Robert Bosch Open Innovation Partnerships is a co-creation platform that invites startups, universities, and enterprises to submit proposals for serious collaboration with Bosch. The program covers a wide range of fields of interest, from automation and electronic control units to professional tools, DIY solutions, telematics, electrolysis, and connected technology domains.
Fields of Interest
• Eligible participants include young startups, progressive universities, and large enterprises.
• Bosch invites interested parties to review the following fields and submit for potential collaboration.
ctrlX – AUTOMATION
• Bosch Rexroth is exploring new avenues in automation with ctrlX AUTOMATION.
• The platform surmounts classic boundaries between machine controls, the IT world, and the Internet of Things.
• It uses a Linux real-time operating system, consistently open standards, app programming technology, web-based engineering, and a comprehensive IoT connection.
• ctrlX AUTOMATION reduces components and engineering costs by 30 to 50 percent.
• Users can use apps from Bosch Rexroth, third-party providers, or apps they have produced themselves.
• Applications for all automation tasks are available.
• More third-party providers are joining the partner ecosystem ctrlX World.
• Interested parties can submit their idea to become part of ctrlX World.
ECU – Electronic Control Units
• Bosch designs and manufactures electronic control units as a leading automotive company.
• The program seeks innovative ways to further improve quality and reduce ECU cost.
• Areas of interest include new materials, novel approaches for electronics and mechanical design, and manufacturing.
• Innovators with a market-revolutionizing ECU innovation can submit an idea.
PRO – Professional Craftsmen
• Modern power tools support the daily business of professional craftsmen.
• Bosch enables users to maximize performance with a focus on safety and convenience.
• Certain work types generate a high degree of load on the body, including overhead work, lifting heavy tools or equipment, and exposure to high vibration and shocks.
• The program seeks out-of-the-box ideas to tackle these issues and facilitate work execution with power tools.
• Goals include reducing user load and improving ergonomics.
• Focus areas include tasks that cannot be executed over an extended duration or that cause pain or distress if executed improperly.
• Both business ideas and technical realizations are of interest, particularly those related to the usage of power tools Bosch currently supplies.
DIY – Do It Yourself
• Ambitious home improvement or decoration projects can be highly fulfilling.
• DIY enthusiasts can use tools and materials to achieve results without much prior experience.
• They use inspiring ideas, tutorials, and manuals from online and offline sources.
• They can realize projects on their own without professional support or guidance.
• Challenges remain in areas such as selecting the best-suited materials from local hardware stores, using power tools for the first time without prior training or guidance, and adapting plans such as geometry to own requirements and transferring needed markings to workpieces.
• The program seeks out-of-the-box ideas to tackle these issues and make first projects easy and fun for beginning DIYers.
• Business ideas and technical realizations are of interest.
TECH – Technology Startups
• Bosch seeks leading startups that want to co-innovate.
• Collaboration can include co-development of highly innovative products and improving new products with innovative technology.
• In a joint effort with the Open Bosch team, the program facilitates collaboration between Bosch experts and startups and helps find the best form of collaboration.
• Interested startups are also referred to the Bosch Startup Harbour for more collaboration possibilities.
BODAS Connect
• BODAS Connect is a modular and open IoT telematics solution for mobile machines in the off-highway market.
• It offers unbundled and freely selectable services including device management, data management, and ready-to-use services and interfaces.
• Due to its openness, customers can use services and applications from Bosch Rexroth and third-party providers.
• Customers can also develop services and applications themselves.
• A wide range of applications is available for several use cases and branches.
• More third-party providers are joining the BODAS Connect partner ecosystem.
• Interested parties can submit an idea to help shape the future of farming and the construction site of the future.
ELY – Technology for Electrolysis Stacks and Peripherals
• Bosch is a provider of components for the upcoming green hydrogen economy.
• Activities include electrolysis stacks, primarily with PEM technology, and related products such as power electronics, controllers, sensors, and actuators.
• Suppliers of innovative technologies and solutions for electrolysis in these component areas can submit an offering.
