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Scania teams up with Combient network to tap into ‘huge potential’ of automation and AI

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Scania says its partnership with the Combient Foundry is intended to tap into the “huge potential” of automation and artificial intelligence in the transportation industry.

The Combient network, which Scania is part of, is a cross-Nordic industry collaboration that aims to accelerate transformation in areas like automation, artificial intelligence, analytics and open innovation.

A part of Combient is the Foundry which connects startups with Nordic industry leaders, enabling the co-creation of new services and solutions. [Read more…] about Scania teams up with Combient network to tap into ‘huge potential’ of automation and AI

Sensor giant SICK partners with MassRobotics

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SICK, a leading manufacturer of sensor solutions for industrial applications, is partnering with MassRobotics.

With this partnership, local and global robotics startups and corporations will have better access to innovative sensor and safety solutions from SICK.

MassRobotics is a nonprofit organization located in Boston, Mass. After seeing the massive growth in the robotics and automation industry, MassRobotics was created to provide an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community. [Read more…] about Sensor giant SICK partners with MassRobotics

BMW establishes its ‘Startup Garage’ to gain early access to pioneering innovations

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The BMW Startup Garage – part of the company’s Research, New Technologies and Innovations unit – has been tracking down the most innovative startups in the business for four years now, allowing the BMW Group to tap into their potential quickly and directly.

So far, more than 50 up-and-coming technology companies have completed its startup programme.

The BMW Startup Garage talks with over 1,500 startups from all over the world every year.

[Read more…] about BMW establishes its ‘Startup Garage’ to gain early access to pioneering innovations

Mitsubishi Electric to sponsor MassRobotics in the USA

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. has announced a sponsorship deal with MassRobotics.

MassRobotics is an independent, non-profit organisation serving as an innovation hub for robotics and connected devices.

Through this sponsorship, Mitsubishi aims to enhance MassRobotics’ prototyping space so startups can accelerate testing and support startup initiatives to develop the next generation of advanced manufacturing solutions that use cutting-edge technology and robots for factory automation customers worldwide.

[Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to sponsor MassRobotics in the USA

Bosch increases investment in startups with €200 million

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Bosch is increasing its investment in external startups, providing Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC) with 200 million euros for a fourth fund.

“As a leading IoT company, we want to drive forward select technologies in areas of future relevance, such as artificial intelligence,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, CEO of Robert Bosch GmbH.

RBVC currently has a stake in three of the most promising artificial intelligence (AI) startups worldwide: DeepMap, Graphcore, and Syntiant.

[Read more…] about Bosch increases investment in startups with €200 million

Deere to launch startup collaborator program

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US agricultural machinery firm Deere & Company is launching the Startup Collaborator program in its Intelligent Solutions Group to enhance and deepen its interaction with startup companies whose technology could add value for John Deere customers.

“Our focus for the Startup Collaborator is specifically on startups that want to work with John Deere in real-world customer environments to determine the technology readiness of their innovations,” said John Stone, senior vice president of Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group.

Mr Stone said the Startup Collaborator provides flexibility for Deere and startup companies to test innovative technologies with customers and dealers without a more formal business relationship. Startups also gain affiliation with and mentoring from a world leader in precision agriculture.

[Read more…] about Deere to launch startup collaborator program

Denso invests nearly $100 million over four years in startups to advance mobility

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Denso has invested nearly $100 million over a four-year period in startup companies around the world as part of its long-term vision to provide software-based solutions focused on electrification, automated driving, connectivity and shared economy.

From cyber security to semiconductors and sensors, Denso is investing in startup companies working on key technologies that will play a major role in advancing mobility services that are safe, secure and efficient.

“Denso has traditionally been self-sufficient with its R&D efforts,” said said Tony Cannestra, Director of Corporate Ventures at Denso.

[Read more…] about Denso invests nearly $100 million over four years in startups to advance mobility

Volvo Financial Services launches iLabX innovation lab for technology entrepreneurs

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Volvo Financial Services (VFS) has launched ‘iLabX’, an accelerator program that will provide entrepreneurial companies from around the world in fintech and other fields with the opportunity to collaborate with VFS to develop and implement new innovative solutions and technologies.

iLabX will be run in collaboration with L Marks, a corporate innovation specialist. The program accepts entries in four categories:

[Read more…] about Volvo Financial Services launches iLabX innovation lab for technology entrepreneurs

Toyota looking to give $2 million to robotics startups

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Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Toyota AI Ventures is participating in a series of events across the United States to meet promising entrepreneurs that are looking for funding.

As part of the “call for innovation” initiative that it unveiled this summer in partnership with the robotics group at the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), the Toyota AI Ventures team will go on the road beginning this week to take part in several startup events.

The series kicked off at RoboBusiness 2018 in Silicon Valley where the firm’s managing director Jim Adler gave a presentation on the main stage on 26 September.

[Read more…] about Toyota looking to give $2 million to robotics startups

Investing in robotics: Established companies or startups?

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Picture courtesy: Caixin Online

In this part of our series of articles about investing in robotics and automation, Brian Gahsman, managing partner and chief investment officer at GBSfunds, explains what type of robotics and automation enterprises his company, Gahsman Branton, is interested in investing in 

Check out realtime stock prices for companies in the robotics, automation and relating computing sectors

Robotics and Automation News: Are you mainly looking at investing in established companies or startups?

Brian Gahsman: Actually both. There is a great number of publicly traded companies in this space with established earnings and the leaders make a solid foundation of the holdings in my strategy. That being said, even these established companies began as startups in the not so distant past.

I believe that robotics and automation in itself is currently in its infancy stage so maintaining a solid blend of micro-cap, small cap, mid-cap and large cap stocks is the only way to assure my strategy as a whole rides the same wave as the technological evolution that it is based on.  [Read more…] about Investing in robotics: Established companies or startups?