The business model of the future: Open Source

Step by step into the Silicon Economy

Components and services for the platform economy of tomorrow

100 % Open Source

We are shaping the Silicon Economy

Many successful logistics business models already come from the platform economy. With the Silicon Economy – an initiative of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, supported by the German logistics industry – we are focusing on diversity and a coexistence of different logistics and industrial B2B platforms. Logistics companies of all sizes will thus be able to process their business activities completely automatically – from ordering to invoicing to transport.

Strengthening the logistics industry in Germany and Europe

Developing new business potentials

Helping companies to reach their sustainability goals

Icon rocket

Opportunities for the industry

For the individual company, setting up a platform today still involves enormous costs, is immensely time-consuming and is fraught with legal uncertainties. That is why we are creating a new software and hardware environment that focuses on interoperability and meets the highest data protection requirements. Because: The path to the Silicon Economy leads through the use of specialised and platform components.

100 % Open Source

Entry for companies

With innovative solutions, transparency and low barriers to entry, the Silicon Economy enables companies to enter the market quickly, supported by digital platform experts. Strategic concepts, process models and case studies show companies the practical way into the Silicon Economy.

Maintaining data security and data sovereignty

Avoiding isolated applications and dependencies

Interoperability of companies

On the way to the Silicon Economy

The path to the Silicon Economy is via specialist and platform components. How companies can benefit from the open source components now and in future – an overview of all the important user perspectives from current developments for a federal platform economy.

News

First components published for open source revolution in logistics

First components published for open source revolution in logistics

With the release of the first open source components from the »Silicon Economy« project, the logistics operating system for the platform economy of the future is taking shape. The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) is funding the project with 25 million euros. From now on, companies can use freely available software and hardware and adapt them to their needs.

Everything in balance: a robot on two wheels

Everything in balance: a robot on two wheels

In the 2000s, the »Segway«, the electrically powered one-person vehicle, was among the trendy fun and fashionable vehicles for young and old. The driving principle of the platform on two wheels is now more up-to-date than ever: researchers from the Silicon Economy have used the »inverse pendulum« to build a platform with an intelligent automatic balancing system in the »OpenDynamics« development project, which is intended to establish a new class of dynamically stable robots.

With »libVDA5050++«, FLIP can drive in the fleet

With »libVDA5050++«, FLIP can drive in the fleet

Until now, driverless transport vehicles from different manufacturers could not be controlled by a common master control unit. The VDA5050 standard helps solve the problem – its open-source implementation from the Silicon Economy was successfully implemented in FLIP, the »Flexible Lifter for Intralogistics and Production« developed at Fraunhofer IML.

Downloads

Broschüre Schritt für Schritt in die Silicon Economy

Brochure »Step by step towards the Silicon Economy«

PDF, 1,1 MB

Broschüre Entwicjlungsprojekte der Silicon Economy

Brochure »The Silicon Economy development projects«

PDF, 900 KB

Broschüre Schritt für Schritt in die Silicon Economy

Brochure »Questions and answers about the Silicon Economy«

PDF, 750 KB

Silicon Economist’s Blog

From A for Application to O for Open Source: Personalities from science, business and politics take a stand here on current issues of the platform economy of tomorrow.

Become part of the community

It works.

Join us in leveraging the market power of logistics in Germany in the race for market leadership in the platform economy.

It’s simple.

Participate in the joint development and use of open source software and hardware!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Bitte füllen Sie das Pflichtfeld aus.
Bitte füllen Sie das Pflichtfeld aus.
Please fill in the required field.*

* required field

* required field

Bitte füllen Sie das Pflichtfeld aus.
Please fill in the required field.*