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UK-Germany Digital Catapult Global Challenge: Final – applying AI and DLT to industrial challenges with Siemens and CHEP Europe

Date: 8 October 2020 09:00 - 8 October 2020 12:15

Designed for organisations of all sizes working within and for the industrial and manufacturing sector, on Thursday 8 October 2020, the UK Germany Digital Catapult Global Challenge Pitch Day will witness pioneering artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technology startups pitch solutions to industry challenges set by Siemens and CHEP Europe. The real-world challenges each explore opportunities around sustainability and new business models that will drive change within industrial settings.

The Digital Catapult Global Challenge is an international innovation programme designed to strengthen bilateral relationships, foster collaboration and drive forward innovation. Building on the success of the first UK-Canada AI Innovation Challenge in 2018, in 2020 Digital Catapult is collaborating with industry partners Siemens and CHEP Europe, and the UK and German innovation ecosystems to challenge pioneering technology startups and scaleups to develop solutions for the real-world challenges.

In January the launch of the UK-Germany Digital Catapult Global Challenge in the British Embassy in Berlin brought together senior representatives from both the UK and German industry to discover more about the challenges and the potential for bilateral collaboration. This Pitch Day will see the best 12 startups pitch their challenge based solutions to a panel of technology and industry experts. At the end of the event, there will be one winner per country for both challenges, with the chance to work further with Siemens and CHEP Europe.

The Digital Catapult Global Challenge is funded by the UK Government, through the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Department for International Trade. It is supported by the British Embassy and Consulate network in Germany and the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Science & Innovation Network, along with multiple partners across the UK & Germany.

Why attend?

This unique global challenge will focus on two advanced digital technologies: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) including blockchain. Siemens and CHEP Europe have put forward two industry specific challenges:

Siemens: How can artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technologies be used to interpret and share IoT sensor data from industrial manufacturing?

CHEP Europe: Minimising carbon footprints by optimising supply chain logistics with early flexible forecasting of resources.

This current stage of the UK-Germany Global Challenge will be host the final where six startups from each country will pitch their approaches to tackling the challenges put forward by Siemens and CHEP Europe.

This event provides a unique opportunity to listen to innovative concepts pitched by top startups from the UK and Germany surrounded by industry leaders. It allows technology experts to engage with relevant, real-world challenges. The event will also provide the chance to network with all the finalists, partners and stakeholders associated with the challenge and beyond.

Who should attend?

This launch event has been specifically designed for an audience of government representatives, attendees from industrial and manufacturing organisations, startups, accelerators and innovation houses working in or influencing the industrial sectors.

Agenda

09:00 – Introduction to the event and the judging panel, Katy Ho, Head of Innovation Practice

09:10 – Welcome note from Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Trade Policy in the Department for International Trade

09:15 – Welcome note from Thomas Jarzombek, Commissioner of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for the Digital Industry and Start-ups

09:20 – Siemens Challenge presentation, Imran Agha, Technology Innovation Manager

09:25 – Startups pitches to Siemens Challenge

10:30 – Coffee break

10:40 – CHEP Challenge presentation, Michael Archer, Strategy Development Director

10:45 – Startups pitches to CHEP Challenge

11:50 – Coffee break

12:00 – Announcement of winners and awards presentation

12:15 – Close