This presentation gives an overview about the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) in Stuttgart-Fellbach, Germany's leading Virtual Reality cluster network.

1. Virtual Dimension Center.
Network for Virtual Engineering
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2. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
The Virtual Dimension Center (VDC)
 network for digital product development and
 digital production planning
 core topics: virtual engineering, virtual reality,
3d visualization, animation & content creation
 around 70 members and partners
 founded in 2002
 non-profit
 7 employees (5 full-time)
 core business of VDC:
1. network/ cluster management
2. technology transfer
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3. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
Virtual Engineering
 support of development
processes by digital,
3-dimensional models
 core activities:
product development processes,
any development processes of
technical objects, service design
 across business segments
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4. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
Virtual Engineering
 product development :
frequently highly complex, dynamical,
multi-disciplinary, divisional of labour,
distributed
-> high degree of communication needs
 early assessment of costs,
late assessment of costs
-> early testings if possible
 error detection perhaps only during the
use or recycling
-> early testings if possible
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5. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
Virtual Engineering
Objectives
 fast development cycles as an active process
element
 early feedback of results
 emphasis on early development stages
H.-J. Bullinger,
 development of alternative product concepts president of Fraunhofer
 deciding on product specifications
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6. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
Cluster
 create growth and jobs
 cooperation within the value chain process
 sharing of common resources
 increases innovation activities and productivity
by information advantage and costs
advantages to companies which are not
part of the cluster
we are the Star Alliance of Virtual Engineering
 getting to know each other, transparent
competences, fast information flow, easier to
establish business contacts, synergies
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7. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
Cluster
 patent applications within clusters above average
 easier recruiting
 easier access to specialized suppliers
 cost reduction for research and development
 common exibition activities
 supply of complementary products and services
 attractive for costumers
 easier access to training, consultation, regional marketing
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8. Presentation VDC
Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
» The sustainable competitive
advantages in a global economy are
increasingly regional- with
knowledge, skills, connections and
motivations which competitors who
are spatially separated cannot
provide «
Michael E. Porter, professor of strategy and
competitiveness at the Harvard Business
School, founder of the cluster’s idea
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9. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
VDC member’s service offering
 products and services in:
- 3d product development
- 3d manufacturing and process planning
 supply of turnkey VR systems from
desktop up to multi channel systems
 digital content creation
 research and development services,
research and development of new VE
technologies
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10. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
VDC member’s structure
 all the competences as a basis for cooperations and synergy
 cooperation along value chain
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11. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
Forms of direct cooperation at the VDC
 buyer community
 suppliers
 research services
 development alliance
 combined service offering
 product-based education
 spin-Off
 marketing alliance
 representation at management boards
and working groups
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12. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
vertical cooperation
 cooperations with other networks
for other technologies
 upstream and downstream
processes within the value chain
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13. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
horizontal cooperation
 cooperation with networks in related subjects and fields
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14. Presentation VDC Members
Members Mission Services References
Lateral cooperation
 cooperation for dissemination,
development, cluster management
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15. Presentation VDC Members Mission
Mission Services References
The VDC mission
 provide a sustainable communication platform for
all members (companies, research, education, public
authorities)
 initiate (research) cooperations and business
contacts
 implementation of digital product development
technology especially by SMEs
 integration of public funded projects
 demand responsive focus on (further) education
 keep the members’ top positions in terms of
technology in international competition
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16. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
The VDC‘s business areas
 information processing
current information on methodology and technology, exchange of
information between members, identification of funds, technology
assessment
 marketing & dissemination
Technology marketing, working at the managament board, biggest
update area for Virtual Reality in Germany, dissemination of project
results, product and enterprise news
 match making
competence map, internationalization
 technology transfer
SME support, information events, Demo-Center
 funding management
application, consortia, project management
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17. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
Business area 1: information processing
 competence cube
 web portal with news (750+/year)
and events (300+/year)
 market studies, policy papers and analyses
Fig.: intranet knowledge base
 technology and branch screenings
 product and project databases
Fig.: white paper on 3d display
technology
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18. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
Business area 2: marketing & dissemination
 congresses:
- Virtual Efficiency Congress
- specalized congress Designprocess
 organization of joint exibition stands
 editing: Fig.: VDC joint exibition stand at
- newsletter, website the Hannover Messe
- editorial council
Virtual Reality Magazin
 press dissemination lists:
regional, supraregional,
special interest press
 social media
Fig.: „Virtual Reality Magazin‚
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19. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
Business area 3: match making
 competence cube
Target branch
- target branch
- technology Type of service offering
- service offering Fig.: competence cube
 internationalization
 contact database:
industry, press, universities/research
Fig.: VisNetA international network
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20. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
Business area 4: technology transfer
 information events
 demo center
 special interest groups/ working groups
 web portal
Fig.: demo center at the VDC
 monthly email newsletter
(~4000 addresses)
Fig.: newsletter structure
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21. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services
Services References
Business area 5: funding management
 investigation of funds
 funding information (newsletter)
 syndication
 application Fig.: content of funding info newsletter
 project processing
Fig.: project meeting at the VDC
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22. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
References
Reference projects
 VIPROF
Constantly virtualizing of development and production of vehicles.
Connecting the product development with the manufacturing technology
to a constant, digitalized and cooperative development and production
planning.
 simKMU
Development of cross-company, process-integrated and web-based
simulation services and business models for SMEs‛.
 AutoBauLog
Autonomous controlling in construction site logistics: Transfer of suitable
concepts from digital fabric into construction site logistics.
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23. Presentation VDC Members Mission Services References
References
Awards
2006: admission to the club of the best innovation networks in Germany
2006: since 2006 selected host in the TOP programm (most innovative
companies in Germany): award from the ministry of economics
and technology
2007: awarded landmark within the initiative „Germany – land of ideas‚
2007: „Best Innovation Award‚ for the 3D-Fitness-Check at the
bwcon InnovationFair
2007: VDC becomes a EU„Living Lab‚
2008: industrial award for a VDC-driven diploma thesis
2009: Award for "excellent networking" from the Kompetenznetze
Deutschland initiative
2010 : Winner of the Regional Cluster Competition 2010 of Baden-
Württemberg
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24. Join us.
VDC: enabling synergies.
Auberlenstr. 13
70736 Fellbach
Tel.: +49 (0)711 58 53 09 0
info@vdc-fellbach.de
www.vdc-fellbach.de
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