Spyridon Georg Koustas, M. Sc.

Research Associate and Doctoral Student

School of Business, Economics and Society
Chair of Information Systems I, Innovation and Value Creation (Prof. Dr. Möslein)

Room: Room 4.259
Lange Gasse, 20
Nürnberg

Research Focus: The Development of Industrial Smart Product-Service Systems

Digital transformation and the constant development of digital technologies have resulted in the emergence of smart product-service systems (sPSS), which are defined as the combination of smart connected products (SCP) and data-driven services, enabled by digital technologies. SPSS allow for numerous new features as well as services that can be offered by manufacturing firms. However, in the process of developing sPSS, manufacturing firms are facing challenges when articulating value propositions. Amongst others, this is attributed to the heterogeneity of technological stacks, which creates uncertainties on how to effectively integrate digital technologies. The solution to these challenges as well as the definitions of opportunities for manufacturing companies to create value through IIoT technologies constitute the research focus of Spyridon.

Publications

Projects

Term: since 1. June 2024
Funding source: Industrie
Project leader:

IPCEI-CIS stands for Important Projects of Common European Interest - Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services. The EU funding program aims to create a powerful and sustainable multi-provider cloud edge continuum for Europe. Kicks for Edge contributes to the identification of requirements for industrial applications in the area of edge and cloud technologies in small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany and to the derivation of new technological developments.

The research project "Kicks4Edge" aims to empower SMEs to digitalize their production and processes using cloud-edge technologies. To achieve this, the project promotes the interoperability of heterogeneous production and control systems through connectivity and interfaces, as well as through new software and service offerings for open industrial edge systems and digital business models. Additionally, an open "Industrial Edge Ecosystem" is to be fostered and maintained.

In collaboration with the Institute for Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS), qualitative interviews are being conducted with companies. Based on these interviews, an "Edge Playbook" will be developed as part of the project. This playbook is intended to serve as a guideline for the use of edge devices in various application scenarios, helping users identify, develop, and implement their own use cases.

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Term: 1. January 2025 - 31. December 2027
Funding source: BMBF / Verbundprojekt
Project leader: ,

Together with partners from the sectors, the project is developing solutions on how competences can be pooled in the network with other actors. Procuring the necessary competences via digital competence pools increases resilience in value creation networks. Competence pools are digital contact points for companies to identify critical competences for specific sectors and simulate crisis scenarios and their possible effects using AI algorithms, for example. Mechanisms and specific measures for the provision and procurement of necessary competences can also be developed in line with potential disruptions. Platform- or community-based approaches enable companies to access critical competences in their network across company boundaries in crisis situations. This includes mechanisms for ensuring a balance between trust and competitive aspects, as well as hidden competence monopolies and risk mitigation mechanisms.

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Term: 1. June 2020 - 30. November 2023
Funding source: Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR)
Project leader:

The increasing spread of digital technologies creates new opportunities for companies to design customer-oriented offers from products and services by using digital data. Such so-called smart product service systems (smart PSS) offer added value specifically to offering companies, as they enable a direct response to individual customer needs and long-term customer loyalty. By creating additional environmental and social benefits, smart PSSs can also help promote sustainability.

However, the development of smart PSS is complex, as challenges of product development, service development as well as digital technologies have to be mastered in parallel. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are currently unable to cope with these complexities, which is due in particular to the following challenges identified in the project:

  • Lack of methods
  • Different understanding of added value
  • Coordination across departmental and company boundaries

The project "SmartHaPSSS - "Harmonisation of the development of complex product smart service systems for SMEs" aims to bring the individual activities in the development of complex smart PSS in SMEs into resonance with each other in order to create common points of reference in the innovation process. The sustainability-oriented nature of the solutions developed is to be increased without restricting the dynamics of the individual activities. In this regard the product development and the development of smart services are to be harmonized and aligned to common goals. The "SmartHaPSSS" project forms a further component of "Innovations for tomorrow's production, services and work".

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Term: 1. March 2021 - 29. February 2024
Funding source: BMBF / Verbundprojekt
Project leader: ,

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Term: 1. October 2023 - 30. September 2024
Project leader:

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