Briefing 2021

Initial Situation

Not only cities like Vienna or Düsseldorf are taking actions for a green cityscape, more and more cities and countries are developing frameworks for green urban living. The advantages are countless. Besides being a beautiful addition to the concrete jungle, the climate in and around the green building is affected positively, too. Furthermore, if it is executed in a sufficient way, the inner-city temperature is supposed to drop. The temperature changes at the walls itself are decreasing as well, resulting in much less harmful effects for its substance. The plants are able to clean the air we breathe from nitrogen oxides and fine dust. Moreover, urban biodiversity can flourish again and new habitats for numerous animals and plants are created. 

Nevertheless, water management and plant maintenance are very challenging tasks for gardeners, facilitators and construction companies including architects. These tasks are still not tackled sufficiently due to numerous difficulties in the process. Also, the orchestration of different elements like the plant carrier system, substrate, and water management as well as possible sensory connectivity is ambitious for developers and users. 

VOSS itself is well known for various connectors regarding SCR, fuel and heat management as well as hydraulics. Therefore, VOSS is able to build and manage fluid systems in complex surroundings. This portfolio has the potential to be used in various environments for façade greening. 

The Task

The target of this Industry Meets Makers challenge is to develop a concept of façade greening which focusses on the orchestration of the different system elements and results in a sustainable and integer solution for greener buildings and urbanity. Accordingly, it includes our idea and pipeline concept and focusses on the connection between the elements to an overall consummate system. A green façade itself isn’t the goal here, but the combination of multi-benefits such as thermo management, shading, irrigation and many more. The sky is the limit, literally.

We are searching for inspired lateral thinkers who are willing to think outside the box and contribute to more sustainability and a healthier inner-city atmosphere. Together we can develop concepts which will include water management, maintenance aspects and easy application. 

Perspectives

Cooperation is key. Therefore, we will provide participants with expert know-how and are willing to find the best realization of your idea together. This includes introduction into the VOSS product world, information about the current status-quo of façade greening and access to innovation method know-how. Furthermore, we will provide materials needed and additional know-how where necessary to fool around and to validate unconventional ideas.

The best concepts will get the opportunity to be realized into minimal viable product (MVP). Ultimately, the goal is to integrate new technologies and the according concepts into our product portfolio. 

Next Steps

If this sounds appealing to you, we are more than happy if you get in touch with us! 

The briefing will be presented at #IMM2021 future tech bootcamp online kick-off event on June 21st, 2021 and we are excited to tell you more about this fascinating topic afterwards. 

If you already have great ideas for possible concepts before or after the event, we would love a few lines briefly outlining the approach and letting us know a bit more about you and your background. 

Join the mission, where you can become part of pioneering designers for the city of tomorrow.  

Contact

Your main contact persons for this briefing topic on the part of the VOSS Incubator are Dr. Anne Völkel and Sebastian Pfestorf.

About us

The VOSS Incubator

The VOSS Incubator is an innovation lab at the RWTH Aachen Campus. Our team is specialized in developing innovative products based on economic and ecological constraints. In this way, we are the speer of innovation to create new ideas for future business areas of VOSS Automotive GmbH. 

Our innovation projects focus on the topics of green tech, IoT and future mobility. Within these aspects, we investigate which innovative customer promises lead to new business ideas and how they can be implemented with the help of new technologies.

Through focused and agile working methods, we create customer-oriented inventions. Our development process with various iteration loops enables us to incorporate feedback from customers and relevant partners in a needs- and solution-oriented way to turn inventions into innovations.

More about the VOSS Incubator

VOSS

VOSS develops, mechanically engineers, and produces line and connection systems for the transportation industry worldwide.

The success of the VOSS Group is based on close customer proximity, innovative and quality products and the dedication and commitment of our employees.

With strategic corporate development, a responsible awareness of people, the environment and the region, VOSS has evolved over the past 85 years from a small factory in Wipperfürth producing plumbing fittings into an internationally successful group of companies.

The sole shareholder of the VOSS Group is the Hans Hermann Voss Foundation, which supports numerous projects, facilities and institutions in Wipperfürth and throughout Germany.

More about VOSS

Current main briefings 2021

Additional Future Tech Bootcamp briefing specials 2021

BRIEFINGS OF PREVIOUS YEARS