Munich Startup: Imagine yourself and the 3DExperience Lab please shortly!
Fabien Bartel, Director 3DExperience Lab Munich: The 3DExperience Lab is an open innovation laboratory with the goal of promoting pioneering projects and the development of disruptive innovations and technologies. Two aspects are particularly noteworthy in this context: First, we support startups with our Startup Acceleration Program and our Partner Program. This gives young companies access to our software, important industry expertise, and support with marketing activities. Second, we want to promote creativity and innovation in a broader sense. Therefore, we regularly organize events, workshops, design challenges, and think tanks. These give the creative community the opportunity to participate in promising projects.
We currently manage the new 3DExperience Lab in Munich with just two people, but we are globally connected with our other lab locations in Paris, Boston, and Pune, as well as with experts from Dassault Systèmes. This allows us to draw on the expertise of mentors when specific specialist knowledge is needed.
Munich Startup: Why did Dassault Systèmes establish the 3DExperience Lab?
Fabien Bartel: Young companies, in particular, face unique challenges in their early stages, such as limited budgets, a lack of software equipment, or industry expertise. We support startups with our extensive know-how, based on our 40 years of experience in virtual technologies. The 3DExperience Lab combines this expertise with a collaborative approach to foster entrepreneurship, bring new ideas to life, and sustainably change the future of our society for the better. The lab serves as a meeting place for us, enabling us to make our solutions accessible to a broader audience, such as young founders or students.
Making processes in startups scalable
Munich Startup: What do you focus on when working with startups?
Fabien Bartel: We support startups on their journey to realizing their visions. Choosing the right moment to start the collaboration is crucial. The earlier in the development stage we work with a startup, the better we can provide structural recommendations, i.e., establish processes early on so that they can be easily and quickly scaled later – as the startup grows. We leverage the major advantage of startups: they can develop incredibly quickly and dynamically. True to the motto: "The small ones are tomorrow's big ones." In this context, open, equal exchange without any barriers is particularly important to us. Because we, too, grow through the task of overcoming challenges together with the startups we support.
Munich Startup: Which startups have already made it into the 3DExperience Lab? What sets it apart?
Fabien Bartel: In the Eurocentral region, several startups are currently being supported as part of our Acceleration Program. Among them is, for example, the Munich-based startup Sewts, which is on the way to automating the handling of dimensionally unstable materials, such as textiles. Kraftblock GmbH, with its innovative energy storage systems, is part of the partner program. The company has been able to develop thermal energy storage systems to store energy from wind or solar power, or to harness thermal energy—actually a waste product from industry. These examples already clearly demonstrate what is important to us. Our focus is on projects and startups with disruptive approaches and ideas that can generate truly sustainable innovations.
Munich Startup: A successful startup is for you…
Fabien Bartel: ...with an interesting idea that is technically challenging and aims to solve pressing problems. However, this idea must be linked to a well-thought-out business model.
TUM Venture Labs and ESA BIC as partners of the 3DExperience Lab
Munich Startup: And what is the biggest mistake a startup can make?
Fabien Bartel: Many mistakes can be made. It starts with a realistic assessment of the idea and the framework necessary for its implementation. Then you need the right team, one capable of realizing the idea and thinking big enough.
Munich Startup: Your partner network includes ESA BIC Bavaria and Northern Germany and TUM Venture Labs. What exactly do these partnerships look like?
Fabien Bartel: As a partner in our Incubator Collaboration Program, you will receive access to the 3DExperience platform with its industrial applications. You can then make these available to the projects and startups you support. We also support you with our expertise and equipment and organize joint events.
At the end of 2021, we added ESA BIC to our Collaboration Program. This allows us to also support startups from the space industry. The strategic partnership with TUM Venture Labs provides startups with easier entry into our software universe. In addition, a third incubator—the "Industrial Future Hub"—is currently being developed with the Deutsche Messe Technology Academy.
Munich Startup: Are you looking for further collaborations? What qualities would a potential new partner need to bring to the table?
Fabien Bartel: Dassault Systèmes is constantly looking for additional, longer-term collaborations with incubators. Generally speaking, we are looking for win-win partnerships—incubators that already support startups with physical products in their portfolio.
Munich “ideal for building a strong network”
Munich Startup: After Paris, Boston and Pune in India, this is 3DExperience Lab in Munich the fourth location. Why did Dassault choose Munich?
Fabien Bartel: Munich is home to Germany's leading industrial innovation cluster, consisting of deep-tech companies, a highly developed startup infrastructure, and leading universities. This is the best starting point for being close to top talent and ideal for building a strong network. Dassault Systèmes itself already has several locations in Munich, and now the Lab is an additional location, located at the 3DExcite headquarters.
Munich Startup: Is there anything you would like to say to the Munich startup scene?
Fabien Bartel: Contact us! Our doors are always open, and we're always open to discussion. A comprehensive network is essential in the startup scene, and we help build bridges to the industry.
Munich Startup: Last but not least: Who do startups approach when they want to talk to you?
Fabien Bartel: This can be done in many ways, for example directly via our HomepageHere, interested parties can also find further information about current projects and challenges. Otherwise, you can contact our partners or me directly at any time.
