InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital 2023: Focus on sustainability and digitalization
The third InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital took place on Friday – and attracted around 2000 technology enthusiasts to the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and the afterparty at the TOLLHAUS.
The InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital was already an impressive showcase for digital innovations in 2020 and 2021. And this year’s event once again demonstrated the dynamism and progress of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion.
At the same time, it also provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of technology in our society and how we can use innovation to improve not only our daily lives, but also the world we live in.
Karlsruhe as a driver of digitalization
The event was hosted by Lisa Rosa Bräutigam, founder of the leading office furniture as-a-service platform nuwo and a true native of the Karlsruhe technology region. She handed over the stage directly to Alistair Hudson, Scientific and Artistic Director of the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, to open the InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital.
In the subsequent talk with the chairs of the karlsruhe.digital initiative, Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz, First Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe, emphasized the importance of the digital economy in Karlsruhe: “In the current Bitkom Smart City Index, we have once again made it into the top ten and we have the most digital administration in Baden-Württemberg. We owe this success above all to the close cooperation between administration, business, science and culture. Pooling our expertise makes Karlsruhe the engine of digitalization.”
Martin Hubschneider, Managing Director of CyberForum e.V. and initiator of the Colourful Night of Digitalization and the InnovationFestival, focused on digital sovereignty. He clearly sees this as a strength and an opportunity to position Karlsruhe as a digital location. “Only if we retain sovereignty over our data, infrastructure and, ultimately, know-how, can digitalization develop its full potential. This is often forgotten. In Karlsruhe, we are therefore working on secure and innovative solutions to create a counterweight to the US tech giants.”
However, this can only be achieved through dialogue with other stakeholders, whether from civil society or from politics and business, emphasized Professor Dr. Thomas Hirth, Vice President Transfer and International Affairs at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology: “We have to face the challenges of our time together. For science in particular, constant exchange with society, politics and business is of great importance. This is the only way to recognize needs early on and, conversely, to make innovations usable.”
From quantum systems…
The keynote and the ten pitches formed the heart of the InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital. This year’s program was once again characterized by a diverse and wide-ranging thematic agenda. Ingo Hoffmann, Managing Director of the KI-Allianz Baden-Württemberg, gave an impressive keynote speech entitled “Quo vadis KI”, which not only provided a deeper insight into the future topic of artificial intelligence, but also into the recently founded KI-Allianz Baden-Württemberg. The cooperative consists of partners from business, science and administration from the Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Neckar-Alb, Freiburg, Northern Black Forest and Ostalbkreis regions. With its “multiple locations – one concept” approach, it has now presented itself on the big stage for the first time.
“With the AI Alliance, we are exporting our Karlsruhe principle of short distances for the first time. Strong industry-focused hubs are being created across the region, which bundle and link AI activities from business and science,” explains First Mayor Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz. “The KI-Allianz BW is open to partnerships and new members in the cooperative. Today’s presentation was a perfect prelude to further successful growth.”
…to the measurement of particulate matter by bicycle
AI also played an important role in the 10-minute keynote speeches that followed – for example, how it can revolutionize public transport. Or how the “public transport infarction” can be prevented by preventive data screening.
The range of topics also included contributions on the intelligent charging of electric vehicles, sustainable construction using digital manufacturing technologies and the potential of the sharing economy. Finally, the two winners of the national “Jugend forscht” competition and their bicycle, which measures particulate matter, made it very clear that innovation knows no age.
All presentations will soon be available in the media library .
“For an entire afternoon, the audience was invited to think outside the box and engage with the multi-dimensional aspects of digital innovation – a testament to the rich and diverse ecosystem that the festival represents,” explains Martin Hubschneider.
Professor Dr. Hirth was also very satisfied: “We were able to experience three KIT spin-offs live on stage today and it became very clear how important universities and research institutions are as drivers of innovation. We are pleased about this clear signal and it shows that research has long since left the ivory tower.”
InnovationFestival meets KIT Science Week
At the subsequent closing party in the Tollhaus at the Alter Schlachthof, the motto was: InnovationFestival meets KIT Science Week! This year, the InnovationFestival was once again part of the KIT Science Week, which focused on sustainability and climate protection.
The bar atmosphere, accompanied by the techno tunes of DJ Arletka and visually enriched by the artistic visuals of Prizesin Haralt, rounded off this special day on which the Karlsruhe region once again demonstrated its innovative strength.
