Digital Innovation Magazine - March 2020

GLOBAL SOLUTION Meet Stefan Måhl, VP Strategic Operations, and Ena Ryan, Director Sourcing Non-Product Related Materials and Services

Tickets at the ready for London’s premier immersive tech event

23 - 24 March 2020 | Copenhagen

The must-attend summit uniting logistics and postal operators across EMEA

Online shift: digital operations for the new customer

Opportunities in data and AI

Transformation journeys to a hightech future

Visit leadersinlogistics.com/summit

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pring is in the air in the Digital Innovation office, and with the warmer weather upon us, we are really looking forward to venturing out over the coming weeks. The diary is jam-packed with industry events for the months ahead – we cannot wait to rub shoulders with Europe’s most esteemed business leaders. A must-attend for April is XR Europe 2020, London’s premier immersive tech event. Turn to page 44 to check out our guide!

Our cover interview this issue comes courtesy of Stefan Måhl, VP Strategic Operations, and Ena Ryan, Director Sourcing Non-Product Related Materials and Services, at leading global energy-efficient air conditioning solutions provider, Munters (p6). Covering everything from digitalisation and innovation, through to sustainability and collaboration, we were treated to a real insight into how this 65-year-old company continues to evolve and add value.

As ever, we are amazed by the latest innovations cropping up across Europe in a bid to boost sustainability. From AI solutions making countries more carbon neutral (p28), to an increasing focus on sustainable European water resources (p56), the future is looking brighter. Speaking of which, the work of Danish startup, Particle3D, is nothing short of inspiring. In creating 3D-printed customised bone implants that fuse with the body over time, its founders have provided a solution that surgeons have been waiting for expectantly.

What’s more, our fantastic team has been hard at work on the launch edition of our sister publication, CHAIN. Sign up to receive your free copy by simply click here.

Editor Anna McMahon

Director Danielle Harris

editorial@digitalinnovationeu.com

d.harris@ithink.media

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Director Tom Barnes

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t.barnes@ithink.media

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An exclusive intervie Stefan MĂĽhl an

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A sneak peek of XR Europe 2020

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The six countries using AI to be more carbon neutral Orgalim’s report on sustainable European water resources 4

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56

Medicine 3D printi

ew with Munters’ nd Ena Ryan

e’s latest ing initiative

Improbable is our March start-up of the month

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Iotic’s pioneering digital twin technology 5

B U S I N E S S I N T E RV I E W

Partne that Cr Busines Written by Anna McMahon Produced by Jennifer Davies

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ership reates ss Value We talk speed, flexibility and innovation with Stefan MĂĽhl, VP Strategic Operations, and Ena Ryan, Director Sourcing Non-Product Related Materials and Services, at leading global energy-efficient climate solutions company, Munters Europe AB. 7

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countries

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€700m OF NET SALES

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manufacturin plants

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Munters was founded in 1955 by ingenious inventor and entrepreneur, Carl Munters. uilt around his insights into the laws of thermodynamics in combination with an ability to translate that understanding into ground-breaking technology, during his lifetime, Munters applied for more than 1,000 patents, mostly within the areas of dehumidification and evaporative cooling.

Today, Munters conducts business operations in two business areas; AirTech and FoodTech. AirTech offers air treatment for industrial and commercial solutions, while FoodTech provides climate control solutions for farming

and greenhouses, as well as software for controlling and optimising the entire food production value chain.

Stefan MĂĽhl has recently taken on the role of VP Strategic Operations at Munters, responsible for quality, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering and sourcing. He explains, “Munters is present in 30 countries with net sales of more than EURO 700 million. We have 17 manufacturing plants and a number of assembly hubs.

I would describe us as a very entrepreneurial-driven company.�

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Welcome to the future of climate control

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Ena Ryan, Director Sourcing Non-Product Related Materials and Services, adds, “We are a global leader in customised energy-efficient air treatment solutions, offering the perfect temperature and humidity control.”

