Gerhard Gudergan

1. “Experiences with Student Integration in
Industrial Crowd Innovation Projects”
August, 5th 2015

2. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 2
 The Campus project is part of the RWTH
Aachen University future strategy
 Interdisciplinary, thematic clusters to meet
industry needs. Based on research
capabilities of RWTH Aachen structures.
 The area is growing by 800,000 m² to 2.5
km²
 The investment volume amounts to
approximately
2 billion €
 10,000 new jobs will be created directly and
indirectly
RWTH Aachen Campus is one of the largest research landscapes
in Europe - From Science to Business

3. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 3
The Center Smart Services is located in the heart of RWTH Aachen
Campus and fosters Intelligent Solutions to disrupt industries
Smart Mobility
Connected Cars - Mobility solutions of the future
Smart Logistics
Connected Parts – Optimized Logistics of the future
Smart Infrastructure
Connected Things – Intelligent objects of the future
Smart Products
Connected Tools – System Solutions of the future

4. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 4
We shape your Digital Transformation with Smart Services
Our offerings:
Qualification
and Training
Service-Science-
Innovation-Lab
Expertise,Studies
&Benchmarks
Community
Innovation projects

5. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 5
 The Question: How can we bridge the
gap?
– need for service innovation?
– need for talent?
Access to talent is a relevant key strategic success factor!
Young Talents
Companies
Experts, Research
 The Answer: Integration of young
talents into the innovation process while
getting credits at the same time
University Center Smart Services
Companies
Student Involvement
Credits
Industrial knowledge
Cases
Talent
Ideas
Innovation Award
…

6. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 6
Service-Innovation-Award
Student Case Competition
 Part of the official course offer of RWTH Aachen University
 Provides university credits to the students
 Equips students with methods and procedures
The Student Case Competition is embedded in RWTH Aachen
University course structures
Lecture Service Design & Engineering
 Part of the Service Science Innovation Lab at FIR
 Sponsored by top class industry partners
 Cases represent existing problems within the company
 Associated with Walter Eversheim Foundation
 Awards the winners of the Student Case Competition
 Award ceremony at the Aachen Service Forum
 Winners receive prices and offerings for internships

7. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 7
The past Case-Partners offered interesting and demanding cases
to the students from three universities
Develop a new plan for the future service delivery strategy for Philips
DirectLife
Develop your concept for the use of innovative technologies at
Lufthansa Technik Logistik in the aviation industry
Develop your concept for a Business model for technology based Value
Services in Automotive Production within Siemens
Develop services around machine-to-machine (M2M) concepts in the
industrial sector
Develop services for Smart Car-to-Cloud-Applications
In Development
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015

8. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 8
The ideas are evaluated by a jury and the top three teams win
prizes and internships
Example Case 2013:
Develop services around machine-to-machine (M2M)
concepts in the industrial sector
Solution:
3D-Printing revolutionizes Spare Part Procurement by
placing 3D-Printers strategically in logistic centers

9. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 9
Our Service Science InnovationLab:
 fosters a completely new form of cooperation
between research and industry,
 involves simulation, visualization and digitalization to
innovate services,
 delivers method-support from idea to business
model development.
Our Competencies:
 Business Model Innovation & Design
 Technology Application
 Process Optimization, Operations Engineering
 Business development, Performance assessment
The Service Science InnovationLab is our Infrastructure to invent
new Services and share our competencies with our partners

10. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 10
Resume: The benefit for our center partners, involved students
and the Center is diverse
• Access to young talents, fresh from university
• Participate in up-front innovation projects
• Connect to knowledge within the community
• Development of ideas in an unique environment
• Gain experience in relevant industry cases
• Being exposed to real world and urgent challenges
• Contact to potential future employers
• Get credits
• Generate new knowledge on service innovation
• Configure different competencies
• Drive the digital transformation with relevant qualifications
Center Partner
Students
Center Smart Services

11. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 11
Partners of the Center Smart Services
Initiators
Start-up consortium

12. RWTH Aachen Campus | Center Smart Services Seite 12
Thank you for your attention.
Dr. –Ing.
Gerhard Gurdergan
Head of Unit Reserach FIR
Head of Department Business Transformation
Telefon: +49 (0)241 477 05-104
Fax: +49 (0)241 477 05-199
Mobil: +49 (0)177 5790057
E-Mail: Gerhard.Gudergan@fir.rwth-aachen.de