• The program invites them to become part of Bosch activities in this hyper-scaling market.
ctrlX – FLOW
• Speed and dynamics drive modern factories and intralogistics.
• The aim is to ensure short throughput times by optimizing material flows.
• Automated motion solutions are key.
• ctrlX FLOW is a linear motion system that brings flexibility and high speed to manufacturing with maximum precision and reduced space requirements.
• The space-saving high-speed system can be configured flexibly for various topologies and applications.
• It is 100 percent integrated into the ctrlX AUTOMATION automation toolkit and benefits from the openness, safety, and entire ecosystem.
Why Submit
• The program offers a fast track directly into the Bosch organization through a strong network built over many years.
• Participants receive a personal advisor who introduces them to relevant Bosch contacts to establish meaningful partnerships.
• The program is designed to connect external proposals with the Bosch departments where they can create the biggest impact.
Transparency, Network, and Cross-Divisional Support
• Full transparency: Bosch aims for full transparency so proposers know the current stage of their proposal at any time.
• After validation and a positive response, one dedicated contact person serves as the direct link to Bosch.
• The personal advisor identifies matching contacts and helps during the entire process.
• Dynamic internal network: Instead of spending hours searching for contacts, participants can use a strong network rooted deeply in every Bosch department and constantly growing.
• This network enables fast tracks directly to the people for whom a solution creates the biggest impact.
• Cross-divisional purposes: If a proposal seems relevant only for one use case, it is spread across the network in a targeted way to identify other, less obvious application areas within Bosch.
• Participants are introduced to the most promising contacts and can rely on Bosch experts and the network.
• Present your solution: Innovators with a product, patent, or solution can submit and present it for potential collaboration with Bosch.
Submission and Evaluation Workflow
• 01 – Initial Check: Submitted proposals are reviewed by experts; this can take up to two months.
• After review, proposers receive feedback on whether the proposal is interesting for a potential application and whether Bosch wants to enter more in-depth discussions.
• The more precisely the topic is presented, the higher the chance that Bosch sees potential.
• 02 – Deep Dive: If cooperation potential is identified, Bosch talks to directly fitting accounts and uses the internal network to discuss the proposal with experts from different areas.
• Cooperation potentials may open in unexpected places.
• From this point, a personal advisor accompanies the proposer throughout the entire cooperation period and provides targeted assistance.
• 03 – Match Making: After evaluation and identification of suitable application areas, the personal advisor organizes appointments with the most promising opportunities.
• The advisor supports meeting preparation and further discussions if necessary.
• This includes arranging meetings with relevant experts to present the solution personally.
Focus Areas
• Bosch states that it believes in innovation and partnerships and highlights the following focus areas.
• Connected Mobility: Concepts include a car that parks itself and can be unlocked and started with a smartphone, systems that warn drivers about the tail end of a traffic jam around the next bend, and e-scooters that can be rented by app on the spur of the moment.
• Bosch works on smart mobility concepts like these to make driving safer and more relaxed.
• Connected Living: In a connected house, coffee machines know how the owner likes their morning cup, lighting and music adapt to the occasion, and lawnmowers know how to keep the grass in perfect shape.
• Intelligent devices adapt to owners' requirements and get smarter over time, making homes smarter than before.
• Connected Industry: Industry 4.0 means factories that can be adapted to any requirements and learn independently at the same time.
• Bosch's approach combines the best of people, data, and machines.
• Artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms make processes simpler, more efficient, and more flexible, while people retain full control.
• Enabling Technology: This includes new revolutionizing computing processors, highly innovative security software, outstanding coating materials, or similar enabling technologies.
• Every product consists of many parts, components, and processes that only experts can see, whether hardware- or software-related.
• These parts and the way they are assembled often determine the success or failure of an innovative product.
Robert Bosch Open Innovation Partnerships provides a structured entry point for external innovators to present products, patents, and solutions across automation, mobility, living, industry, and enabling technologies. Through a transparent workflow, a dedicated personal advisor, and an internal network, participants can pursue collaboration opportunities with Bosch and its partner ecosystems.