Smart Maintenance Innovation Challenge

Background

Two industry leaders, one common goal: Lufthansa Group Innovation Runway and DB Long-Distance have joined forces in a joint challenge, where startups will have the chance to actively shape the future of maintenance together with Lufthansa Group and DB.

Together, we are looking for innovative solutions that make our technical maintenance processes more efficient, safer, and future-proof — for our employees, and the mobility of tomorrow.

Selected startups will be invited to participate in a two-week prototyping sprint, working hands-on with experts from both organizations to further develop and test their solutions. At the end of the sprint, one winning startup will be chosen to enter a 50-day Proof of Concept (PoC) phase — with the opportunity to deepen the collaboration and validate their approach in real operational settings.

Starting point

In the maintenance facilities of DB Long-Distance and Lufthansa, technicians face a wide range of complex and repetitive tasks that are prone to human error.

Key challenges include:

• Compliance with complex regulations: The regular maintenance and inspection of trains and aircraft must meet stringent and evolving safety standards. These require thorough documentation and audits, increasing workload and process complexity. Supportive systems or tools to assist with self-checks are often lacking.
• High time pressure: Due to economic reasons, trains and aircraft are in almost continuous operation, which results in tightly scheduled maintenance windows. Technicians work under significant pressure to complete tasks quickly and accurately. Delays in the delivery of spare parts can further complicate the situation, potentially leading to service disruptions, train or flight cancellations, and therefore increased costs.
• Physically demanding tasks: Installing, removing, and inspecting components can be physically strenuous, especially when parts are hard to access, complex to handle or heavy (e.g., aircraft generators weighing around 40kg).

Objective

We are looking for technological solutions that simplify complex maintenance tasks, reduce physical and mental strain on staff, and improve operational safety and efficiency. The focus lies on user-centric applications and cutting-edge technologies.

The goal is to introduce modern tools for digital maintenance processes, automate error-prone repetitive manual workflows, and create a sustainable, optimized working environment. These solutions should meet the rising demands of modern maintenance and enhance employee satisfaction in the long term.

Our core objectives are:

• Improved employee satisfaction and a positive impact on retention through a modern work environment
• Increased asset availability by enhancing process and operational reliability
• Reduced workload through digitalization and automation of maintenance procedures, which empowers our workforce to focus on high-value, meaningful work.

What are we looking for?

The solutions we are looking for focus on cutting-edge technologies, e.g. in the following areas:

• Automation, Robotics & Autonomy
• Augmented/Extended Reality/Mixed Reality (AR/XR/MR)
• Wearable technologies enabling real-time data access and hands-free task support
• Smart tools and gloves
• Drone-based support systems
• Machine learning for process support (out of scope: data-driven predictive maintenance)

Focus Areas

The solutions we are looking for are in the following focus areas:

• Digital and intelligent maintenance & material supply
• Digital process support enabled by advanced technologies

If selected for the challenge, your team will have two weeks to further develop your solution in a compact prototyping sprint — specifically tailored to the use cases of DB Long-Distance and Lufthansa Group Innovation Runway.

What’s in it for you?

If your team is selected to participate in the challenge, you will benefit from:

• Access to technical experts from both DB Long-Distance and Lufthansa Group
• Exclusive access to DB and Lufthansa maintenance facilities during the prototyping sprint
• €6,000 financial support for participating in the two-week prototyping sprint
• Networking opportunities with DB, Lufthansa Group, and other innovative startups

Additional benefits for the winning team entering the Proof of Concept phase:

• €25,000 financial support for participating in the 50-day Proof of Concept
• Dedicated support from a DB mindbox startup manager throughout the PoC
• Access to coworking space at DB mindbox’s beautiful location in Berlin Mitte during the PoC
• Further collaboration with DB and Lufthansa experts to validate your solution in real operational environments

You have questions about the program?
Join our weekly open Q&A session every Wednesday from 12-12:30 am (CEST). We’ll be happy to chat with you and answer anything you’d like to know. Click here to dial in!