Open innovation at the BMW Group.

Page Overview

Our global network of Technology Offices plays a vital role in securing the BMW Group’s innovation leadership and is a key aspect of our open innovation approach. For the BMW Group, open innovation means:

Actively identifying new technology trends and being open to them (Technology Trend Radar)
Tapping into external and internal innovation potential (startups, intrapreneurs, cross-industry technologies, universities)
Thinking about AND beyond our core business, i.e. also beyond the car
Building new collaborations (BMW Startup Garage)
Acting quickly, in an agile manner, with proof of concept projects and minimum viable products
Transferring innovations sustainably into the BMW Group

BMW Group
Technology Offices.

Our BMW Group Technology Offices are strategically located around the world – mainly in major technology and innovation hubs. Our customers worldwide benefit from our Technology Offices having experts on site who explore the latest technologies long before they are market-ready. The potential of these technologies is sounded out in pilot projects and then transferred to central divisions – and not always just vehicle development. The Technology Offices work on innovations for all areas of business, from production to smart city solutions to future mobility.

Goal #1

Scout relevant innovations and generate trend reports.

Goal #2

Networking with startups, universities and cross-industry partners, with proof of concept and research projects.

Goal #3

Transfer relevant innovations to the central organisation.

The proximity of our Tech Office to plant Spartanburg allows us a swift transfer of innovations from the research phase to industrialisation. For example we have worked very closely with the plant in bringing Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to production.

Marcin Ziolkowski

AI Research Specialist Technology Office Greenville

With the open innovation approach at the BMW Group we are unlocking the innovation potential of start-ups, cross-industry technologies, innovation crowds and our BMW intrapreneurs.

Kai Petrick

Head of Open Innovation, BMW Group

In Singapore we evaluate a wide range of technologies with Blockchain being our biggest focus.

Cihan Albay

Head of Technology Office Singapore

A glimpse behind the scenes
at the technology offices.

Join us on a journey around the globe and gain interesting insights on the work of the BMW Group Technology Offices. Throughout the next few months one video on each Technology Office will be published here.