CivicLabs’ Post

Last week at Formnext - Where ideas take shape in Frankfurt, it was evident how interdisciplinary innovation is thriving in the form of new products, from the production of new materials and methods for additive manufacturing to novel innovative applications that combine different disciplines such as chemistry, materials science and biology. We also saw the emerging role of AI in many new innovations. We could see that compared to five to six years ago, the start- up's idea has now become mature products and the innovation is taking the idea to different aspects that attract the market and bigger companies. Special thanks to all the speakers and participants for creating such a fantastic exhibition and a big thank you to Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH for organizing Formnext. I look forward to next year's exhibition with even more impactful innovations. #innovation #technology #design #business #engineering #healthcare #additivemanufacturing #sustainability #ai #entrepreneurship #creativity #science #future #automation #marketing #inspiration #architecture #startups #digitaltransformation #manufacturing

I’m excited to talk about workforce development as a panelist at the Innovation, Workforce and Research Conference (IWRC), hosted by IEEE-USA, June 10-11 in Sioux Falls, SD. Workforce development is something we strive for and take pride in everyday at DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots. We know the driving force behind our success are the people who dedicate themselves to making stronger products for our communities and beyond. In order for our states economy to thrive, we need to take care of our workforce by ensuring quality and fulfilling jobs are available. As a manufacturer, we understand the need for automation to bridge the labor shortage and skills gap. We too were looking for a better solution for our workforce. From our experience, we leveraged the power of technology to capture our institutional knowledge, empower our company’s current workforce, and successfully recruit and retain the next generation. These perspective shifts positively impacted our workforce and can do the same for your business, too. This conference is important for our state as it focuses on inspiring and empowering true innovation in the Dakotas and the Midwest by bringing together stakeholders from academia, government, and industry to meet, learn, and plan for how the CHIPS Act affects South Dakota and neighboring regions. Other key discussions include the research grants, technology transfer programs, start-up funding, intellectual property, federal partnerships, the future of the South Dakota workforce, utilizing state and local resources, AI, and more. Join me June 10-11 in Sioux Falls, to talk about these important topics for our state. Learn more and register here —> https://bit.ly/4bznMf0 #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongercommunity #strongerproducts #strongerindustry #strongerpeople #dayonerobotics #industryrevolution #industrialcoating #industrialautomation #workforcedevelopment #iwrc

DisruptED in the D is all about telling the stories of how Detroit is being reborn. Resilience. Imagination. Innovation. Disruption. A century ago, Detroit revolutionized manufacturing and mobility as the Motor City, becoming the birthplace of modern industry. Today, we’re spearheading a new wave of reindustrialization—one that’s redefining how manufacturing and mobility converge to build a sustainable, inclusive future. This isn’t just about making cars or moving merchandise anymore. It’s about creating upward mobility by attracting good-paying jobs and fostering innovation. My grandparents experienced this firsthand in 1926 when they moved here to work for Walt Chrysler. Now, a century later, the City of Detroit is once again at the forefront, reimagining the manufacturing sector for the next generation. From advanced robotics to sustainable supply chains, we’re building the technology of tomorrow—one person, one business, one breakthrough at a time—right here at the Michigan Central Innovation Campus. The mobility and manufacturing spaces are NEXT LEVEL. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about a bold nextgen startup, Tubular Network, that intentionally relocated its business development operations from Austin to Detroit at Newlab. These innovators are addressing logistics inefficiencies in last-mile deliveries, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and driving the decarbonization of goods transportation. This is what reindustrialization in Detroit looks like: Sustainability. Circularity. Bold solutions to global challenges. You’ll hear me geek out with Ben James, co-founder of Tubular Networks, in an upcoming feature. In the meantime, check out this short story video and share your feedback. Special shout out to the creative talent behind this content, Corey C. Johnson. To those who know him, he is the real deal. Super talented. So Come on, get DisruptED with us—we’re not just remaking Detroit; we’re reshaping the future of manufacturing and mobility worldwide.

Workforce development is something we strive for and take pride in everyday at LestaUSA and our parent organization, DeGeest Corporation. We know the driving force behind our success are the people who dedicate themselves to making stronger products for our communities and beyond. In order for our economy to thrive, we need to take care of our workforce by ensuring quality and fulfilling jobs are available. We’re excited to have our President, Derek DeGeest, represent our organization talking about this very topic as a panelist at the Innovation, Workforce and Research Conference (IWRC), hosted by IEEE-USA, June 10-11 in Sioux Falls, SD. This conference is important as it focuses on inspiring and empowering true innovation in the Dakotas and the Midwest by bringing together stakeholders from academia, government, and industry to meet, learn, and plan for how the CHIPS Act affects South Dakota and neighboring regions. Other key discussions include the research grants, technology transfer programs, start-up funding, intellectual property, federal partnerships, the future of the South Dakota workforce, utilizing state and local resources, AI, and more. Join us June 10-11 in Sioux Falls, to talk about these important topics. Learn more and register here —> https://bit.ly/3VaVUYC #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongercommunity #strongerproducts #strongerindustry #strongerpeople #dayonerobotics #industryrevolution #industrialcoating #industrialautomation #workforcedevelopment #iwrc

