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Siemens launched Siemens for Startups, a new program to empower early-stage engineering and manufacturing startups. Announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the program will enable new innovative companies to accelerate innovation, streamline development processes, and scale faster by providing venture-related services, while reducing the cost of access to Siemens software and hardware. competitive, sustainable, and resilient "Startups are essential to making our customers more competitive, sustainable, and resilient," said Peter Koerte, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer.    "By collaborating with startups, Siemens helps bring breakthrough ideas to industries faster, empowering customers to address global challenges more effectively with cutting-edge technologies, tools, and solutions." three pillars The Siemens for Startups program has three pillars: Connect: The new program will help onboard startup companies to the Siemens Xcelerator marketplace, thus providing access to a global go-to-market channel and the Siemens Xcelerator ecosystem. Collaborate: As an early customer and co-developer, Siemens will collaborate with pioneering startups through venture clients. This approach will give Siemens access to cutting-edge capabilities and services and provide startups with the early revenue needed for growth. Empower: Solutions from the "Siemens for Startups" program will provide startups – whether focused on product development or software development – with packaged access to essential software tools from Siemens Xcelerator. Partnership with AWS The collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to fostering entrepreneurship As part of its ongoing strategic collaboration with AWS, Siemens will link the "Siemens for Startups" program with AWS’s Startup program to accelerate innovation, streamline development processes, and enable startups to scale faster. The collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving digital transformation in the industrial sector. generative AI, and cloud services "Collaborating with Siemens allows us to extend the capabilities of our AWS Startup program to a new generation of innovators in the engineering and manufacturing space,” said Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS. “By providing startups with advanced software, generative AI, and cloud services, AWS and Siemens are enabling them to bring their ideas to life more quickly and boost entire industries with cutting-edge solutions." tools and resources Qualifying startups will receive AWS credits, business development resources, and access to the AWS Activate program Integrating Siemens' comprehensive suite of industrial software – including design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio – into AWS’s scalable cloud infrastructure and startup program will enable startups to access the tools and resources they need to seize market opportunities. For technical and go-to-market support, qualifying startups will receive AWS credits, business development resources, and access to the AWS Activate program. Showcasing startups At CES 2025, Siemens highlighted the following startup companies that are collaborating with Siemens’ teams and technology to scale operations.       Arkisys is building one of the first business platforms in space for new technology hosting, satellite integration, assembly, and resupply. The Arkisys Port supports scalable rapid prototyping, new payload, and technology testing, the assembly and integration of new free-flying space platforms and destinations for orbital transfer vehicles, and on-orbit assembly and manufacturing. Dirac, a Siemens Technology Partner, is a pioneer in automated manufacturing workflow software, revolutionizing American manufacturing with innovative solutions that bridge the gap between design and production. Its flagship product, BuildOS, is the first automated work instruction platform, using physics-based simulations and manufacturing best practices to automatically generate animated, interactive, 3D assembly-ready work instructions directly from CAD models. BuildOS enables companies to seamlessly transition from design to production while retaining critical tacit knowledge, aggregating and contextualizing it within the design process. As a Technology Partner working alongside Siemens, Dirac has been able to drive enormous value across the Automotive Aerospace & Defense industries. EthonAI is developing the EthonAI Manufacturing Analytics System MAS, a powerful software suite designed to achieve operational excellence at scale. The MAS creates a common context across disparate factory data sources, analyzes data using the latest AI techniques, and makes the results accessible through a suite of interoperating applications. The applications within the MAS are specifically tailored to improve operational KPIs such as quality, throughput, uptime, costs, and sustainability. Customers using EthonAI have achieved waste reductions of over 50 percent. Haddy is revolutionizing furniture manufacturing with advanced 3D printing and robotics, producing high-quality, sustainable products at a low cost and on a commercial scale. Haddy is building a global network of local micro-factories equipped with hybrid Flexbot systems from CEAD and recycling units that shorten the supply chain and help the environment by reducing waste. Instrumental technology automates failure discovery and root cause analysis in electronics manufacturing - accelerating new product development and improving yield in production. Easy-to-use workflows enable engineers to do failure analysis 100x faster. Tended uses geospatial data and wearable technology to transform the safety of high-risk work environments. The solution provides organizations with enhanced visibility over onsite operations to quickly identify and correct unsafe actions. A high degree of accuracy helps to ensure people, plants and equipment are in the right place at the right time, helping to prevent near misses and accidents.