Stefan and his team face various challenges in their roles, as he explains, “One of our focuses is to maintain the entrepreneurial freedom for the production sites locally, which means more opportunities and possibilities and less management from HQ (in Sweden), although we provide processes and guidelines centrally and support when needed. We put lots of efforts on localising the manufacturing and supplier base, which is also important from a sustainability perspective.

“In today’s business environment, speed and flexibility are two key components in the supply chain. Due to the coronavirus situation, Munters is stresstesting its risk management abilities. The fact that we have created a list of critical components for each site makes it possible for us to have an overview and take quick actions when needed.”

Ena adds, “I have worked in large civil service companies 11

that are not very flexible in their approach. Being agile, we are able to respond quickly to our business needs.

What our internal customers want from us is flexibility and the ability to change.

We respond very quickly to market changes because of the way we are structured.�

Being a global company, Munters has plenty of opportunities to identify synergies and amalgamate spend. However, as Ena explains, the team is lean, so it is crucial that the business employs technology, finds more innovative solutions and works with partners who are able to offer a leading edge. She says, “We need to lean in to partners who offer us an efficient and more innovative way of doing things. It is about taking advantage of all the opportunities with the resources we have.�

Digitalisation plays a key role in exploiting the

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Sustainability is part of how we work today. When it comes to sourcing, transportation is extremely important, but there are lots of areas in which we can incorporate it in our work�

Ena Ryan,

Director Sourcing Non-Product Related Materials and Services

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opportunities afforded to Munters, but Stefan believes it is not an option to be pursued simply for the sake of it. He explains, “Digitalisation for digitalisation’s sake does not make much sense to me. It is quite obvious that the early adopters in the digital procurement are already benefitting from incremental cost savings, but also improvements in terms of

“We need to lean in to p an efficient and more in things. It is about takin opportunities with th

Ena

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Director Sourcing Non-Produc

quality, innovation, speed and risk management.”

Stefan continues, “It won’t be the biggest companies that survive this race, but the most adaptable.”

And Stefan takes a similar stance on the role of innovation. He says, “A lot of companies talk about innovation,

partners who offer us nnovative way of doing ng advantage of all the he resources we have”

a Ryan,

ct Related Materials and Services

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but, for me, it is not of interest unless it creates value on the table. At the end of the day, innovation must bring value to our customers.�

Munters runs more than 10 innovation workshops each year with its partners, providing the opportunity to discuss improvements, in order to create winwin solutions with profit sharing. The company has longstanding relationships with a number of partners, each bringing something extra that adds value to the business.

Stefan says, “We have, for example, worked with Digital Procurement, who provide a digital way to negotiate.

Digital Procurement have enabled monumental cost savings, with few resources, no travel and very little interaction from my team.

That is how innovation can create value for both the company and our internal stakeholders. In addition, a number of suppliers have expressed positive feedback about Digital Procurement.

We are assessing possibilities 18

Your Perfect Climate

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We have taken decisions to use trains as the preferred method of transportation when feasible.

In addition, some factories are using green energy supply�

Stefan MĂĽhl,

VP Strategic Operations

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to deploy Digital Procurement in additional areas.”

Ena adds, “We have always used a control tower in Sweden, but we switched provider in November. Our previous solution relied on manual intervention and there were some delays in communication.

Our current solution from vChain is automated, with very limited manual intervention. It eliminates waste and inefficiencies, and is extremely strong on exception management. If a shipment is delayed, we will know before our customers.

The next phase is optimising our routes and our freight. vChain will analyse our database after three to six months, and with their knowledge in this area, they will be able to identify and drive improvements in our supply chain.”

In the US, Munters integrated a web-based supplier portal in 2016, eSP, to maximise efficiencies, reducing the amount of time buyers spend on non-value added activities. Ena explains, “It is automated and allows 22

Today a procurement organisation leaves 25-50 per cent of its spend un-negotiated. The reason is that this spend is spread out over hundreds or thousands of suppliers.

