TECHNOLOGY IDENTIFICATION IN RELATION TO EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Embedded Systems (ES) are information processing systems consisting of a hybrid combination of hardware and software components integrated into a technical environment. Their main purpose is to control, regulate and monitor a system to secure efficiency, reliability and specificity for a certain application under realtime requirements. Their importance manifests in a considerably in creasing number of fields of technological applications, e.g. automotive, aviation and railway engineering, telecommunications as well as machinery and plant engineering. In this context, the identification of new technologies is an essential success factor in a highly competitive environment and therefore of high relevance for enterprises of ES. Hence, this paper analys es different types of methods, the importance of technology scouts, the process and relevant success factors related to the identification of new technologies in the field of ES. Open‐ended and guided interviews are chosen as research method consisting of a sample of 48 experts from several industries originating in the Europea n Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg, Germany. These interviews have been analysed employing a qualitative content analysis, which is a suitable method to systematically extract relevant information from text material. The results show that technology identification is of essential importance for companies of ES and beyond. Within the sample there e xist 15 relevant methods for the identification of new technologies, e.g. subject related publications, exhibitions, internet, customer and