Introductory Address delivered by Prof. Frank Treppe, Director, Corporate Strategy and International Relations, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Germany.

The session progressed with the Fraunhofer Impulse Presentations by:

  • Prof. Dr. Boris Otto, Director, Information Management & Engineering, Fraunhofer IML and Head of the Fraunhofer Innovation Centre for Logistics and IT (FILIT) who presented on Manufacturing and the global trends in Industry 4.0.
  • Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber,Director Fraunhofer ISE presented on Renewable Energies and leadership in the global context
  • Dr. Jennifer Dungs, Director, Mobility and Urban Systems Engineering, Fraunhofer IAO presented on Smart Cities and Urbanisation
  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Kohl, Head of the Corporate Management division, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK presented on Applied Research Ecosystem

The session culminated by a special address delivered by the Guest of Honour, Shri Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Former Secretary, Defence R&D and Member, NITI Aayog who also released a study on Solar PV plant prepared by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

September 2nd : 4th Fraunhofer Innovation and Technology Platform 2016, New Delhi

The 4thFraunhofer Innovation and Technology Platform (FIT) - ‘Smart Technologies for a Smarter Planet’ construing the theme of smart or connected technologies set the pace for understanding the issues and challenges related to the complex subject of Smart Manufacturing, Smart Energy and Smart Cities and also showcased Fraunhofer expertise in smart  solutions and models for India. More than 25 Fraunhofer experts from various institutes participated and portrayed technology solutions for the Smart Technology situation in India. Prof. Dr. Boris Otto was the chairperson of this event. The event was a huge success and attended by almost 220 participants from Industry, Government and Research institutes from India and abroad. The event was held in New Delhi as the thematic focus will warrant participation from senior policy makers & bureaucrats who are major stakeholders & decision makers in the implementation of various government programs.

Participants’ Profiles (including Indian speakers):

The participating delegates were mostly of top and middle level management. Among these, 55% were mainly the CEOs, Managing Directors, Vice-Presidents, Ministry Secretaries, Advisors to the Govt. of India, etc i.e. the top level management while 41% were of middle level management. The remaining 4% were mainly junior level executives (refer figure no. 1.0)