The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA is a co-founder of the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG). The new center is dedicated to advancing AI-based robotics in Germany, aiming to consolidate German research in AI robotics as the central hub.
RIG is being jointly established by 21 leading robotics locations in Germany, including eight universities and two other Fraunhofer Institutes, IOSB and IML. RIG seeks to build on Germany's successful traditions in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries, which have shaped the country as an industrial nation for decades. The expertise of German specialists, who already hold leading positions in global robotics, will be used to enhance the competitiveness of the German economy.
Fraunhofer IPA contributes significantly to RIG through its expertise in application-oriented research, technology transfer, and open-source software. The IPA has been leading the ROS-Industrial initiative for ten years and has significantly contributed to the spread of the Robot Operating System (ROS). Additionally, Werner Kraus, head of the Automation and Robotics research area at Fraunhofer IPA, is responsible for the presentation of the Tech Transfer Awards from the European non-profit association euRobotics.
With its involvement in various national and international panels and organizations, the Fraunhofer IPA brings valuable strategic knowledge crucial for shaping RIG. Furthermore, numerous training opportunities for professionals in the field of AI-driven robotics are offered to further advance technological development.
RIG was officially introduced by Angela Schoellig from the Technical University of Munich and Tamim Asfour from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology during the "AI-Based Robotics" conference in Berlin. The institute was launched on July 1, 2024, with the first meeting taking place at the end of July in Garching near Munich. The German Federal Government supports the establishment of RIG in the first phase with funding of 20 million euros.