As the highly anticipated IFA Berlin 2023 approaches, Dealerscope had the unique opportunity to sit down with two distinguished industry professionals who will be delivering keynotes at the show to learn more about them and the projects they’re involved with.
Join us as we dive into the world of technology, social impact, and innovation with Dr. Andreas Rickert, the Chief Executive Officer of PHINEO, and Carlos Serratos, an esteemed IoT Certification Expert at NXP Semiconductors and Co-Chair of the Product Security Certification Group at Connectivity Standards Alliance.
Explore social impact, IoT security, and regulatory compliance as these influential figures shed light on their areas of expertise and offer invaluable perspectives on the future of their respective fields.
Dr. Andreas Rickert
Dr. Andreas Rickert describes himself as an ambassador and passionate lobbyist for a better world. With a diverse background, including a PhD in molecular biology and experience as an engagement manager at McKinsey, he has become an expert in philanthropy and social impact. As CEO of PHINEO, a think-&-do-tank, and Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital AG, he actively works towards creating positive change. Dr. Rickert’s multifaceted involvement as a founder, board member, investor, publisher, author, and lecturer reflect his dedication to developing impactful ideas for an open, sustainable, and peaceful society.
What led you to this career choice?
I started as a scientist, even more precisely in molecular biology. I started on my PhD and quickly realized all my peers were way smarter than I was. So, I knew I had to do something different. And if you’re a failed scientist, you only have one option: McKinsey.
So, I joined McKinsey and worked for them for quite a while and got a little bit of understanding how the private sector works, how their strategy worked, etc. Then I also worked for the World Bank. I tried to understand how to tackle the big issues with new ideas and instruments.
Recently, however, I’ve realized that, yes, we have a lot of big institutions that are doing a great job, but the real power comes from startups. And I do believe in the entrepreneurial spirit. I also see that there is a new normative wave in the entrepreneurial startup scene. Currently, I have 18 startups I’m actively involved in and have recently started an incubator, an incubator for impact-driven startups.
Can you talk more about this “incubator”?
We offer the entire spectrum of support you need when you’re a startup. The overarching topic of our incubator is that we are building solutions to crises. That’s quite generic, but for good reason.
We are tackling specific issues by inviting teams on a specific topic. For example, we invited refugees from the Ukraine to come up with ideas on how they can work on problems created from the recent war. This is a very specific topic with a very specific target group. A lot of people from Ukraine have a great entrepreneurial spirit and have great ideas. Ultimately, we provide the platform they need to build their ideas into realities including working spaces and mentorship programs.
Our next project aims to look at democracy and determine better ways to defend it. We see that democracy is under pressure from different areas and I believe that more innovative solutions will only come from a more diverse range of innovators. There are significant challenges, but I think there are also a lot of good ideas out there.
Perhaps, this is what makes us special: we invite nonprofit as well as for profit startups. The topics of conversation are the important thing, regardless of where funding comes from. This is the key idea of our incubator, to contribute a lot of solutions to today’s issues.
What are you hoping people take away from your presentation at IFA Berlin?
If there’s one thing I can translate to the audience, it’s that there is hope.
I know that there are a lot of things that seem to be going the wrong way, but I believe in a better world. I’m in contact with so many people who have so many ideas. They have the passion to do something big. This makes me very optimistic and hopefully, I can translate this optimism to the audience.
This is why I was so quite delighted when I had the invitation from IFA. IFA, is mainly positioned in the fields of the private sector. And I deeply believe that we only can work on solutions if we tear down the barriers between private sector, civil society and public sector and so inviting me as a representative of the let’s say social sector of the innovation of the impact investing sector is, I think, a good indicator that now people are thinking more in collective impact. So how can we work together across all the different sectors, again, private sector, civil society and state and hopefully people realize that this is a new trend.
What disruptive technology do you see impacting the industry the most in the next five to ten years?
I’m not an entrepreneur myself, I’m just an investor or providing the platform for other entrepreneurs.
But a strong education is key for building a sustainable future. A sustainable world requires that we have the right mindset. Looking at a lot of ed-tech innovations, we see that not only has educational tools and resources become more inclusive to different groups of people, but also more accessible globally. AI will certainly play a larger role in this in the future.
Another example of technology influencing change would be in areas like combating climate change where we need new solutions. For instance, new equipment such as drilling instruments as well as innovating new ways to produce energy in an eco-friendly way.
Carlos Serratos
Carlos Serratos is a highly accomplished professional specializing in IoT security and regulatory compliance. As an IoT Certification Expert at NXP Semiconductors, he actively collaborates with policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to address trust enablement challenges in the rapidly evolving IoT landscape. Carlos is recognized as a subject matter expert in security regulatory compliance and excels in developing standards applicable to IoT markets. Currently, he plays a pivotal role as the Co-Chair of the Product Security Certification Group within the Connectivity Standards Alliance, where he actively contributes to shaping robust product security standards. Carlos’s passion for IoT security and his influential leadership make him a prominent figure in the field, ensuring the establishment of secure and trustworthy IoT ecosystems.
What led you to this career choice?
It’s a combination of personal experiences and pursuing my passion: I love technology, the power that technology has on people’s lives and how it can help to solve issues in our society.
How important is sustainability in the consumer electronics industry, and what steps can be taken to promote eco-friendly practices?
IoT, AI and other technologies have the potential to change people’s lives. They already do. Trusted devices which are capable to sense, think, connect and act intelligently will improve people’s daily lives. While we continue to introduce and adopt technologies, we need to be mindful that resources are not endless and design considerations need to be made to adapt to this reality, from efficient power consumption to enabling digital circular economies.
Finally, the most successful technology is not necessarily the most advanced but the one with enough adoption. Therefore, inclusion and lowering the entry barriers are important. Addressing privacy and security is key. On this last point, in an interconnected world, successful technologies are those trusted, and thus secure.
How can companies foster innovation and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving consumer electronics market?
Continuous innovation is happening in every field. Organizations need to focus on what they are good at and rely on the power of the ecosystem, collaborating with organizations who are good at something else to complement their solutions. While this is true from an innovation perspective, there are other reasons like a shortage of resources in key areas, shorter development cycles and deep specialization.
Last, but not least, it’s important to consider consumer expectations for interoperability and hence another reason why silo developments or proprietary solutions are not desirable as ecosystems are also interconnected.
What ethical considerations should companies keep in mind when developing and marketing consumer electronics, particularly in areas like privacy, accessibility, and social responsibility?
While technology lovers want to continuously advance the digitalization agenda, we cannot do it at the expense of the rest. Considerations need to be made for digital literacy and efforts should include consumer education. Technology transition doesn’t happen overnight, and companies should consider coexistence between the analogue and digital solutions, at least for a period.
Finally, introducing any new technology might introduce risks and they need to be considered. After all, multi-purposing functionality is intrinsic to almost every technology since the dawn of time and organizations need to be aware of and prepare for it.
We eagerly anticipate the upcoming IFA Berlin 2023 event taking place September 1-5, where Dr. Andreas Rickert and Carlos Serratos will be presenting as speakers. With their presence at IFA Berlin 2023, we can look forward to an engaging and enlightening experience that will empower us to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of innovation and societal impact.
