The Bold and Fearless “She” Power on the Path to Innovation
Xia Lijuan
Focusing on Transformation: Transition from Academic Research to Work in Enterprise with Determination
I currently work at Bosch Corporate Research as a Senior R&D Manager and lead a team in the IoT R&D Center in Asia. Bosch Corporate Research brings together experts from various disciplines to collaborate across departments and fields in order to create more new technologies and products, and it is dedicated to bringing the concept of “Invented for life” into all of our products.
Before joining Bosch, I completed my PhD degree at a university in the UK, with my primary research focus on embedded brain-computer interfaces for epilepsy treatment. Afterwards, due to my desire for top-notch scientific research strength in the US, I worked there for two years and a half. I spent my first year as an instructor at the University of Massachusetts, and my second year at a world-leading smart speaker company. After that, I chose to return to China to continue my career. I received offers from other companies when I came back, but I firmly chose Bosch, mainly because of the establishment of Bosch Corporate Research. It requires researchers to have scientific research capabilities and the ability to apply the latest technology to actual product functions according to industry standards. I strongly agree with Bosch and the mission of the Corporate Research Center. I also have both scientific research capabilities and experience in implementing products, so I believed that Bosch was the best match for me as an employer. Therefore, I joined the Bosch family without hesitation.
The transition from teaching to enterprise practice is my determined choice. I want to see whether the academic theories I have studied for years can be applied to products, and how they will be used by others. The process of applying cutting-edge theories and experiments to practical and useful products is a series of interlocking steps, and I want to understand how each step operates. I also believe that science can impact everyone’s life, and applying what I've learned has always been my goal. Therefore, I will choose to transform my own learning and research results and continue to work diligently here at Bosch.
Path to Innovation: Being Down-to-earth and Not Afraid of Difficulties
At Bosch, we've got numerous products that directly affect our customers' daily lives, which also allows me to contribute to feeds such as AI and IoT. The perfect talent development system of Bosch also gave me unexpected opportunities, like working in other departments and transferring internally. We are given a lot of freedom to collaborate with colleagues from all over the world and it's expanded my international perspective, which is pretty sweet.
While working at the Corporate Research Center, I have worked on many projects, including smart helmets and cell networking. For example, in the smart helmet project, we can calculate a person's level of fatigue based on the raw data from the frontal brain signals, and apply this technology to helmets or hats to increase concentration and alertness, detect fatigue, and timely remind workers to take a break so as to reduce work-related injuries caused by fatigue. This has strong practical applications in high-risk industries, and is just one example of how we apply AI and IoT to other fields.
Our projects mainly focus on applying AI and IoT to other fields. We have identified 22 innovative AI and IoT solutions in home appliances, and have worked closely with BSH Home Appliance on several projects over the past two years. My current mission is to lead the team in delivering high-quality products, and to work with the business unit to bring our products to the market. This is a challenging but exciting task, and it gives our team a clear mission for the next two years.
The journey of innovation is not always smooth. Although many projects were successfully implemented on schedule, some were interrupted in the bud due to market strategy plans and other factors. As a researcher, I believe that innovation is a rare occurrence, and we must always be prepared to accept failure. This helps us gain more meaningful experience and better understand the market trends, which enables us to find better innovation directions and refine product details.
The Power of Women: Achievements Come from Confidence in Active Pursuit and Continuous Exploration
As a woman in the tech industry, gender is actually more of an advantage than an obstacle for me. Since there are not many women in STEM academia and industry, it's easier to leave a lasting impression if you're willing to explore. Many colleagues are supportive and encouraging if you're willing to excel, and outstanding achievements are more likely to be remembered.
My transition from a technical expert to a manager is actually a coincidence. At that time, the team needed a tech-savvy manager to coordinate communication and collaboration with external partners for our brain-computer interface project. I felt a sense of mission to contribute to the team, so I stepped up. Afterwards, my work and communication skills were recognized by my colleagues, which led to my career transition from a technical role to a management role.
My many years of career experience have led me to one particular insight: “No one can be fully prepared to do anything at any given moment.” In the face of challenges, especially in innovation, it's difficult to be fully prepared. Difficulties and setbacks are normal, and we shouldn't be limited by gender. We need to be ready to seize opportunities, believe in ourselves, and take bold actions. I often learn and iterate as I work, taking small steps and moving quickly, rather than waiting until everything is perfect before trying. This is one of Bosch's strengths, as it provides opportunities for rapid growth and encourages trial and error. The work atmosphere is highly inclusive and diverse, which I find to be very suitable for women's growth.
In the future, I hope our team can continue to expand and gain more recognition and trust. When the business unit needs to explore cutting-edge technologies, they can contact first and seek our cooperation and support. Additionally, Bosch's Central Research Institute warmly welcomes scientists who can conduct research in the areas we need, as well as individuals with a passion for technology, business acumen, and strong communication skills.