EADS ETL
27 February 2013
EADS’ technology licensing outreach to the Canadian automobile sector today focused on how the company’s patent portfolio could help manufacturers and their suppliers reach challenging long-term industry goals for vehicle efficiency improvement.
During a workshop in Windsor, Ontario, the EADS team met with a broad cross-section of the country’s automobile sector through presentations and individual breakout sessions that were organized by Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) with support of the government’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada ministry.
“We will need to be producing much more efficient cars to meet the improvements in fuel standards through 2025,” explained APMA President Steve Rodgers. “This is a challenge for an industry that saw the weight of its platforms increase regularly from the 1980s, and we can learn much from EADS – potentially benefitting from its innovation and portfolio of patents.”
EADS Innovation Works’ Dr. Christian Weimer (second from left) discusses technology transfer from aerospace to the automotive industry during one of today’s breakout sessions. To his right is Wulf Hoeflich, Head of the EADS Technology Licensing initiative. Joining them are representatives from General Motors Canada, the Canadian embassy in Berlin and the Natural Resources Canada ministry.
Attendees at today’s meetings in downtown Windsor included Canadian representatives from Ford and General Motors, along with such suppliers as the ABC Group, AGS Automotive Systems, Anchor Danly, AUTO21 and Magna International.
In addition to the general presentations at today’s workshop, breakout sessions were conducted on topics ranging from improving the innovation process to adapting other industries’ technology to the automotive sector.
“Our meetings confirmed that the automotive sector is clearly looking to outside innovation for improvements in their processes, and its companies are seeking a better understanding of how such innovation can be introduced commercially,” said Dr. Christian Weimer of the EADS Innovation Works corporate research and development arm.
Weimer is the Head of Operations for EADS Innovation Works’ technical capability centre for composites technologies, and is one of the EADS experts participating in this week’s technology licensing outreach across Canada’s “automotive corridor.”
Also participating in the tour is Olaf Heinzinger, Senior Manager of Intelligent Systems in EADS Innovation Works’ technical capability centre for intelligent systems, sensors, electronic and systems integration.
“Many opportunities have been identified for further discussions with the automobile sector, especially in the areas of electronics, production methods and materials,” said Heinzinger.
Completing the EADS team on this week’s Canadian visits are Wulf Hoeflich, Head of the EADS Technology Licensing initiative; Dr. Peter Westphal, the EADS Senior Manager – Strategy, for Technology Licensing and Intellectual Property; and Lawrence Stein, Senior Manager of Technical Marketing for EADS’ Corporate Technical Office (CTO), which oversees the company’s technology licensing initiative and the EADS Innovation Works operation.
EADS’ technology licensing outreach in Canada has been arranged with support of the Canadian embassy and consulate in Germany, as well as the APMA.
• Learn more about the EADS Technology Licensing initiatives’ achievements and activities with the archived news stories.