We supplement the procurement organisation by running digital negotiations with these suppliers.

Through our digital platform DigiProc scalable, efficient and smart negotiations are achieved without geographic or industry specific restrictions.

We negotiate digitally with an unlimited number of your existing suppliers in a week. Only 20 hours of your time are required for a complete project from start to finish. And of course, no software integration or similar is required.

Find Out More

“Try out & secure extra supplier savings! Digitally” Stefan Måhl VP Global Sourcing, Munters

Meet Your New Supplier Portal Digitally transform your supply chain with eSP 2020!

Increase your Visibility, Velocity and Agility across your global supply chain.

Automate the supply chain worldwide Promote real-time supplier collaboration Streamline internal operations Reduce procurement cost and inventory investment

Since the installation of the eSP® Portal Solution, we have seen improvements in costs and speed. We now: have lower administrative costs can reply to customer’s orders and changes much faster have better quality due to decreased administrative errors L.B., Project Manager, Billion Dollar Industrial Equipment Manufacturer

www.e-ventus.com

winwin@e-ventus.com

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buyers to spend more time on valueadded activities, eliminating waste and inefficiencies while maximising our working capital. It ensures the right materials arrive at the right place at the right time.�

Munters has partnered with Office Management for video conferencing since 2007. Stefan says, “Office Management provides top-quality video conferencing. We still run about 10,000 video calls a year.

Video conferencing is the selected system for connecting with people in different regions, both locally and globally. The beauty of Office Management is that they provide 24

Data Center cooling system

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cost-beneficial solutions, and they understand our needs. They are also located a short stroll from our office in Sweden, so if we need anything, they can be here in five minutes. It is good to have them around the corner.”

In addition, IFS is Munters’ selected ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system partner, having been in partnership for about 20 years.

Stefan adds, “ERP is the heart of the company. The reason why we have been with IFS for so many years is that it is easy to reach out to them, it is easy to discuss any issues, and you get quick responses. They are unique because they have the ability to understand our business needs that they can rapidly adopt into improved system updates.”

As for the future of Munters, Stefan and his team are excited by the growing importance of digitalisation” 26

As for the future of Munters, Stefan and his team are excited by the growing importance of sustainability. Stefan concludes, “Every decision we make, we will be thinking about sustainability as part of our business. More and more customers are seeking energyefficient air treatment and climate solutions. As a consequence of this, we have taken decisions to use trains as the preferred method of transportation when feasible. In addition, some factories are using green energy supply.

“The Munters Code of Conduct for suppliers and partners is based on the principles of the UN Global Compact. It is crucial that all suppliers and partners are in compliance. If a supplier does not sign our code of conduct, we will exit that relationship.”

Ena has the final word; “Sustainability is part of how we work today. When it comes to sourcing, transportation is extremely important, but there are lots of areas in which we can incorporate it in our work.”

For further information on Munters, visit www.munters.com

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A RT I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E

THE B

Helsinki, Am Copenhagen, Stavanger and signed up to t project, in a b towards carbo

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BIG SIX

msterdam, Paris Region, d Tallinn have the AI4Cities bid to move on neutrality.

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IS A THREE-YEAR EU-FUNDED PROJECT, BRINGING TOGETHER LEADING EUROPEAN CITIES LOOKING FOR AI SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THEIR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND MEET THEIR CLIMATE COMMITMENTS.

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elsinki (Finland), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark), Paris Region (France), Stavanger (Norway) and Tallinn (Estonia) are the six European cities and regions involved in this project that has recently been launched.

Through AI4Cities, these cities and regions will challenge companies to develop innovative solutions in the fields of energy and mobility.

They will first go through a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) process, an innovation procurement tool that enables

HELSINKI 31

AMSTERDAM

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CITIES AN LOT TO SA COMES TO

ND REGIONS HAVE A AY AND DO WHEN IT O CLIMATE ACTION

the public sector to steer the development of new solutions directly towards its needs. First, the buying authorities will define the needs and requirements for solutions in the energy and mobility fields that they would like to see developed in order to move towards carbon neutrality.

