CONNECTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION

Human-centric lighting: From the lab into the real world

To read a full report of the event please click here

At a recent workshop organized by Lighting For People and Luce in Veneto, three consortia presented innovative lighting products that are the result of the Open Innovation method, designed in collaboration with various stakeholders.

Companies Hikari, Metalco and Heliv, in collaboration with the Municipality of Bassano del Grappa, have developed the Lighting Surface: a new technology using a transparent varnish that can be printed on transparent surfaces and that emits light when activated by a LED light source. This technology can be used, for example, to create lighting or signalling solutions in bus stop shelters (see photo below). The companies involved are currently looking for new customers such as other municipalities, hotels, airports or shopping centres, and for other companies that can help develop new products based on this (patented) technology. For more information:

• Heliv Srl: www.helivgroup.com, stefano.maberino@helivgroup.com
• Hikari Srl: www.hikari.eu, sergio.macchioni@hikari.eu
• Metalco Spa, www.metalco.it, francesco.bertino@metalco.it

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Companies Fairwind and Arte Light have developed the Hygienizing Lamp: a product that uses UV LEDs to sanitize the air (patent pending). It can simultaneously produce ‘better light quality and better air quality’ and can be used to prevent airborne diseases, e.g., in hospital waiting rooms. Moreover, it will be easy to use and require little maintenance. They collaborated with the University of Padua in rigorous testing of its sanitizing properties, and they are looking for collaborations with other customers, e.g., dental clinics, and with companies that can help to create special applications or to distribute the product. For more information:

• Arte Light Srl: www.artelight.com, loriano@artelight.com
• Fairwind Srl: www.fairw.com, cipriano.padovan@fairw.com

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Companies Tre Informatica and Tre Energia, in collaboration with the Municipality of Fiesso d’Artico have developed EDYLIGHT. This application enables the mapping of street lights and the involvement of citizens in street light management in a ‘social’ way. Citizens can signal break-downs by scanning stickers with QR-Code on the street lights. The companies involved are currently executing a pilot project in Fiesso d’Artico that involves over 1300 street lights. They expect that this application can help to reduce maintenance and repair costs and lead times; for a municipality with 4,000 street lights this could save 10,000 euro. For more information:
• Tre Informatica Srl: www.treinformatica.it, emanuele.masiero@treinformatica.it
• Tre Elettronica Srl: www.tre-energia.it, nicola.merlin@tre-energia.it

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Overall, these Business Development Experiments are excellent examples of Open Innovation. They demonstrate how companies can collaborate in developing innovative products and services, and in bringing these to the market. The companies involved are bringing human-centric lighting from the lab into the real world.