The Switzerland Innovation Park Ost (SIP Ost) was also represented at this year’s OLMA. We shared the stand with our research partner Empa and the Smartfeld education lab. At our stand in Hall 3.1, two projects – the digital fruit twin and a chest strap for measuring body data – provided insight into the development and marketing of innovations. Federal President Ignazio Cassis also got an idea of this.
The joint OLMA stand represented what the Innovationspark Ost stands for and what its added value is. Empa represented the research on behalf of all research partners of SIP Ost. The SIP Ost enables and accelerates innovations – marketable products, processes and services – by networking this very research with industry.
Reduce food waste with the digital fruit twin
Two projects made the topic of innovation visible and tangible at the OLMA. The first was the digital fruit twin, a simplified virtual model developed by Empa. With the help of sensors, food waste can be reduced. OLMA visitors could test the fruit twin online on their own cell phones or on the stand’s own screen. SIP Ost also wants to pass on the knowledge and results from research after the OLMA so that similar tasks can also be solved in other sectors, for example in the pharmaceutical industry or medical technology. In November, knowledge transfer will take place at a joint workshop with Empa .
Live demonstration for Ignazio Cassis
The second project was a chest strap for measuring body data. It is used in the long-term monitoring of cardiovascular patients. The belt was validated in the sleep laboratory of the Kantonsspital St.Gallen. The product is marketed by the Empa spin-off Nahtlos AG , which is rented in the Innovationspark Ost. Ignazio Cassis also found out how the chest strap works. The Federal President visited the SIP Ost on the opening day of the OLMA and received a live demonstration .
Lots of interest from all ages
Finally, the young audience tried simple programming on Smartfeld’s SmartThirt. The Smartfeld educational lab is aimed at children and young people who are introduced to the challenges of the digital age under the credo “technology + creativity”.
The SIP Ost looks back on the OLMA with satisfaction. “We were pleased about the interested visitors to the stand and the positive feedback,” says Bärbel Selm, head of the Networking Center in the Switzerland Innovation Park East. It was a good opportunity to show the work of the SIP Ost and to provide information about innovation funding offers.
The OLMA is the largest public fair in Switzerland. It takes place over ten days in October. In addition to around 500 exhibitors, there are various special shows. This year, various innovative products and ideas related to the topics of mobility, sustainability, agriculture and nutrition could be seen.