Then they will challenge startups, SMEs, bigger companies and other relevant stakeholders to design innovative solutions,

applying the use of AI and related enabling technologies, such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and big data applications. The total funding amount to be divided among the selected suppliers throughout the whole PCP process is 4.6 million euros.

Kaisa Sibelius, Coordinator of the AI4Cities project 33

and Project Manager at Forum Virium Helsinki, said, “Cities and regions have a lot to say and do when it comes to climate action.

We are very well placed to support our national governments in achieving

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the climate goals. AI4Cities shows our leadership and our willingness to use the power of pre-commercial procurement to boost innovation, artificial intelligence and sustainability in Europe.�

COPENHAGEN

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OPEN-SOURCE SOLUTIONS TO DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGAT USING THE TANGIBLE TOOL OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IS TIMEL

AI4Cities is divided into five main phases: one preparatory phase (0), three standard PCP phases (1-3), and one final impact assessment and follow-up phase (4). During the preparation phase (Phase 0), the procuring cities will organise a series of activities – roundtables, workshops, and 36

matchmaking events, amongst others – aimed at ensuring that open market consultation is an ambitious co-creation exercise.

The PCP process will consist of a solution design phase (Phase 1), a prototype phase (Phase 2) and a prototype testing phase (Phase 3). AI4Cities will reach the supply side, selecting

ATION

PARIS

LY

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and funding a minimum of 40 contractors (20 for the energy challenge and 20 for the mobility challenge) who, during Phase 1, will present their reports with a concept design, results of their feasibility studies and conclusions. Afterwards, a

minimum of 20 contractors (10 for each of the two challenges) will be invited to develop their prototypes in Phase 2. Finally, a minimum of six contractors (three and three) will make it into Phase 3, where a series of larger scale pilots will be undertaken.

STAVANG 38

AI4CITIES IS A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION GO HAND IN HAND Philipp Tepper, Coordinator, Sustainable Economy and Procurement, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

GER 39

TALLINN For further information on AI4Cities, visit innovation-procurement.org/ai4cities

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To maximise the potential impact of the project, a group of cities will be recruited to follow the PCP process and support the uptake of the outcomes. ICLEI will be responsible for that, as well as for developing some procurement guidelines. The final stage (Phase 4) will focus on promoting PCP results for interested parties.

Philipp Tepper, Coordinator, Sustainable Economy and Procurement, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability,

added, “AI4Cities is a living example of how sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, providing practical answers to the challenges ahead. Open-source solutions to drive climate change mitigation using the tangible tool of public procurement is timely, and ICLEI welcomes the leadership taken by European cities. With ICLEI’s Procura+ Network, we stand ready to apply pre-commercial public procurement in the field of sustainable energy and transport.”

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EXTENDED REALITY

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Over 300 European XR pioneers are uniting in London to demonstrate ROI, crack optimum user experience, and integrate immersive technology for productivity, efficiency and profit.

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ore and more VR and AR applications are emerging, and immersive technology is gaining traction in the boardroom and at home.

Whatever the statistic turns out to be, it is beyond doubt that this technology is set to revolutionise industries across the world, with more verticals than ever seeking to drive business growth by leveraging its potential benefits.

With a solution-driven agenda focused on enhancing the consumer experience of XR and driving its adoption, the XR Europe Conference & Expo will return to London next month, promising over 70 speakers

and more than 30 sessions. Key virtual and augmented/mixed reality stakeholders will share the visions, challenges and solutions they have encountered, discussing how XR can boost ROI, propel their business forward, and engage consumers through immersive, innovative experiences. More than 300 attendees from over 15 enterprise and consumer verticals will join a senior speaker line-up from some of the continent’s most recognisable brands including Vodafone, Siemens, BASF, Bayer, and many more.

