Dr. Veronika Schleper

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
Research means constantly discovering something new and surprising. As researchers, we have the privilege of being able to delve deeply into new areas of inquiry, which allows us to really get down to the nitty-gritty of the issues involved.

What makes research done at Bosch so special?
Without a doubt it’s the strong interdisciplinary focus! Our team brings together exactly those researchers, with their varying areas of expertise, who can contribute to solving these problems. This also makes it very easy to gain a broad range of technological knowledge that extends beyond our own fields of research.

What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?
In virtual product development, we deal with a wide range of areas, from the development of new simulation models to the derivation of efficient simulation strategies to the optimization of the form and function of products. Currently, my focus is on the modeling of electrochemical systems, the efficient implementation of these models and the preparation of a simulation environment to support the development of fuel cells and electrolyzers.

What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?
In such a broad and varied field as virtual product development, it is almost impossible to specify THE single greatest challenge. In many cases, it is still necessary to describe the physical processes in such a way that a predictive simulation model is created that can be solved with a moderate degree of computational effort. But naturally, we are also exploring hybrid modeling, in other words the use of a tailored mixture of physical and AI-based models, which in many cases offers interesting advantages in terms of prediction accuracy and computing time. Bosch Research is also driving forward topics that lie further in the future, such as the influence of quantum computers on future simulation methods, through its own research.

How do the results of your research become part of solutions "Invented for life"?
Detailed simulation models contribute to a deeper understanding of the functional principles of our products. This enables us to make many processes more efficient, save resources, and thus contribute to the sustainable use of raw materials. Especially when it comes to new technologies for the energy transition, this simulative support is crucial in order to be able to quickly offer high-quality, efficient and durable products.