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Innovation@ZF Innovation@ZF
TechnologiesInnovations

What is Innovation?

Innovation is a Resource

How do new ideas become practical technologies? How do we make mobility more sustainable, safer and more convenient? Innovation at ZF has perfected turning innovation into a reality. The examples on the following page demonstrate how we do this.

Why are innovations so important for ZF? Where does the company find them and how do you recognize the right ones from among the many ideas? Dr. Joscha Märkle-Huß, Head of Innovation Factory, provides a brief overview in the following video:

Innovations Pave the Way for the Future

ZF makes new mobility possible: cleaner and safer, more comfortable and available to all. Innovation leaps are what we really need. We integrate innovations from internal and external sources and from many technology fields. By bringing them together, we can to sustainably change the world of mobility.

Innovation

ZF proves that agility and disruption are not only for small, networked and unconventional start-ups. ZF shows how large enterprises can focus on innovation: by creating space for ideas and innovations in our culture and corporate structures; by systematically pursuing technological developments far away from our core competencies; and by drawing on an ecosystem of collaborations and partnerships.

Many Ways, Many Speeds

Innovation today has many origins: the classic product evolution process, central R&D and the divisional development. In addition, we have ideas from our own employees and external start-ups as well as research and science centers. In a global Group like ZF, we coordinate innovation at all levels in different ways and at different speeds.

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Globale Chapters

Global Chapters / Innovation Hubs

We combine regional innovation chapters and hubs within the R&D organization. This creates a powerful network with access to important future competencies.

Divisions

ZF Divisions

As technology leaders, ZF divisions drive innovation in their product fields – regardless of whether that involves autonomous commercial vehicles, the software-defined vehicle, the electrification of passenger cars or networked industrial technology.

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Start-ups

Start-ups

Cooperation with start-ups is a key component of our innovation strategy. ZF Ventures is the Corporate Venture Capital & Venture Client unit of ZF.

We generate strategic & financial value by combining ZF's extensive know-how, capabilities & resources with cutting-edge technology & business model innovations from the startup ecosystem. Our main objective is to initiate collaboration and establish successful long-term partnerships between world-class startups and ZF so we can build the next generation of mobility together.

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ZF Ventures
Supplier Innovations

Supplier Innovations

Our partners and suppliers are among the world's technological leaders in their field. Their innovations ensure our competitiveness and are increasingly gaining importance, particularly in view of shorter economic cycles.

Together, they help manage future growth and secure technical progress. Through the Supplier Innovations process, we aim to involve our suppliers in our product evolution process, join forces and thus shape the future together.

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Universities

Universities

To drive Next Generation Mobility the technology topics forward, we work closely with universities and colleges. We collaborate on a wide variety of frontline themes and maintain close relationships with international research institutions.

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Successes That Make Us Stronger

In addition to our comprehensive understanding of innovation, our methodology for finding new approaches and our broad network of partners, we also have other decisive qualities that make ZF the true Innovation Factory: the will to get things done, knowledge of the markets and customer requirements, and decades of business experience. Some of our highlight projects illustrate this. Check them out here:

Innovations @ ZF

Mission Innovation: the Boss in the Ideas lab

Sebastian Grimm's role as FutureStarter is reflected in his job as Head of Innovation Lab, where he deals with the future on a daily basis. His mission: to discover and develop new things.

ZF Rescue Connect

ZF Rescue Connect networks and digitizes all emergency and rescue services in Europe with the latest connectivity solutions.

Automated Valet Parking

ZF's cost-efficient "Automated Valet Parking" solution is one of the first systems worldwide to function independently of a pre-mapped and instrumented parking garage infrastructure.

Motion Sickness

Many factors in a car can cause stress, ranging from poor road surfaces with potholes to travel sickness. Technical solutions inside the vehicle can provide a remedy.

Feel Free to Contact Us

Become part of the ZF ecosystem and join us on the path towards „Next Generation Mobility“. Let’s bring innovations onto the road together. Contact us here to find out more: