A confidential environment where companies, researchers and technology experts work side-by-side to define a clear research question and experimental plan. It all happens during the Deep Dive at Do IoT Fieldlab. By combining creative problem-mapping with targeted technical input, it now helps organisations to move quickly from uncertainty to a structured path forward towards their end goal.
From concept to practice
When Olivier Sinck, Project Manager at the Fieldlab, joined Do IoT Fieldlab as a trainee, his background in Industrial Design and Entrepreneurship naturally led him into a role that bridged technology, design, and service innovation. One of his first major projects at Do IoT Fieldlab was the creation of the Deep Dive, an intensive, half-day collaborative workshop designed to help companies turn complex technical challenges into applicable research and development plans.
The Deep Dive has proven to be an efficient method for enabling companies to transform complex challenges into well-defined research plans within just half a day. It has already been applied in a range of contexts, from helping SenseNL explore how to modernise their systems with emerging 5G features, to supporting PATS in improving drone connectivity in greenhouses.
Modelled on a similar approach developed at RoboHouse, the format has been adapted to align with the specific working practices of Do IoT Fieldlab. “RoboHouse had been running their Deep Dives for some time and with great success,” Olivier explains. “Our aim was to adapt it to Do IoT Fieldlab’s way of working, so we could offer it as a structured service to our own partners.”
Before the introduction of the Deep Dive, formulating a research question typically required lengthy exchanges between project managers, partners, and the entrepreneur. By convening all parties in one single session, Do IoT Fieldlab can now reach the same outcome far more quickly and efficiently. “The aim,” Olivier explains, “is to formulate a research question and an experimental plan that are directly relevant to the entrepreneur. We achieve this by bringing the right people together and guiding them through a creative, interactive process.”
Requirement to partake
The Deep Dive program is designed to support innovative projects, primarily originating from small and medium-sized enterprises. While many participants are based in South Holland, reflecting regional subsidy arrangements, the Fieldlab also collaborates with organisations from across other areas, and bigger companies as well. The key requirement is that the challenge must be non-standard or complex in nature. For instance, routine 4G or 5G connectivity issues are generally best handled by commercial service providers. However, if your project involves developing a reliable private 5G network tailored to support, it presents a highly specialised challenge. For example, automated machinery in a factory, where standard connectivity solutions prove insufficient. Such a challenge demands in-depth expertise and innovative approaches beyond those offered by typical providers. It is in such cases that companies are eligible to participate in a Deep Dive at Do IoT Fieldlab.
As Olivier explains, “Sometimes the answer to a problem is simply for the entrepreneur to purchase a specific 4G router. This means that a Deep Dive is not always needed. However, when a more detailed experiment is required, we step in to guide the company through a Deep Dive and testing in one of our specialised facilities.”
Mapping the challenge
A Deep Dive starts by building a shared understanding of the situation. Participants work together to create a visual map of the environment in which the challenge exists. “We literally map out the situation so that everyone can an insight,” Olivier explains. “The Deep Dive is not just about technology, but about identifying potential obstacles in the development process and recognising what can be improved.”
Once the context is clear, the group moves on to exploring technical requirements. Here, the focus is on what the wireless network or system must deliver, and how different solutions might meet those needs. This stage often brings to light both immediate options and possibilities for future developments.
Expert guidance tailored to your needs
Each session is guided by two roles: the facilitator and moderator. The facilitator manages preparation, timing and documentation, ensuring the process runs smoothly. The moderator often leads the conversation, asks probing questions, and keeps attention on the challenge. Who else gets a seat at the table, depends on the nature of the project. Often there are engineers from the Do IoT Fieldlab present, joined by wireless technology specialists from MCS, researchers from TNO, and, in some cases, experts from TU Delft. This formation is deliberate. It provides a combination of hands on technical knowledge, market awareness, and research insight that allows the group to explore not only what is possible now, but also what might become achievable in the near future.
Shared Value
The Deep Dive benefits both the companies involved and Do IOT Fieldlab itself. Entrepreneurs bring their expertise in their own field, while the Fieldlab and its partners contribute deep knowledge of wireless technologies. “The entrepreneurs bring their expertise in their own field,” Olivier reflects, “and we bring the wireless technology knowledge. Together, we create a clear path forward to accelerate wireless innovations.”
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