Reigniting an entrepreneurial DNA

The Challenge

After decades of growth, KUKA faced a declining top line in 2018. An internal analysis and executive survey found that despite leading-edge robotics research, the company struggled to commercialise its technology and deliver short-term results. It needed an innovation process that was digital and agile, built entrepreneurial capability, produced commercially viable ideas quickly — and killed ideas without a clear market.

What we did

Together with KUKA's top innovators, and with Nosco's support, the Chief Innovation Officer designed a new process and — rather than debate it endlessly — tested it in an agile way. In autumn 2019, an innovation challenge invited robotics employees worldwide to submit ideas and form cross-functional teams on the Nosco platform. Managers and experts evaluated ideas online; the top five teams went to a three-day bootcamp, then pitched to management. Two teams moved into a three-month, six-sprint incubation, testing their riskiest hypotheses through customer interviews, prototypes and business models, with masterplan reviews and sponsor visits along the way. Backing from the Group CEO and the CEO of Robotics set the tone from day one.

Results

Within six months, KUKA had validated its new process and produced its first investment case. More than 30% of employees took part, submitting 495 ideas, 1,629 comments and 7,323 likes, and visiting the platform over 20 times on average. Of the two teams that reached incubation, one was parked after four sprints; the other interviewed 25+ potential customers, built an MVP and signed three pilot projects within three months. By September 2021 it had become the first venture from the new approach to move into acceleration and prepare for market launch.