Whether production, health or digitalisation: the future is in data

Münsterland think tanks discuss future technologies

Good data is essential for new technologies. This is just as important in the fields of artificial intelligence and networked production as it is in health technology. Three of the Münsterland think tanks within the Enabling Networks Münsterland project have now exchanged views on the direction in which these areas could develop in the future and what potential there is in Münsterland. In their third meeting, the think tanks "The Road to Networked Production", "Staying Healthy - for a Lifetime" and "Digital Münsterland" discussed topics such as the value of good data, analytical processes in diagnostics and the use of artificial intelligence in SMEs.

"Each of the think tanks has its own focus topic. Nevertheless, it became clear that almost no future technology can get by without the use of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and networked data," emphasises Bernd Büdding, head of the Enabling Networks Münsterland project at Münsterland e.V. All three think tanks received exciting input from the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI. The institute had conducted a foresight analysis in advance and now reported on relevant technologies in the coming five to ten years from the respective areas.

In the think tank "On the way to networked production", the members from business, science and networks identified several topics with high relevance for the Münsterland. In particular, they believe there is still potential in technologies that enable the real and digital worlds to grow together, as well as in 3D printing or new imaging processes such as special camera systems and sensors.

The members of the think tank "Staying healthy - for life" focused on the question of how analytical procedures and smart technologies can be brought together under the slogan "Smart Care". The pivotal point here is the data collected about a person, which can also provide insights for care and diagnostics.

The "Digital Münsterland" think tank focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in SMEs. Because AI is often quite suitable for use in SMEs, but companies lack the trained eye for it. Or they deliberately decide against it because training data is lacking and it is sometimes still difficult to understand the AI's decisions.

The topics discussed will now be taken up again at the next meeting. Then the members want to work on further project and cooperation ideas. In addition, a meeting of all think tank members is planned for the autumn so that they can get to know each other and network. In addition, an innovation scouting trip is on the agenda. Excursions are planned to places where special developments can already be experienced. These inspirations will then flow back into the region and be presented at events.

An overview of all the think tanks and their members can be found at muensterland.com/enabling.

More about Enabling Networks Münsterland

As a regional network initiative and successor project to Enabling Innovation Münsterland, Enabling Networks Münsterland has been supporting companies and universities in Münsterland to develop innovations, implement them and find the right partners for the project since the project launch in September 2019. The project consists of two packages of measures: The second component, in addition to the think tanks, is technology scouting. This involves the creation of five technology scouts who support companies in the development of new innovations.

The project network with Münsterland e.V. as lead partner consists of the business development agencies of the Münsterland districts and the Münster Technology Promotion Agency as well as the transfer offices of the regional universities and five specialised institutions that promote innovations in their sectors. The project is funded by the European Union and the NRW Ministry of Economics as part of the ERDF call "Regio.NRW".