Robotics specialists at Fraunhofer IWU receive EXIST funding for spin-off

The start-up Botfellows, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz, is receiving significant support from the EXIST research transfer programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWiK). This funding aims to successfully bring technologically demanding start-ups from universities and non-university research institutions into the economy.

Botfellows uses cutting-edge technology to enable seamless and safe human-robot collaboration in highly flexible and cost-efficient production concepts. The start-up is revolutionising the way people and robots interact, creating safe and productive working environments. Safety is the top priority in the cooperation between humans and robots without protective barriers; the Botfellows team relies on high-tech solutions in which flexible – dynamically changing, i.e. optimised for the situation – safety zones replace rigidly demarcated work areas. The planned spin-off from the Fraunhofer IWU is proof of the team around Dr Mohamad Bdiwi's confidence in the marketability of its almost fully developed solutions.

Dr Mohamad Bdiwi began his research into human-robot collaboration as a doctoral student at the Chemnitz University of Technology in 2008. He developed innovative solutions for safe interaction between humans and industrial heavy-duty robots. The other co-founders wrote their master's or diploma theses at the Technical Universities of Chemnitz and Dresden and have been working together for several years at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) in Chemnitz on the next generation of human-robot cooperation.

The EXIST research transfer programme is a nationwide funding programme that supports outstanding high-tech start-ups in making the leap into the business world. It funds technically demanding and promising start-up projects such as Botfellows so that they can prove their technical feasibility and marketability. This includes developing a prototype, drawing up a business plan and preparing for the company's foundation.

To optimally prepare teams for applying for EXIST funding, the SAXEED start-up network regularly holds compact boot camps. In just five intensive weeks, participants are prepared for submitting their applications. Consultants with extensive start-up experience provide expert input and practical exercises on topics such as business ideas, innovation, markets and business planning. Bdiwi and his team also received valuable feedback and tips for their – successful – funding application.