Dr. Elias Knubben

Dr. Elias Knubben has been Head of Research and Innovation since August 2018. Here is also the Bionic Learning Network integrated.
In the Bionic Learning Network, a cooperation between Festo and renowned universities, institutes and development companies, principles from nature provide inspiration for technical applications and industrial practice.
Numerous projects are awarded with design and innovation awards and have been exhibited beside others in the Museum of Modern Art.
After doing his apprenticeship in metal construction with the artist Prof. Erich Hauser, he studied industrial design in Stuttgart at the Academy of Art and made his dissertation at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart under supervision of Prof. Werner Sobek. From 2012 to August 2018, he headed the Corporate Bionic Projects department.

Synopsis

Innovations through bionic thinking – agile development by the Bionic Learning Network
 
Automation technology carries out everyday tasks in factories such as gripping, moving and positioning goods as well as controlling processes. Nature performs all of these tasks instinctively, easily and efficiently. What could be more logical than to examine these natural phenomena and learn from them? That is why Festo set up the Bionic Learning Network, a research network linking Festo to well-known universities, institutes, development companies and private inventors.
To motivate, inspire and enthuse and to kick-start innovation – as a technological leader and as a learning company, Festo is pursuing a set of clear objectives with the Bionic Learning Network which are to establish networks and to motivate people from different sectors to develop their ideas with Festo, to keep track of current trends in research and development and to test new technologies and manufacturing methods, to encourage greater creativity in solution processes and to drive preliminary product development through prototyping, to discuss possible solutions with customers and partners and obtain customer feedback in relation to issues surrounding innovation and to demonstrate the solution expertise of Festo in a way that will inspire young people to take an interest in technology and help us to discover new talent.

The lecture describes the methodology of how agile complex projects are handled in an interdisciplinary team. Important principles and making-of sequences will be presented.