InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital 2021: Beacon of digitalization

On October 8, 2021, the InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital took place for the second time. For half a day, 5200 live stream viewers experienced a firework display of digital innovations from Karlsruhe and the region.

“In Karlsruhe, we always succeed in bringing together potentials via short paths, coordinating them with each other and thus putting together a nationally and internationally impressive program!” – with these words, Karlsruhe’s Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup opened this year’s InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital on Friday.

Few words that perfectly describe the InnovationFestival. The hybrid event, which took place for the second time this year, attracted 60 invited guests to the ZKM Media Theater. A further 5,000 spectators followed the top-class keynotes and keynote speeches in a free livestream from 1 p.m., allowing them to immerse themselves in the diversity of Karlsruhe as a digital location for a few hours.

The program was once again hosted by Tijen Onaran, who is committed to the networking and visibility of women in the digital industry with her company Global Digital Women.

InnovationFestival 2021: Take off with Volocopter

The InnovationFestival 2021 kicked off with a world premiere: Martin Hubschneider, CEO of CAS Software AG and Managing Director of the high-tech.entrepreneur.network CyberForum, presented We.Network, a trustworthy, fair.digital alternative to the well-known social networks. The platform not only makes an important contribution to Europe’s digital sovereignty, but also offers cities and associations in particular a unique opportunity to form active communities.

Markus Losert, CIO / CDO of the City of Karlsruhe, also had an innovation in his keynote speech: the Karlsruhe.app. The multifunctional app combines digital services from the administration and private institutions in one application and offers Karlsruhe’s residents and guests a unique new communication channel. Particular attention was paid to data protection and transparent, fair terms of use.

Alongside digitalization, the mobility transition is one of the most pressing issues of our time. “Ready for take-off” was therefore the theme of the presentation by Christian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer of Volocopter GmbH. The company was founded in 2011 and now has over 300 employees in Bruchsal, Munich and Singapore. With autonomous and fully electric flying cabs, Volocopter aims to offer a solution to the problems of transport systems in megacities, which are already reaching their limits today. “The approval of flying cabs is a question of time, not feasibility,” emphasized Bauer, giving exclusive insights into the world of urban air mobility.

Keynote speeches provide insights into Karlsruhe’s innovative strength

At its core, the InnovationFestival is about expressing the innovative strength of Karlsruhe and the TechnologyRegion. A jury had previously selected the 13 best digital innovations from around 40 applications with digital transformation projects from business, science and administration. On Friday, these were presented to the public in ten-minute keynote speeches in the ZKM media theater.

The “EVA-Shuttle” project is all about networked and autonomous mini-buses for the last mile from the bus stop to the front door. Meanwhile, the “Smart East” real-world laboratory is bringing the energy transition to the city: an alliance of research, IT and energy companies is transforming a commercial area in the east of Karlsruhe into a smart, energy-optimized and climate-friendly district. The start-up GAROMA is digitizing the offerings of around 1,000 restaurants in Karlsruhe, while econda wants to enable individualized shopping experiences in online stores without violating data protection regulations.

But topics such as IT security, artificial intelligence and hybrid working were also given the big stage at this year’s InnovationFestival. Speaking of the stage: at the ballet, many things still happen as they did 100 years ago. Sophia Lindner, CEO of act’ble GmbH, wants to change this with new
ballet shoes that drastically reduce physical strain. State-of-the-art 3D scanning and printing technologies are used to achieve this.

Digital innovations that inspire

“The format has been confirmed once again today,” said Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz, First Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe. “I am proud that we, as the karlsruhe.digital initiative, were once again able to offer a platform for the numerous projects from business, science and administration with the second InnovationFestival and bring this variety of topics to the stage.”

“The unique collaboration between science, business and administration is the prerequisite for such great innovations. Over 5,000 hits during the livestream motivate and spur us on to continue in this direction,” added Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth, one of the chairmen of the karlsruhe.digital initiative and Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs at KIT.

Martin Hubschneider was also visibly enthusiastic after the keynote speeches: “It makes you proud how much expertise comes from Karlsruhe. You immerse yourself in new worlds and discover what’s going on in Karlsruhe as a location for innovation.”