August 1, 2024. The start-up Botfellows, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz, is receiving significant support from the EXIST research transfer program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). The aim of this funding is to successfully transfer technologically sophisticated start-ups from universities and non-university research institutions into the business world.
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Silicon Saxony
Marketing, Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Manfred-von-Ardenne-Ring 20 F
Fax: +49 351 8925 889
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Using state-of-the-art technology, Botfellows enables seamless and safe human-robot collaboration in highly flexible as well as cost-efficient production concepts. The start-up is revolutionizing the way humans and robots interact, creating safe and productive working environments in the long term. Safety is the top priority in the fenceless collaboration between humans and robots; the Botfellows team relies on high-tech solutions in which flexible – dynamically changing, i.e. situationally optimal – safety zones replace rigidly demarcated workspaces. The planned spin-off from the Fraunhofer IWU demonstrates the confidence of Dr. Mohamad Bdiwi and his team in the marketability of their almost fully developed solutions.
Dr. Mohamad Bdiwi began his research into human-robot collaboration back in 2008 as a doctoral student at Chemnitz University of Technology. He developed innovative solutions for safe interaction between humans and industrial heavy-duty robots. The other co-founders wrote their master’s and diploma theses at TU Chemnitz and TU Dresden and have been working together for several years at Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz on the next generation of human-robot collaboration.
The EXIST research transfer is a nationwide funding program that supports outstanding high-tech start-ups in making the leap into business. Funding is provided for technically sophisticated and promising start-up projects such as Botfellows so that they can provide proof of technical feasibility and marketability. This includes the development of a prototype, the preparation of a business plan and the preparation of the business start-up.
In order to optimally prepare teams for the application for EXIST funding, the SAXEED start-up network regularly holds compact boot camps. In just five intensive weeks, participants are made fit for submitting their applications. Consultants with extensive start-up experience offer, for example, specialist input and practical exercises on business ideas, innovation, the market and business planning. Bdiwi and his team also received valuable feedback and tips for their – successful – funding application.
Dr.-Ing. Mohamad Bdiwi
Project manager EXIST research transfer project Botfellows
Phone: +49 (0)371 5397-1658
Email: mohamad.bdiwi@iwu.fraunhofer.de
Dr. Susanne Schübel
Project Managing Director of the start-up network SAXEED in Chemnitz
Phone: +49 (0)371 531-37689
Email: susanne.schuebel@saxeed.net
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Photo: Fraunhofer IWU
