2018 Startup GUIDE - 10th Edition
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COVER STORIES 55<br />
One step further<br />
Currently a drone pilot is needed at each location to monitor the<br />
Meteodrone during flight. The pilot decides when the Meteodrone<br />
must be taken out of service due to excessive wind speeds<br />
or severe icing on the rotor blades. In addition, the pilot has to<br />
change the batteries after each flight. The decision making process<br />
in such circumstances will be eliminated in future by further<br />
automation. Last year Meteomatics developed the MeteoBase, a<br />
landing platform prototype that enables Meteodrones to work independently<br />
in different locations. The MeteoBase is waterproof<br />
and recharges the drone in a short time so that it can start independently<br />
again. The drone pilot can then simultaneously monitor<br />
up to 10 drones from the office, intervene from the desk in<br />
critical situations and cancel a flight if necessary. Meteomatics will<br />
soon rollout the MeteoBase platforms.<br />
Every year, the St. Galler Kantonalbank and Startfeld honor the<br />
most innovative company from Eastern Switzerland with the highly<br />
prestigious Diamant Award. In June 2015, that honor went to<br />
Meteomatics. In addition to the award, the recipients received<br />
CHF 50,000.<br />
Today the company has 25 employees, most of whom are from<br />
the fields of mathematics, physics, computer sciences, mechanical<br />
and electrical engineering.<br />
Smartfeld, the educational program of<br />
Startfeld<br />
Communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration –<br />
these are probably the most important skills that young people<br />
need to learn in order to excel in 21st century society. Under the<br />
slogan “Technology + Creativity”, Smartfeld promotes and fosters<br />
these key competences and the enthusiasm for STEM topics.<br />
The Smartfeld education program is supported by Empa, the<br />
University of Applied Sciences St. Gallen, the University of Applied<br />
Sciences Buchs (NTB), the University of Teacher Education<br />
St.Gallen and the University of St. Gallen as well as numerous local<br />
partners. The anticipatory integration of know-how from education,<br />
research and practice creates inspiring learning and experimentation<br />
spaces in the Startfeld innovation centre.<br />
SMARTFELD “TECHNOLOGY + CREATIVITY“<br />
About Startfeld<br />
Startfeld, the network for innovations and startups was founded<br />
2010 by the University of St.Gallen, University of Applied Sciences,<br />
the Empa, the city of St.Gallen and the St.Galler Kantonalbank<br />
(SGKB). Through this immense network, a strong linkage to research<br />
driven entrepreneurship and science has been established<br />
from the very beginning. Startfeld can be considering after 8 years<br />
as the most important initiative for Start-ups, innovation and entrepreneurship<br />
in Eastern Switzerland. In this time more than 900<br />
founders were been supported.<br />
MARTIN FENGLER<br />
Facts and Figures, Contact<br />
Organization<br />
Startfeld<br />
Foundation 2010<br />
TEAM<br />
SMART-<br />
FELD<br />
Mission Statement<br />
Postal Address<br />
Contact Person<br />
E-Mail<br />
Supporting innovation, startups. SME<br />
and education in Eastern<br />
Switzerland with all they need<br />
Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, 9014 St. Gallen<br />
Peter Frischknecht, CEO<br />
peter.frischknecht@startfeld.ch<br />
Phone +41 71 277 20 40<br />
Webpage<br />
www.startfeld.ch<br />
SWISS STARTUP <strong>GUIDE</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
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