In an era where bytes travel faster than sound waves, the communications industry stands at the vanguard of digital transformation. From fiber optic cables snaking across the seas to the expanding forests of 5G towers, the communications sector is powering innovation across lives, industries and societies. The 5G quantum leap: From faster downloads to redefining industries The fifth generation of mobile networks isn’t just about faster downloads - it's a seismic shift The fifth generation of mobile networks isn’t just about faster downloads - it's a seismic shift. They’re entering a world of massive device connectivity. Communications giants are investing billions to build a digital superhighway. But, beyond speed, 5G will redefine industries. Think remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. The 5G spectrum of mmWave, Sub-6 GHz, and DSS means super-fast speeds, excellent distance coverage, and smooth transitions from the 4G spectrum. The paradigm shift to 5G is bringing about an era of ultra-low latency, massive device connectivity, and augmented reality, with potential use cases that will rock our world. 5G will power smart cities, fuel a future of innovation 5G will power smart cities, fuelling a future of innovation and efficiency. Imagine traffic lights that adjust in real time and energy grids that optimize consumption. It will underpin universal healthcare, taking remote surgeries and patient monitoring from pilot projects to a run-of-the-mill reality. It will make autonomous vehicles the norm and bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds, making augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences even more immersive. The connectivity revolution: Advanced and frontier connectivity Not so long ago, a phone was just a phone. Now, it’s a pocket-sized command center. Communication companies have transformed from carriers to architects of connectivity ecosystems. They stitch together continents with submarine cables, create constellations from satellites, and beam Wi-Fi around the globe. The world is now a rich tapestry of signals, and the communications sector is the weaver. In the quest for seamless communication and global interconnectivity, 5G has captured headlines In the quest for seamless communication and global interconnectivity, 5G has captured headlines. But it isn't the only innovation. It’s part of a broader revolution with a symphony of technologies promising to better connect the world. Take advanced connectivity. It’s the steady progress made in expanding networks. Advanced connectivity Advanced connectivity is like the dependable workhorse that keeps users connected day in and day out. Mobile, broadband, and short-range providers are continuously upgrading infrastructure and rolling out new technologies that provide seamless connections, faster speeds and reduced latency, while supporting more connected devices across the global population. Frontier connectivity Frontier connectivity is, in comparison, more revolutionary. It’s pushing boundaries and venturing into uncharted territories. Its geographical footprint is limited at present, but it promises a transformative impact. It will bring internet access to even the most remote corners of the world. It will connect the unconnected, bridge digital divides, and make the impossible possible.  The evolution of voice interaction: Turning mundane voice interactions into dynamic, intelligent conversations Gone are the days of dialing a phone number and speaking to a human operator Gone are the days of dialing a phone number and speaking to a human operator. Or worse still, being met with a soul-destroying robotic interactive voice response (IVR) system telling users to press 1 for billing, 2 for technical support, etc. Modern chatbots have taken the phone out of the picture, replacing a maze of options with a simple typed Q&A back-and-forth. Natural language processing (NLP) Beyond chatbots, natural language processing (NLP) means AI now understands context, accents and colloquialisms. It can decipher spoken words and translate them into actionable commands. The rise of voice assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, which engage in conversations and even tell jokes hints at the next stage in the evolution of communication. Already deployed in the field are deep learning, trained on vast datasets, generating machine voices that are virtually indistinguishable from humans. The world is on the precipice of instant translation from verbal or written inputs to and from both widely spoken and minority languages. And AI with emotional intelligence that analyzes voice tones and sentiments, gauging resonance and perceptions at scale. To riff on an old telecoms’ slogan - the future is bright, the future is intelligent AI. Highways in the sky: Converging clouds and satellites The communications industry is consolidating two seemingly disparate innovations - cloud computing and satellite technology - to bring seamless connectivity to the most remote parts of the world. Companies continue to launch satellites, while cloud providers build Edge data centers all over the world — they’re also combining. Partnerships that create seamless connections Major global cloud providers are forging alliances with satellite operators Major global cloud providers like Google, Microsoft, and AWS are forging alliances with satellite operators, such as SpaceX, SES, and Telesat. Such partnerships will extend the cloud’s reach, create seamless connections, and take the world closer to the Edge, where connectivity, data insights, and real-time analytics reach end users at the touch of a button. Northern Sky Research (NSR) predicts that the cloud-satellite market will reach $32 billion and generate upwards of 240 exabytes of traffic by 2031. It suggests Cloud will play a key role in bridging gaps between the traditional aerospace sector, downstream end users, and middle-layer organizations going forward. Unison between Cloud and satellite The unison between Cloud and satellite is shaking up the markets and ecosystem, promising businesses dramatic jumps in efficiency, revenue growth, and agility. It’s also lowering the barriers to entry for space-derived data services and reshaping connectivity, data