Open Bosch
Who we are
Open Bosch is the Bosch group's venture client unit. We test leading startup solutions and make it easy to partner with Bosch.
If you want to collaborate with us, please get in touch.
What we do
We support collaboration between Startups and business units from Bosch. Our systematic and scalable process ensures maximum business impact for both parties.
An open innovation culture is the key to faster solutions in an increasingly complex world.
How we work
Open Bosch applies the so-called Venture Client process. We support business units to identify the potential for external partners from the startup world, help them finding the right company and entering first collaboration projects (pilot). The pilot serves to quickly validate the technology and cultural fit for a given Bosch use case, and to build a successful partnership or supplier relationship.
What's in it for startups?
Open Bosch offers startups that match a Bosch use case to find new customers or partners at Bosch quickly. First pilots are financially compensated by Bosch.
Sell & Scale
We pay you for a first pilot project and connect you with the right stakeholders at Bosch, also to scale your solution internally!
Test & Learn
Integrate your solution in a Bosch use case, collect data and improve quickly. Gain new technical and market knowledge.
Accelerate
Save time, money, and effort:
We ensure an efficient pilot purchasing process for a fast and lean collaboration.
What's in it for Bosch business units?
To make it as convenient as possible for Bosch teams to partner up with a startup, Open Bosch supports from end to end.
Co-Innovate
Become a partner of innovative startups. We support you on the whole process from identifying partnering opportunities to establishing sustainable partnerships.
Accelerate
Accelerate startup collaboration through a standardized pilot process. From initial contact to start of pilot within 3 weeks including purchasing.
Resources
The Open Bosch team provides you with transparent process documentation, NDAs and support with contractual issues.
Success Stories
Open Bosch Award 2024:
Bosch honors Innovation with Ethon.ai and Corvic AI
Dr. Stefan Hartung honors the startup partnership between Bosch and AI-powered solutions from ethon.ai and Corvic AI. AI solutions that drive innovation in manufacturing and semiconductor design at Bosch.
Stuttgart, Germany – On September 18th, 2024, at the Robert Bosch Campus in Renningen, Stefan Hartung presented the Open Bosch Award in its sixth edition, recognizing the impactful partnership with a Bosch Team collaborating with the Swiss startup Ethon.ai, as well a Bosch Team collaborating for the GenAI Championship with Corvic AI from California. The Open Bosch Award annually honors the most outstanding startup partnerships between a Bosch Business unit collaborating with an external startup.
This year’s Open Bosch Award, presented by Dr. Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management, honored the impactful partnership between Ethon.ai and Bosch in transforming manufacturing processes through AI-assisted root cause analysis. Julian Senoner and Bernhard Kratzwald from Ethon.ai received the award alongside the Bosch team members Tim Pychynski, Alexander Kroschel, Dr. Emil Sauter, Melina Löhmann, Tobias Huschle, Jan Straub, Dr. Lena Wagner, Martin Roth and Hans-Peter Grabsch. Sharing the stage with Stefan Hartung was Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Bosch Ventures (RBVC).
The solution, piloted last year, has been successfully implemented at Bosch’s Bühl and Blaichach plants, where it has significantly reduced scrap, rework, and waste. The AIpowered system, developed in collaboration with Bosch’s Corporate Research Department and the Open Bosch Research Team, has contributed to substantial CO2 and cost savings while enhancing product quality and operational efficiency.
In addition to the Open Bosch Award, the sixth edition of the event also featured the GenAI Championship Special Award which honored teams working on projects involving this new technology. Tanja Rueckert, Bosch’s chief digital officer, made the final decision on the GenAI Championship winner and the award went to the Bosch Team collaborating with Corvic AI. Corvic AI impressed the jury with its AI-driven solution for optimizing business processes, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making for Bosch.
Brian Long from Corvic, along with his team, celebrated the award alongside the Bosch team Jun Wang, Fabian Stammler, Eckart Schellkes, and Ivan Marevic! Their innovative solution highlights the potential of generative AI in transforming business workflows and driving operational improvements at Bosch.
At the event, Dr. Stefan Hartung and Ingo Ramesohl reflected on the importance of external collaboration. They emphasized the need for Bosch leaders to explore partnerships that could bring additional value. “Recognizing what’s a great partnership and where we can deliver solutions together – that is the real clue." said Stefan Hartung.
Open Bosch: Driving impactful Innovation
The Open Bosch Award recognizes outstanding partnerships between Bosch Business Units and startups, driving technological advancement and business impact. Bosch’s Venture Client Unit, Open Bosch, helps connect problem owners with the right startups to ensure a strong problem-solution fit, fostering mutually beneficial collaborations. The award is based on business impact, mutual benefit, and the potential to serve as a best practice for future partnerships.
Since its founding in 2018, Open Bosch has supported over 3,000 teams, with 200 of them currently engaged in active projects. Overall, Open Bosch facilitated more than 100 partnerships, further solidifying Bosch’s commitment to fostering external innovation.
Ethon.ai: Leading the Way in Root Cause Analysis
Ethon.ai, headquartered in Switzerland, has redefined operational excellence in manufacturing. Their Manufacturing Analytics System enables rapid and precise identification of root causes in complex production processes, improving efficiency on a large scale. Ethon.ai’s team of AI and manufacturing experts from leading universities, tech companies, and manufacturers understands the unique challenges of the industry and has developed best-in-class tools to overcome them.
Corvic AI: Automating Semiconductor Analysis with AI
Corvic AI, a California-based startup, specializes in AI solutions for the design and production of semiconductor sensors. Their Semiconductor Expertise Assistant (SEA) tackles a key challenge in semiconductor design, where experts typically perform over 100 complex "is/is-not" analyses annually, each taking around two weeks. Corvic’s SEA automates this process using AI-driven insights from databases, images, and knowledge graphs, significantly streamlining root cause analysis.
Open Bosch Award
The Open Bosch Award exists since 2019 for open innovation projects that stand out due to their excellent collaboration between startups and Bosch.
Here are the winners from the last years:
Click here to view 2023 winners
Click here to view 2022 winners
Atlatec: High-resolution 3D maps for automated driving
Grea Technologies: Automated logistics management
Click here to view 2021 winners
Calimoto: rapid emergency assistance for motorcyclists
Rossum: automated order data capture from e-mails
Click here to view 2020 winners
NextNav: 3D location and navigation
POKA: collaboration, knowledge- and skills management software
Click here to view 2019 winners
Code Intelligence: Preventing cyber attacks
Hesai Photonics Technology: Realizing Automated Driving
FAQ
Open Bosch is the Venture Client unit of the Bosch group. This means Open Bosch becomes an early client of the startup during the pilot phase. As a Venture Client we do not invest, meaning we do not ask for shares or equity.
Through this relationship, startups get a supplier status, supplier number, purchase order, and revenue.
No, but Robert Bosch Venture Capital does. Startups we evaluate for a partnership may also be introduced to Robert Bosch Venture Capital for an investment.
Open Bosch becomes an early client, not your shareholder. You will receive payment for the pilot. How much we pay depends on your effort of integrating and validating your solution, including materials, travel, working hours, etc.
No, we are a Venture Client for startups who have a proven track record and significant funding.
After the successful validation of your solution, Bosch aims to become a long-term partner or client of your startup.
You will negotiate further development and supplier agreements directly with the respective business unit and our purchasing department. These negotiations will ideally start during the pilot project.
If you would like to propose a partnership and get in touch with a Bosch department, please get in touch through Innovate-bosch
If you are looking for funding please send your pitchdeck to Info.RBVC@de.bosch.com