Starting Signal for TECHNOarena Mannheim
FZI stages premiere show on robots as assistants of the future
What will our world look like in the near future, and how can we actively shape it? The new TECHNOarena at the TECHNOSEUM in Mannheim is the place to find the answers to these questions. Starting in autumn, it will open its doors to school groups and individual visitors, presenting prototypes and other innovations from the research and development departments of companies and government research institutions at eye level. The TECHNOarena was officially opened on 25 September with a science show featuring walking robot Spot from the FZI.
Science up close: Opening of the TECHNOarena
What will our world look like in five years? How are science and industry shaping this development? What can I do to contribute? The TECHNOSEUM is launching a new and innovative format for science communication. Here, professionals from research institutions and companies present the latest technical developments. The premiere on September 25 was organized by the FZI Research Center for Information Technology in Karlsruhe with a science performance and the robot Spot that gave the TECHNOarena the go-ahead at the push of a button.
Joint mission: hands-on research
Under the motto “Robots as assistants of the future up close,” David Timmermann, Thomas Trapp, and Philipp Keller from the Transfer Center “Robots in Everyday Life” (RimA) at the FZI Research Center for Information Technology demonstrated what coexistence between humans and robots might look like.
Their shared mission is to build a bridge between research and practice so that future users can gain a realistic picture of the state of the art. The TECHNOarena offers the perfect space for this: it promotes the dialog between researchers and young people and invites them to share ideas.
At TECHNOarena, professionals from research institutions and companies present the latest technical developments. Providing exclusive insights into innovative technical professions, the event brings science and technology to life, inspiring career choices and encouraging critical thinking. The interactive show format encourages anyone interested in technology to participate in exchange and discussion. The Neumüller Becker Entrepreneurial Foundation (N&B Foundation) is funding the establishment and operation of the TECHNOarena for three years.
Inspiring young people for STEM
“With the TECHNOarena, we are opening a new chapter: from now on, visitors can see how future technology is created and how research and development work. And not on a screen, but up close and personal with top-class people who otherwise have little contact with the general public on these topics. We are bringing research and the public together. This is unique in its form and is only on display at the TECHNOSEUM. With this approach, the TECHNOarena will become the third pillar of our museum’s educational work, alongside our exhibitions and our laboratory program in the TECHNOlab,” emphasizes TECHNOSEUM Deputy Director Dr. Jens Bortloff. “With the TECHNOarena, the TECHNOSEUM is offering something completely new that is attracting attention far beyond Mannheim and further strengthening the city’s position as a STEM location,” says Thorsten Riehle, Chairman of the Foundation Board and Mannheim’s Mayor for Economic Affairs, Labor, Social Affairs, and Culture. “Here, you can not only look over the shoulders of professionals as they conduct their research and be the first to experience the latest technical developments. The shows, which include discussions and a practical component, also make often abstract professional fields tangible – and thus interesting for many people. In times of a shortage of skilled workers, this is an important building block in inspiring young people to pursue careers in technology and the natural sciences.”
About the TECHNOSEUM
The TECHNOSEUM opened in 1990 and is one of the largest technology museums in Germany. The museum attracts an average of 160,000 visitors per year, mainly families and school classes. The museum is a public foundation and is supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the city of Mannheim. For more information, visit www.technoseum.de.
About the FZI
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, headquartered in Karlsruhe with a branch office in Berlin, is a non-profit institution dedicated to research in information technology applications and technology transfer. It delivers the latest scientific findings in information technology to companies and public institutions. It qualifies individuals for academic and business careers, as well as for the leap into self-employment. Supervised by professors from various faculties, the research groups at the FZI develop interdisciplinary concepts, software, hardware, and system solutions for their clients and implement the solutions found as prototypes. The FZI House of Living Labs offers a distinctive research environment for applied research. The FZI is an innovation partner of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and a strategic partner of the German Informatics Society (GI).