processing, and digital service delivery across the globe. Guarding the digital borders: Fending off cyber security threats As data flows increase, so do cyber threats. Communications companies encrypt their messages, monitor threats, and fight off would-be attackers. But it’s a cat-and-mouse game. The more connected the world becomes, the more vulnerabilities emerge. Presently, the industry is actively defending the interconnected world, investing in robust defenses, fortifying networks, and implementing more stringent authentication measures. Communications firms Adopt a ‘zero trust’ approach Overall, communications companies are adopting a ‘zero trust’ approach Overall, communications companies are adopting a ‘zero trust’ approach. It’s a model that scrutinizes every access request regardless of location, not trusting any user or device - even those within a network perimeter. It relies on continuous verification, strict access controls, and micro-segmentation. Just like a bouncer checking IDs on every digital door. Over the last decade or so, the world has seen biometric authentication move from spy movies to the palm of people’s hands. More and more were moving away from traditional passwords and multi-factor verification to fingerprint scans and facial recognition. It’s as if communications providers are upgrading from rusty padlocks to state-of-the-art uncrackable safes. AI to play a much larger defensive role Looking forward, the world will see AI play a much larger defensive role, including machine learning algorithms analyzing vast quantities of fast-moving network traffic, detecting anomalies in real time and predicting threats. In collaboration with governments, industry bodies and private businesses, the communications sector will propel information sharing, threat intelligence, and collective defenses. Emergence of advanced technologies like 5G The communications industry is at the forefront, shaping the digital landscape The communications industry is at the forefront, shaping the digital landscape, and its impact will continue to reverberate across all sectors, societies and personal lives. With the emergence of technologies like 5G, advanced and frontier connectivity, voice interaction evolution, and the convergence of cloud computing and satellite technology, the world is witnessing an unprecedented era of innovation. As advancements unfold, it's clear that the communications industry will play a pivotal role in shaping how everyone connects, communicates, and collaborates, now and in the future. Carmel Owens, MD of GlobalLogic Ireland Athlone-based Carmel Owens is the Managing Director (MD) of digital engineering major firm - GlobalLogic in Ireland. Having joined GlobalLogic in 2020, then Sidero, Carmel has more than 20 years’ experience in the IT sector. In 2023, GlobalLogic acquired cloud and software development company - Sidero to expand its European footprint and position it at the forefront of technology innovation in Ireland. Extensive industry experience Carmel Owens previously held senior executive roles with major indigenous and multinational technology players, including SQS (Expleo), Version 1, Dell EMC, and Sungard Availability Services. At GlobalLogic, Carmel Owens is responsible for spearheading continued growth, shaping the company’s strategy, and overseeing daily business operations. Carmel was named Person of the Year at the 2024 Tech Excellence Awards in association with IP Telecom.

The use of axial flux motors is gaining traction across industries, particularly in the electric motor space. Axial flux motors or pancake motors are mechanically configured to provide specific advantages when compared to ubiquitous radial flux motors. By design, the space between the rotor and stator (described in technical terms as the direction of magnetic flux between the two) in an axial flux motor is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation.  radial flux motors Its counterpart, the radial flux motor, is named for the magnetic field generated by the stator windings that moves radially across the air gap between the stator and rotor and induces a torque that turns the rotor. Despite the ubiquity of radial flux motors, both types offer characteristic strengths and weaknesses, depending on the application. The magnetic field generated by the stator windings that moves radially across the air gap According to Infinitum’s chief strategy officer, Bhavnesh Patel, axial flux propulsion is gaining ground in the EV space due to specific design form factors that allow the motor to sustainably power passenger and commercial electric vehicles. Axial flux motors, he said, are touted for their ability to generate more torque and power density than radial flux motors, and occupy less space based on the configuration.   Aircore Motor Topology is Different Patel told Machine Design during a one-on-one briefing that Infinitum will roll out the next generation of its axial flux motor (Aircore EC motor) at the AHR Expo in Chicago (January 22-24, 2024).  Aircore EC is a high-efficiency motor designed to sustainably power commercial and industrial applications—such as HVAC fans, pumps, and data centers—with less energy consumption, reduced emissions, and reduced waste.  Covered by 43 issued patents and 48 pending patents, the new motor replaces the heavy, copper wound iron stator found in traditional motors with a lightweight, printed circuit board (PCB) stator that is 10 times more reliable, 10% more efficient, and 50% smaller and lighter, noted Infinitum’s briefing notes. Author's quote A stator is essentially copper wire wrapped around iron; you can run current through that copper" Every motor is built around a stator and rotor. “A stator is essentially copper wire wrapped around iron; you can run current through that copper and it creates a magnetic field,” explained Patel.  “The innovation that we have is that we eliminated the iron within that stator and, instead of using copper wire, we etched the copper on multiple layers of a printed circuit board. And that results in a number of benefits.” PCB stator design In mobility applications, for example, PCB stators offer promising performance and efficiency benefits due to superior heat mitigation and high power density. Another distinguishing factor is that it uses 66% less copper than conventional motors, Patel said. Replacing the iron core with a PCB stator has further resulted in a reduction in mechanical losses, greater efficiency gains, and noise and vibration reductions.  