Case Study: Deutsche Bahn AG achieves an open innovation platform for the future of mobility with HYPE Innovation

Deutsche Bahn AG an open innovation platform for the future of mobility

Deutsche Bahn launched MovingIDEAS, an open innovation platform to crowdsource and develop ideas across the mobility and logistics sector — engaging employees, partners (e.g., GE, RWTH Aachen, Siemens, Bombardier, BVG) and the public. The challenge was to bundle and interlink the company's dispersed innovation efforts, extend collaboration beyond corporate boundaries, and create a structured process for turning ideas into implementable solutions.

Using HYPE’s platform, MovingIDEAS runs targeted campaigns and “innovation fields” that funnel about 800 inspirations into vetted “missions” led by mission teams; six innovation fields were launched in 2016. The program also ran the DB Innovation Challenge (three participant tracks, €150,000 in prizes), and winning concepts are now being developed with business units. MovingIDEAS continues to expand by linking to DB Labs and other innovation initiatives, while emphasizing sponsor training, trust-building and balanced investment in users and management attention.

Deutsche Bahn AG

Gregor Huhn

Head of Technical Innovation (IKI) Executive Board Infrastructure, Services & Technology