Expanding the ecosystem for the Mindsphere IoT operating system worldwide: Siemens and 18 partner companies set this goal when they founded the user organization 'Mindsphere World' in Berlin. To this end, the association aims to support its members in developing and optimizing IoT solutions as well as opening up new markets. There are also plans to draw up recommendations - on the one hand on the requirements for the IoT operating system, and on the other hand on the creation of uniform rules for data usage. The partners are also committed to promoting science, research and teaching in the Mindsphere field.

The members also include companies that are involved in other platforms. For example, the provider of assembly solutions ASM Assembly Systems, whose parent company ASM PT is a founding member of the Adamos initiative. Machine tool and laser manufacturer Trumpf operates its own IoT platform, Axoom. And Kuka only announced in November that it wanted to strengthen the IoT platform of its subsidiary Connyun by acquiring a stake in Device Insight. Michael Haag, Member of the Advisory Board of Mindsphere World and Senior Vice President at Kuka, commented on the multi-commitment: "You have to be active on several platforms. In the future, it will be important to establish connectivity between the various solutions.

How is the market developing?

Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Siemens Digital Factory Division, gave an assessment of how the market for IoT platforms will develop in the future: "In the end, not just one single platform will prevail. One or two handfuls will ultimately establish themselves in this market." He sees one advantage of Mindsphere in the broad installed base of Siemens devices - the 30 million Simatic controllers alone.

Other companies in the new association include Chiron, Eisenmann, Festo, Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik, Grob-Werke, Heitec, Index-Werke, J. Schmalz, Kampf Schneid- und Wickeltechnik, Kolbus, FFG Europe & Americas (MAG IAS), Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader, Rittal, Sick and Michael Weinig AG. The user organization is organized as a registered association.

Each member must also make a financial contribution, depending on the size or type of institution - whether university, association or company.

'MindSphere OpenSpace' opens

The founding event of Mindsphere World took place in the newly opened 'Mindsphere Open Space', which is part of the new branch of 'Factory Berlin'. With over 13,000 square meters of office space, Factory Berlin, which is funded by the German government, Siemens and other companies, aims to bring established technology companies together with developers and start-ups. The focus of the new start-up campus is the Internet of Things. According to Siemens, the open space thus creates optimal conditions for Mindsphere World members and other users such as start-ups to drive forward the development of apps and digital services as well as the opening up of new markets.