As an entrepreneur, you want to develop something using wireless technology, but where do you even begin? With our Deep Dive, you will have a clear path to your ultimate goal in just a few hours. Together with researchers and technology experts, you will work on defining a clear research question and an experimental plan. How? With a combination of creative problem analysis and targeted technical input.
When project manager Olivier Sinck started as a trainee at Do IoT Fieldlab, he wanted a role that combined technology, design and service innovation, drawing on his background in industrial design and entrepreneurship. He was given the opportunity to develop the Deep Dive: a workshop that provides concrete help to companies with their innovation. In just a few hours, complex technical challenges are translated into a concrete step-by-step plan.
The format is based on an approach developed by our partner RoboHouse and has now been adapted to our own specific working method. “Because RoboHouse had so much success with their Deep Dives, we wanted to introduce this model and offer it to entrepreneurs who are struggling with wireless connectivity issues.” Previously, it took a lot of time to figure out exactly what an entrepreneur wanted to investigate. Now we bring everyone together and can identify their needs much more quickly. “The goal,” Olivier explains, “is to clarify a research question and draw up an experimental plan that the entrepreneur can start working on immediately. The workshop is not only compact and useful, but also creative and educational.”
The Deep Dive programme is specifically designed for small to medium-sized businesses that want to innovate. Most participants are from South Holland, but organisations from other regions and larger companies are also more than welcome. The main condition is that the challenge needs to be technically complex. Routine bottlenecks with 4G or 5G are often best solved by commercial providers. But when it comes to developing a reliable, tailor-made private 5G network, specialist expertise is required. For example, in the case of automated machines in a factory, where standard connectivity solutions fall short.
Olivier explains:
“You then need an approach that goes beyond the standard offerings of market players. Sometimes the solution to a problem is simply for the entrepreneur to purchase a specific 4G router. In these cases, a Deep Dive is not necessary. However, when a more detailed experiment is required, we guide the company through a Deep Dive session and testing in one of our specialised facilities. In short: if you want a customised solution, call us in.”
A Deep Dive begins with jointly mapping out the situation and the environment in which the challenge lies. As Olivier explains:
“They literally sketch out the situation so that everyone understands it. The Deep Dive is not only about technology, but also about identifying potential obstacles in the development process and discovering areas for improvement.”
Once the context is clear, the entrepreneur and experts continue to explore the technical requirements. The focus is then on what the wireless network or system needs to deliver and what different solutions are conceivable. This phase often provides a great deal of insight: both immediate options and possibilities for the future.
Each session is led by two people: the facilitator and the moderator. The facilitator prepares the session and ensures that the process runs smoothly. The moderator leads the discussion, asks stimulating questions and ensures that the central question remains the focus. Who else participates depends on the nature of the question. Engineers from Do IoT Fieldlab are often present, supplemented by wireless technology specialists from our regular partner MCS, researchers from TNO and, in some cases, experts from Delft University of Technology. Olivier: “This composition offers a combination of practical technical knowledge, market knowledge and research insight. It allows us to explore together what is possible now, but also what the potential is for the near future.”
The Deep Dive is beneficial for both the companies involved and Do IoT Fieldlab itself. Entrepreneurs contribute their expertise in their own field, and the technical experts add their in-depth knowledge of wireless technologies. ‘An entrepreneur naturally knows exactly what is important in their own field and market segment,” says Olivier, “and we know a lot about wireless technology. With a Deep Dive, we not only learn from each other, but we also map out a clear path to accelerate wireless innovations.”
Curious about the possibilities for your organisation? Contact us now.
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