Stefan Mullan, Conference Organiser, said, “XR Europe is without a doubt the continent’s premier immersive tech event – the only place where you’ll find such

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a senior and relevant group of stakeholders spanning enterprise, consumer entertainment, tech and investment. They come to XR Europe to learn from one another and forge valuable partnerships which serve to

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drive forward the agenda for immersive in Europe.�

This year’s focus is on customercentricity to boost consumer and enterprise adoption, with sessions in core market growth areas. Attendees will have the

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“XR Europe is a great o gain insights and lear practitioners across t well as network and do such a wide variety of p

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opportunity to rn from leading XR the continent, as o business with a professionals�

Mark Sage, Executive Director, AR for Enterprise Alliance

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XR Europe 2020 will take place on 28th and 29th April 2020, at the Hotel Park Plaza Victoria, London SW1V 1EQ.

chance to hear from leading end users across the enterprise and consumer space, debate with like-minded individuals, as well as enjoy thoughtleading topics around the latest hardware, software, content and market disruptors.

After consultation with numerous stakeholders, the XR Europe 2020 has adopted a new format, focusing on high-level strategic content on the first day relevant to everyone, then separating out into an enterprise track and a consumer track on the second day. With detailed case studies covering industries from entertainment, energy, electronics and more, attendees

from all verticals will benefit from the detail and insight on offer.

As the global XR industry continues its rapid expansion, XR Europe 2020 provides a forum for debating the crucial hardware and software requirements for seamless user experience, helping businesses to look ahead, build project pipelines, and ultimately drive innovation.

Mark Sage, Executive Director, AR for Enterprise Alliance, said, “XR Europe is a great opportunity to gain insights and learn from leading XR practitioners across the continent, as well as network and do business with a such a wide variety of professionals.�

Check out the event brochure for full details. Visit www.events.vr-intelligence.com 53

"A highly professional approach" Andy Brierley, Vice President, Cloud Application Modernisation at IBM

"Proud to be part of Digital Innovation" Bouke Hoving, Executive Vice President Networks and IT

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ENVIRONMENT

Orgalim, representing industries, sees h water technology so sustainable use wh pressures on Europe

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g Europe’s technology huge potential in olutions that enable hile tackling growing ean water resources.

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Water was classified as one of the main catalysts for changes in Europe by 2025 – According to a recent EU report.

For Orgalim, a European-level federation that engages with EU policymakers on behalf of Europe’s technology industries, acting upon the priorities would propel these changes in a positive direction, shaping a future that is good for citizens, the environment, and the economy.

Numerous environmental challenges will continue to determine the flow and availability of freshwater resources worldwide, bringing consequential effects for its users and sectors. Due to population growth, the demand for this vital resource

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will be doubled worldwide by 2050, while its supply is expected to decline by 40 per cent. At the same time, 80 per cent of waste water is today discarded without sufficient cleaning and proper treatment. Climate change can only exacerbate this trend, as it contributes to the perennial water stress already felt across a third of the EU territory.

The sustainable use and management of water not only helps to address these increasing water shortage and quality constraints, but also offers economic opportunities for global EU technology leadership. A wide variety of different technology solutions made in Europe exist to counteract these alarming trends.

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Orgalim’s 2030 ind renewed Europe centr impera

TRANSFORMING societal challenges into future drivers of prosperity

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EMBRA

the innov transform European

dustry vision for a red on three strategic atives:

ACING

vation-led mation of n industry

ENABLING

European industries’ long-term global leadership

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"Digitally-enabled water solutions can therefore bring us a step closer to a ‘water-wise’society" European technology manufacturers offer cuttingedge machinery and electro-technical equipment for supplying clean water and treating waste water in a smart and sustainable manner. A wide range of European technologies which apply to drinking water, water for agricultural and industrial use, and municipal and industrial waste water, pave

the way for a necessary shift to a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient water-smart society, and to smart and greener cities.

Europe’s innovative technology industries are ready to lead this transition with other stakeholders being on board and the right policy and institutional solutions in place.

