Convergence and Hi-Tech; an interview with Mr. Strese, VDI/VDE, part II

Filed in archive About , Science , Technology on November 25, 2006

Part II - VDI/VDE-IT Innovation + Technik GmbH - what is it?

The VDI/VDE-IT is located in the middle of the power centers that drive innovation. The company studies research on many places, consults the government (especially the BMBF) and gives money to enterprises that are worth it. The VDI/VDE-IT is like an interface between science, politics and economy - or knowledge, power and money if you want. It translates structures into future. I call it by myself "Practical Trendoffice" ;-)

The first step is to have a "nose for trends". They "smell" or better listen carefully about whats going on in specific communities. To do so Mr. Strese for example is a studied mathematician. Open minded and structured and speaks the language of even the hardest scientists. If a trend gets stronger they check the needs and dig deeper into the communities. If a trend gets strong enough they suggest a topic to the government for support or get one backwards if there is a politic interest. Even from science come suggestions for topics from time to time.
The result is a program where companies start to get involved. Upon their business or future interest they look for themselves for a network of partner and - yep - try to get the money.

The work changed the last years. Mr. Strese told me that some 10-15 years ago the company was much more burocratic but already switched to project organization. At this earlier times the focus was on basic technologies but now is on applications.

From a business angle the target are smaller and midsized companies cause the bigger ones often enough have the money and support they need.

How these processes work will be told next saturday...

Read Part I here