Using innovations to meet the requirements of individual customers and fast-changing markets requires ever-shorter time-to-market and increased flexibility in production. Siemens integrates the engineering of products and production from the initial idea right through to the complete product.

The entire value chain of producing companies is optimized using automation technology and industrial software.

In industrial facilities, innovative ideas for highly-efficient electrical drive technology such as compressor stations for oil and gas, or electrically powered vehicles, are used to replace comparably less efficient combustion engines. Innovations such as intelligent status monitoring of the entire drive train would increase the productivity and reliability of production systems, and machines. Customers are being encouraged to install energy-efficient motors in production.

In the future, Innovations will lead to an entirely IT and IP based communication in buildings. Innovative ideas like net zero-energy buildings will be seen in this sector. In decentralized Smart Grids, smart buildings will effectively coordinate energy supply and storage.

The Green Building Monitor will not only visualize current energy consumption, it will also provide information for the useful incorporation of abstract data. In addition, innovative building information models (BIM) will arrive on the scene; that is, integrated building models ranging from planning to operation.

Within the next ten years innovations in the area of environmental technology developments and solutions will help reduce environmental damage. Innovative product development could involve reducing or converting CO2. Other new technologies could help preparing and desalinating water in an energy-efficient way. The innovative saltwater desalination from Siemens is based on separating electrically charged sodium and chloride ions of the salt – a product development with high potential.

In the picture a water sample is taken from the pilot installation for ocean water desalination for a taste and odor test.

Sustainability, multi-modality, and efficiency of operation are key requirements which are met by innovations within the Siemens Mobility Division. With its “complete mobility” concept, the Mobility Division of Siemens is already providing comprehensive and sustainable solutions for connecting traffic intelligently – on the tracks, on the streets, and in the air. The Vectron series of locomotives for Europe-wide rail networks…

…and the new Velaro high-speed train for environmentally friendly connections between metropolitan areas are leading the way:
Thanks to energy optimization, these trains are much more economical to run than their counterparts, both on local networks and on long distances.

The various performance classes and voltage systems allow country-specific rail requirements to be met using flexible configurations for parts replacements or for expanding existing systems.

Siemens supplies its Airport Rail Links for the efficient connection of rail-based passenger and goods transportation with air traffic.

With the help of innovative multi-modal traffic management, environmental protection and the energy efficiency of the transport carrier are increased.

Soon enough, there will be innovations such as special energy-saving lamps, innovative modules, and lights (LED, OLED) as well as new designs, including the integration of light into the construction material.  Other innovative ideas are light-management systems which will be integrated into building management systems. Interesting perspectives for developing countries are opened up by off-grid lighting systems.

Additionally, there are high-performance laser and LED projectors like the pocket projector by 3M that can be connected to and even integrated into notebooks, cell phones, or cameras.