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To this end, Orgalim believes the following priorities will be key: Sustainable use of water in support of climate ambitions Zero-water leakage The appropriate water value European solutions for global water challenges Digitally-enabled water technology

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To fully enable a data-driven water system, Orgalim says the EU should mainstream digitalisation in its water policy acquis, and the Water Framework and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directives in particular, and address all the associated issues such as suitable privacy and data security, actor’s awareness, cybersecurity and standardisation.

Digitally-enabled water solutions can therefore bring us a step

closer to a ‘water-wise’ society, with technologies being ready to be deployed beyond the water sector, empowering all users to make well-informed decisions. In addition, it is an area where European global tech leadership in support of a renewed industrial policy can be reinforced.

For further information on Orgalim, visit www.orgalim.eu 65

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D I G I TA L T W I N S

DRIVING TECH

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London-based start-up, Iotic, has raised ÂŁ6.5million to meet increasing demand for its pioneering digital twin technology.

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DIGITAL SOFTWARE COMPANY, IOTIC, HAS SECURED INVESTMENT OF ÂŁ6.5MILLION ($7.5MILLION) TO ACCELERATE GROWTH OF ITS DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY.

he investment from IQ Capital, Talis Capital and Breed Reply will drive rapid deployment, deepen channel partnerships, and expand market adoption of its patented Iotic Operating Environment, Twin technology and Event Analytics. The funding will allow Iotic to capitalise on its

unique market position.

Founded in 2014, Iotic enables enterprises and their ecosystems of assets, objects, companies and people to interact automatically and securely. The company provides the secure operating environment and tools to create digital twins of anything, enabling their secure interactions, and building true interoperable ecosystems.

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The Iotic vision is a world where anything can interact with any other thing, from the smallest sensor, to the largest power station, engine, train or plane, along with people, suppliers and customers. The digital version of a thing, the Twin, has access to all its data and controls throughout its entire life, converting those endpoints into meaningful events, empowering enterprises to deliver on the promise of AI and machine learning, and to truly be digital.

The investment will enable Iotic to build on its global pipeline of enterprise customers, including RollsRoyce Power Systems and BAM Nuttall, who have deployed Iotic’s technology to overcome fractured, inflexible IT infrastructure and data management problems to solve significant business challenges and create new services and better customer experiences.

Matus Maar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Talis Capital, said, “Since working with Iotic, we have been impressed by its ability to develop a clear value proposition, achieve product market fit and secure significant traction with several leading enterprises.

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“THE IOTIC V ANYTHING

VISION IS A WORLD WHERE G CAN INTERACT WITH ANY OTHER THING”

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“ MAJOR EN ENV BUS

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Iotic solves the major issues of security and interoperability that prevent companies from extracting full value from the legacy technology, systems, platforms and IoT devices in a $260billion industry that’s expected to double by 2021. We are excited to be working with the team and look forward

“THIS INVESTMENT IS A FURTHER NDORSEMENT OF OUR OPERATING VIRONMENT AND TOOLS AND THE SINESS STRATEGY BEHIND THEM”

to seeing the company grow as they continue to meet the growing demand for their revolutionary technology.”

Ed Stacey, Partner, IQ Capital, added, “Iotic is a leader in interoperable technology, which is the biggest evolution of data management since relational databases.

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This technology will underpin future digital transformation projects in manufacturing and many other industries, enabling companies to integrate their data streams much more easily, securely and flexibly, and at any level of scale.

These disruptive characteristics are exactly what IQ Capital looks for in the businesses it invests into, and we look forward to Iotic leading the market with this entirely new product category.”

Founded in 2014 out of Cambridge, growing enterprise and channel demand globally has opened up new markets enabled by Iotic’s new North American operations hub in Raleigh, North Carolina. This has been supported by the expansion of the management team, with the hiring of new COO Hans Weinberg, (previously CIO at ABB, North America), and Kathy Reppucci, (who joins Iotic as VP Marketing from IBM), to deliver global integrated marketing strategies.