🌍💻 From Eindhoven to a Greener Future 🌱 Growing up in (around) Eindhoven, a city built on creativity and innovation, I’ve always been inspired by how technology can solve real-world problems. Over the years, working on complex (software) projects has taught me the power of precision, collaboration, and purpose. Today, I’m focused on a key question: How can we use technology to drive sustainability? 🔋 Smarter code that reduces energy consumption. 🤝 Collaboration over competition—sharing ideas to avoid reinventing the wheel and amplify impact. 🌿 Creating software to benefit our planet. Innovation isn’t just about advancing technology; it’s about making it meaningful. Together, we can build a greener, more sustainable future where we can all enjoy ourselves. What’s your perspective on tech and sustainability? Let’s share ideas and spark change! 💬

🎥 Introducing Skanio’s Pitch Deck: Transforming Building Data 🎥 As part of the Sustainable Construction group, Skanio is tackling one of the EU’s biggest opportunities for modernization: aging building stock. With 300M buildings (55% over 25 years old) and 6.7M elevators (70% needing renovation), the built environment is ripe for digital transformation. 📊 Traditional building data is often analog, scattered, and inaccessible. Skanio solves this with 3D virtual inspections, bringing precision, efficiency, and innovation to building modeling and maintenance. Watch their pitch recording and discover how Skanio is driving change in the sector: https://lnkd.in/dTT9Kp75 #PropTech #Innovation #SmartCities #SustainableConstruction #D2XCEL Aalto Startup Center European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)

Where Does the Best Innovation Happen? Not in Stand-Alone Labs, Some Companies Say "Some tech leaders say it is a mistake to position innovation as something separate from the business itself, and that doing so can often lead to simply pursuing technology for technology’s sake." "“It’s very difficult for any one single team to be the subject matter expert and the tech expert at the same time” “There’s a mistake sometimes where organizations say innovation is something off the side rather than something that you do every day and needs to be part of every team” And that's why at the Microsoft Garage we believe good ideas can come from anywhere. #MicrosoftGarage #Vancouver #Innovation

//DOES INNOVATION HAVE TO BE ROCKET SCIENCE? I am often asked, “Lars, what do you do in the Innovation Lab?” What services do you even offer there? And I always thought, well, that must be clear by now. It says really big, “Innovation in one week only”. But it must be so extraordinary that people still keep asking, "You can't launch new products in a week. It's completely impossible! Yes, it's going pretty, pretty, pretty well. We've done it again and again in different sectors, industries and more. So what we actually do is we just build what the customer can see. When we started as an engineering firm, we only concentrated on the best product and delivered highly sophisticated engineering without anyone really knowing it on the market. In the meantime, we have turned it around and are building the best-looking product, the best business model, and the hottest services that resonate with customers. Then, we go to the market in a week and test whether there are real customers for this, and only if there are real customers and the so-called product-market fit is there will we take care of the details. Only then do we let the whole thing become reality. Yes, it has completely turned around, and that's why we can bring your ideas to market within just a single week to test real buying customers. P.S. That's what we do. It's not rocket science at all. And you can learn to do it, too! ——— This is how we de-risk innovations in one week only:  https://lnkd.in/eq4TvNC4 #innovation #creativity #future #whatinspiresme #innoweek #venturestudio #companybuilder #vc All rights and credits are reserved to the respective owner(s).  Contact me to add you as a reference or content removal. ♻️ Repost to help your network to bring their ideas to market. And follow Dipl.-Ing. Lars Behrendt for more posts like this.

The future of innovation isn't about lone geniuses or isolated breakthroughs. It's about building bridges between revolutionary ideas and real-world impact. It's about seeing potential where others see problems and about having a systematic approach to turning that potential into reality. Our mission: Revolutionize how breakthrough technologies reach the market, with the potential to change how businesses, industries & consumers operate. At Innventure, we’re reimagining what’s possible. Because the future is waiting to be built… And we're just getting started. #innovation #industrygrowth #strategicinnovation #Innventure

Today at #ClimaTech, Tim Heidel sat down with leaders from National Grid Partners and LineVision discussing the challenge of startups selling to utilities, specifically how to prove concept and deploy solutions at scale.   We need to deploy grid enhancing technology faster than ever before. AI, electrification of industry, and onshoring of manufacturing are ushering in a new era of load growth, putting pressure on our supply chain, workforce, and grid.    While startups are creating transformative technology to help address these issues, the panel has a message to utilities: engage early and offer feedback. Don’t view tech readiness as all or nothing – early-stage collaboration between startups and utilities will accelerate innovation for all.