With the PCB stator design, said Patel, the motor can achieve up to four to five times the current density of a conventional, liquid-cooled motor using a liquid cooling technique that allows the coolant to be in direct contact with the stator, mitigating heat across a larger surface area, enabling high overload capability and extended life. Combination of Motor and VFD The combination motor and variable frequency drive or VFD is an explanatory characteristic The startup characterized the Aircore EC motor system as an integrated variable frequency drive that delivers upwards of 93% system efficiency, as well as class-pioneering power and torque density in a low-footprint package that is 20% lighter than the previous version.  The combination motor and variable frequency drive or VFD (“essentially the electronics that drive the motor”) is a defining feature. The advantage of combining the two components, according to Patel, is that Infinitum was to “software-define the motor.” In other words, through firmware, the OEM can tell the motor exactly what operating point it needs to operate at. (For instance, 10 HP, or 9 HP, or 7 HP, and so forth.) UL compliance rating Motors typically come off the shelf with a NEMA sticker and UL compliance rating. “The UL sticker will say, for example, a 10 HP, 1800 RPM motor will draw 12 amps,” explained Patel. But this presents a limitation, he said, because it denotes the only operating point at which one can modulate the speed. “That means that the machine designer or equipment builder will have to make sure their wiring size is designed for 12 amps, that every one of the motors can support 12 amps, that the circuit breakers have to be designed around 12 amps, the transformers and overload relays and everything else upstream has to be designed for 12 amps,” Patel said. Motor with the VFD  But the UL sticker reflects that the motor now is drawing a lower input current" But developing a combo solution—motor with the VFD—has meant that the design engineer has more flexibility. “If the customer’s operating point is something other than 10 HP—let’s say it’s a 1,200 RPM application—we can actually tell the motor that its max speed is 1,200 RPM,” said Patel. “But the UL sticker reflects that the motor now is drawing a lower input current. So, instead of 12 amps at 1,200 RPM, now you might be drawing only six amps. And your wiring size can now be reduced.” Reduction in the capital costs There are cost savings to be had in large facilities, too. By one estimation a typical data center relies on 500 motors in their HVAC systems. For Microsoft or Amazon, or any entity building a data center with more than 1,000 motors, this could be a significant reduction in the capital costs of building that facility.  “The upfront cost is reduced just because they use that technology,” pointed out Patel. “There is operational cost reduction because we’re using less energy to provide the same amount of cooling, and so there’s longer-term operational savings.” Target Application: HVAC Infinitum is rolling out its latest PCB stator motor with specific market segments in mind Infinitum is rolling out its latest PCB stator motor with specific market segments in mind, said Patel during the briefing with Machine Design. “We looked out into the market and we said, there’s a lot of places motors are used—everything from a dishwasher motor to 40 motors in a single electric vehicle,” Patel said. “Think about the car windows and the windshield wipers and the fan—there are a whole bunch of the motors there. The point being, there’s a lot of applications this could potentially go into, but we decided to narrow it down to HVAC to start with, industrial second and then mobility third. And within each segment, we found a very receptive audience. Think about most HVAC systems that are running almost 24/7, and so efficiency and sustainability is key for many of these applications,” he said. Cooling and Heating Market Calls Backing from key investors is part and parcel of Infinitum’s success story. The start-up reported last year that it had secured $185 million in Series E funding to expand the company, increase production to meet customer demand and drive decarbonization in the industrial sector. Industrial automation juggernaut Rockwell Automation signed an agreement with Infinitum last year and is helping the startup break into the industrial space—specifically material handling applications. “Think again about an Amazon distribution center or UPS facility,” said Patel. “They have hundreds of motors on those conveyor systems. Rockwell today supplies a lot of the VFDs that drive those conveyors with our technology, combining the VFD—the electronics, essentially—and the motors to drive those conveyor systems." Global HVAC market size Global axial flux motor need size is cast to grow from $150.3 million in 2022 to $395.5 million by 2032 Startups like Infinitum are impacted by global economic trends. The global axial flux motor market size is projected to grow from $150.3 million in 2022 to $395.5 million by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%, according to Spherical Insights. The global HVAC market size was estimated at $16.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $22.1 billion by 2028 and with a CAGR of 5.10% during the forecast period 2023-2028, according to a Market Data Forecast. Infinitum’s decision Patel said market size is an important rationale for Infinitum’s decision to focus on commercial HVAC as a core market. Potential applications for the technology are wide-ranging and may include process compressors, conveyors, pumps, fans, blowers, coolers, compressors, crushers, chippers, and grinders. Analysts report electric motors will see strong expansion across industries, such as automotive (which is predicted to dominate) and HVAC (systems that manage heating and cooling in industrial and commercial buildings). These industries will expand due to investments in product development.