Robin Brattel, CEO at Iotic, concluded, “This investment is a further major endorsement of our Operating Environment and tools and the business strategy behind them. Having already secured a number of high-profile clients, we are focused on further development and scaling – initially targeting highvalue manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors. Our longer-term vision is for our interoperable Twins and their Event Streams to be incorporated into every single technology stack that will help to underpin digital transformation and to deliver a strong return on investment for our customers.”

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“OUR LO INTEROPE STREAMS TO

ONGER-TERM VISION IS FOR OUR ERABLE TWINS AND THEIR EVENT O BE INCORPORATED INTO EVERY SINGLE TECHNOLOGY STACK”

For more information, visit www.iotic-labs.com

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3D PRINTING

Danish start-up, Particle3 for printing lightweight cu that naturally fuse wit

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3D, has designed a means ustomised bone implants th the body over time.

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AS A NURSE IN DENMARK, CASPER SLOTS GOT USED TO SEEING THE PAIN THAT ILL-FITTING ARTIFICIAL BONE IMPLANTS CAUSED IN PATIENTS. ome were left in permanent discomfort, or had their faces disfigured by onesize-fits-all models. In 2012, he enrolled in a masters course in medical technology and welfare, where he met Martin Bonde Jensen. Together with their professor, Professor Morten Østergaard Andersen, they began work on a better solution.

Their specific goal was to create a 3D-printed implant for replacing destroyed or surgically removed bones – a solution far better than existing practices in terms of customisation, precision and healing. In 2017, Particle3D was born, a start-up with a single mission: printing bone.

Customised implants generally use non-degradable materials 80

such as polymer or titanium that don’t behave like organic matter. In their research, Casper and Martin found a material that would not only replace damaged bone, but encourage new bone to grow back. Casper explained, “I would like to help patients and push for not using foreign materials anymore. We're using something that could be part of the patient.”

Particle3D uses proprietary technology to 3D-print bone implants that are individualised, porous and degradable, allowing surgeons to provide bone implants that precisely match patient needs and streamline workflows, thereby improving patient outcomes and procedural efficiency while reducing costs. For the patients, this entails low risk of adverse

WATCH HOW PARTICLE3D PRINTS BONES

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effects, optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes, and fast recovery.

At their laboratory in Odense, the company has a 3D printer with a nozzle specially crafted for the job. It uses bio-ink made from tricalcium phosphate (TCP), a material that has been used in reconstruction for 30 years, but normally comes in blocks that surgeons have to manually carve into implants for patients.

Particle3D's method is far more accurate – surgeons use computer models to create a customised implant for a patient, which is printed at the Particle3D lab. The finished 82

product is then sent back to the hospital, ready for surgery.

Combining TCP with 3D printing means that the implants are far less dense than usual, so they not only function to replace bone, but actually fuse with it.

They are designed to degrade, allowing new bone to grow. In

AT THEIR LABORATORY IN ODENSE, THE COMPANY HAS A 3D PRINTER WITH A NOZZLE SPECIALLY CRAFTED FOR THE JOB. IT USES BIO-INK MADE FROM TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE (TCP), A MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN USED IN RECONSTRUCTION FOR 30 YEARS

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“WE ARE JUST MAKING A SCAFFOLD THAT USES THE UNIQUE POWER OF THE HUMAN BODY TO REGENERATE ITSELF. MAYBE WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FULL BONE BACK” CASPER SLOTS Chief Commercial Officer

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trials on pigs and mice, new bone marrow and blood vessels developed in the implants after eight weeks. Casper added, “We are just making a scaffold that uses the unique power of the human body to regenerate itself.

Maybe within a couple of years, you will have your full bone back.”

CEO Thea Wulff Olesen hopes to see the product being used in humans from 2022.

She said, “I am very pleased to see the development and execution of our corporate strategy advancing. In addition to the company’s finalisation of the development and registration of the innovative 3D-printed customised bone implants, we intend to devote significant time and effort to pursuing global opportunities in offering 3D-printed implants for different indications, with the possibility of adding slowly released medication, such as antibiotics, which we believe offers tremendous opportunities for patients and health care providers.”

