After a 12-month process, Electrolux has wrapped-up its latest open innovation Booster Program, after working with partners to develop four cutting-edge business solutions to real business challenges. The partners for this year’s program, who were selected via pitch process in May 2021 by the Electrolux Open Innovation team, presented their final solutions at a digital Demo Day. Two were developed to minimum viable product (MVP) stage, and two are now ready-to-use technologies.
The open innovation ‘Booster Program’ was launched in 2018 to find cutting-edge solutions from external players such as start-ups, SMEs and university spin-offs. «This is the power of collaboration for innovation – says David Cronström, head of Strategy and Transformation -. We benefit from the knowledge and speed of small companies, whereas we provide them with an enormous platform to scale innovations.»
In the latest edition of the program with LED Tailor, Electrolux developed ways to introduce sanitization using blue LED light into its products, to preserve hygiene in a non-chemical way; with Cerebrumedge, the company developed a digital ergonomic evaluation system for factory workers using an AI-based mobile app; with Enervibe it will be able to harvest energy from the vibrations of its washer-dryer drums; with Drishti Electrolux can automate quality analysis in manufacturing using and improve its operations using advanced AI. «The next step is to evaluate the project outcomes together with our sponsor teams – Cronström says-. We are excited to see the potential evolution of these solutions.»
