"Standardization connects the world": SNV anniversary event

The venue in the transformer hall in Baden was not chosen by chance. In 1919, transformers were manufactured there by the then BBC (now ABB). And it was BBC that founded the "Swiss Standards Commission" on July 2, 1919, together with other venerable Swiss industrial companies such as Sulzer or Escher-Wyss. The purpose: to create standards that would apply everywhere in industry.

Standards may be a dry, bureaucratic topic for many. Stefan Ramseier, head of the ABB Research Center in Baden-Dättwil, emphasized in his welcoming address the necessity of communication when it comes to implementing necessary standards, which ultimately all have the goal of making our lives easier. Around 26000 standards are in force today, 1000 of which are purely Swiss standards.

5G standard for further networking

The fact that standards are not rigid systems but are subject to constant change was demonstrated at the SNV anniversary event in four "Inspiration Sessions" - each of which was held in a different room. So the audience had to move - just as industrial development does. One driver of technological development - and also a result of the same - is, for example, the 5G mobile communications standard, which Matthias Jungen from Swisscom explained. 5G not only forms the technological prerequisite for the Internet of Things, i.e. machine-to-machine communication, but also opens up new and more flexible possibilities for data transmission, for example through so-called "network slicing", whereby certain network areas can be reserved for specific purposes.

No "innovation theater

There is also a lot of talk about innovation in connection with digitization. Jean-Philippe Hagmann exposed much of this as pure, albeit often unintentional, "innovation theater. Many of these "innovation labs" or "digital hubs" are "merely a backdrop," according to Hagmann, who has also written a book on the subject. He believes that many companies have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to innovation. Instead of "ideas," it would be better to focus on "discoveries. A better understanding of the innovation process is needed: "Doing 'it' right before doing 'it' right," the speaker said. It is also important to clarify who should play which role in this "innovation theater," he said. Hagmann sees the "bridge builder" as crucial here, i.e., the role that ensures that avant-gardists and enablers in an organization can also understand each other properly.

From drones and robots

In the large hall, the focus was then on an innovation that has long since become established in some cases: Around drones. These are already being used in a variety of ways today: As a means of transport, as an instrument for surveillance - wherever needs have to be covered from the air with little effort. However: Drones have also created new risks, as Dominique C. Brack impressively explained in his presentation. Espionage and even the paralysis of entire airports, as recently happened at London Gatwick, are scenarios of undesired drone operations. Defense measures for this are not yet fully developed, as Dominique C. Brack demonstrated by means of a "shooting exercise": two participants failed to shoot down a toy drone with toy rifles - despite appealing accuracy...

Robotics and electromobility were the topics of the last "Inspiration Session". Andreas Hufschmid and Adrian Wachholz showed how ABB, for example, already provides technologies in both areas that are used in industry and transportation. Always guided by the goal: to conserve resources - be they human or natural.

After so much "inspiration", the SNV anniversary event came to a close with an impressive light painting show by light artist Alex Dowis from Prague and a "Food Festival".

More information: www.snv.ch