To prevent infection, some companies coat their polymer and titanium implants with antibiotics, but these are active for only a few days after surgery. Because Particle3D’s implants degrade like real bone, medicines can be stored within the fatty acids of the material, allowing a slower, prolonged release.

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“WE INTEND SIGNIFICAN EFFORT TO PUR OPPORTUNITIE 3D-PRINTED IM DIFFERENT IN WITH THE PO ADDING SLOW MEDICATION ANTIBIO

THEA W

Chief Exe

D TO DEVOTE NT TIME AND RSUING GLOBAL ES IN OFFERING MPLANTS FOR NDICATIONS, OSSIBILITY OF WLY RELEASED N, SUCH AS OTICS”

WULFF OLESEN

ecutive Officer

At first, the implants are likely to be used to fill in gaps where the stability of the bone is not affected, in the face and jaw.

As David Hamilton, a research fellow in orthopaedics at the University of Edinburgh, says, “If you're dealing with issues in the lower limbs, then the loading tolerances become really important.”

Load tests show that the material's compressive strength is only one twentieth of the average human thigh bone. To ensure stability in such a loadbearing bone, it is anticipated that titanium plates would need to be added.

Researchers are currently looking at ‘scaffold plates’ printed from Particle3D bio-ink to test how they react with human cells. Thea hopes that approval from the US and European regulators will follow. She added, “I think that a lot of people will really benefit.”

The technology is widely applicable and has the potential to be used with many materials and in a wide range of industries beyond the medical industry.

Particle3D has already received several awards for developing this new technology including the Danish Venture Cup 2017 and Best Danish Health Tech Startup 2019.

For further information, visit www.particle3d.com 87

IN THE SP OTLIGHT

START-UP OF THE MONTH Improbable is a cloud-based platform for game developers to create AI-powered simulated worlds.

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mprobable believes that the next revolution in entertainment will take the form of massive, highly participatory virtual worlds – multiplayer worlds in the cloud.

Interaction without limits between billions of people, this new form of interaction is set to transform societies and cultures, creating new economies and new opportunities around the world.

These virtual worlds will change not just how we play, but how we relate to each other, how we work, and

how we understand ourselves and others. The technology and vision to create these worlds will come from today’s online multiplayer games, as new generations increasingly find value and connection in online worlds.

According to the start-up, these new worlds will be at their best if all developers are empowered to build, experiment and innovate, reflecting the varied perspectives and creativity of a diverse world. Improbable’s goal is to help bring about the age of virtual worlds, by giving all creators the power to build and share innovative online experiences and multiplayer games.

Founded in 2012 by Cambridge University Computer Science graduate students, Herman Narula and Rob Whitehead, Improbable was created out of a love of online games. Herman and Rob started out making a game of their own, but quickly saw the opportunity in solving the technological problems holding back innovation in multiplayer game development.

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Since then, the company has received over $600million in funding from some of the most reputable investors in the world, including the SoftBank Vision Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Horizons Ventures and NetEase.

Headquartered in London, with offices in Edmonton, Seattle, Washington DC, Nottingham, Cambridge, Guangzhou and Shanghai, Improbable has over 500 employees, bringing expertise from industry-leading games companies such as Ubisoft, BioWare, Blizzard Entertainment and Epic Games.

For further information on Improbable, visit www.improbable.io

Daniel Griffiths, Head of Communications at Improbable

“We've always been driven by the promise of multiplayer games – not just as a fast-growing sector in the entertainment market, but as a driving force of creativity and innovation.

We're building teams and making acquisitions to support developers making multiplayer games, and now offer hosting, networking, consulting and codevelopment. The expertise of our internal game studios, and partnerships with leading tech companies such as Google Cloud, Tencent Cloud and Netease, also align with our goal to provide an end-to-end solution for developers looking to make any kind of multiplayer game.”

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