Innovations
Siemens has always been at the forefront of innovation, setting ourselves ambitious goals by constantly asking ourselves the world's toughest questions. This pioneering spirit has made us the global powerhouse we are today.
Siemens built the first electric railway, the first underground railway in continental Europe, and the groundbreaking Transrapid Maglev Train. We developed the first ultrasound, the first cardiac pacemaker, and the positron emission tomography (PET) scan. The world’s brightest white light emitting diode is a Siemens innovation, as are the world’s most powerful high-voltage direct current transmission line and the world’s most efficient gas turbine. From our first patent in 1847, we’ve grown to a staggering total of 8,600 disclosed inventions in 2011 alone. Research and development are a core part of our business, and 27,800 researchers are testimony to our determination to always be on the cutting edge of development. In 2011 alone, we spent 3.9 billion euros on research and development, making us one of the largest investors in this area worldwide. Discover some of the answers we are working on right now:
Electricity highways
High-voltage direct-current transmission (HVDC) technology enables large amounts of electricity to be transported over vast distances with very little loss – facilitating, for example, the cost-effective transmission of clean power from offshore wind farms to consumers far inland. In September 2011, we began operation of an underwater HVDC cable linking Mallorca to the Spanish mainland. A large part of the island’s energy needs can now be met by wind, solar and hydropower facilities on the continent, enhancing supply reliability. Starting in 2013, an underground HVDC cable with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts will also link the French and Spanish grids via a tunnel through the Pyrenees.
Software connecting the virtual and real worlds
Parallel digital technologies featuring 3D realtime visualization are reducing the amount of time and money required for design and manufacturing processes. Our product lifecycle management (PLM) software not only cuts product development times; it also minimizes the need for downstream modifications and facilitates the coordination of production and development activities. Today, some 6.7 million licensed users – ranging from electronics producers and car makers to airplane manufacturers – are reaping the benefits of our PLM software worldwide.
Modular trains
When it comes to Europe’s mass transit systems, standardization is virtually unknown. Some systems are more than a hundred years old, and each is unique in terms of infrastructure, vehicle size and technical features. As a result, it’s generally been necessary to custom-make equipment for tram systems and, above all, metro lines – a very expensive undertaking, particularly in small-series production. To streamline the process, we’ve created the Avenio tram and Inspiro metro platforms. Thanks to their standardized components, these modular platforms not only offer high quality at low cost; they also allow customers to configure their own rail systems, choosing the lengths, motorization and other features that are right for their cities.
Totally new insights
Our Biograph mMR – the world’s first scanner to fully integrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) technologies in one system – marks a major breakthrough in medical imaging. The whole-body scanner enables clinicians to simultaneously display organ position, function and metabolic activity in a single image. Physicians can now pinpoint tumors and diagnose, monitor and treat cancers more accurately than ever before. The Biograph mMR will also be an important tool for gaining a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
