An interdisciplinary approach to AI and robotics
The globally unique high-tech platform munich_i is a joint project of automatica, Messe München and the Munich Institute of Robotics and the Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Together, we initiated the debate on the benefits of technology as an aide of humanity in the areas of work, health, mobility, and environment—and gave it the required space and public exposure through munich_i. What belongs together and makes a perfect combination came together to continuously drive the discussion forward: automatica in its capacity as a driving force behind artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and MIRMI in its role as Europe's leading deep-tech forge—located in the international technology hub of Munich.
As Europe’s leading research elite in the area of AI and robotics, the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) develops innovative and sustainable technical solutions to overcome the great challenges of our time. Some groundbreaking lighthouse projects have already emerged from research into the fundamentals of robotics, perception and artificial intelligence. MIRMI sets benchmarks for responsible technology development and the subsequent adoption of these technologies by society – in interdisciplinary cooperation with distinguished experts from various fields.
It is necessary that AI technologies are ethically and socially responsible, and benefit individuals and communities. To ensure this, ethics should be integrated as an integral part of the research process, but laws and codes of conduct are required as well. The dialogue between ethicists and AI development teams, the exchange with companies, and the involvement of politicians is essential. munich_i will contribute to this discourse and continue to draw attention to this topic.
Director of the Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Director munich_i
Prof. Dr. med. Alena Buyx’s fields of work range from questions of medical ethics in clinical practice to challenges posed by biotechnological innovation and medical research to ethical and justice issues in modern healthcare systems. She follows an interdisciplinary approach of "embedded ethics" and collaborates with practicing physicians and other colleagues from various disciplines. Her habilitation at the University of Münster (2013) was dedicated to the topics of ethics, history and theory of medicine. She has been a member of the German Ethics Council since 2016 and has been its chairperson since 2020. In 2019, she was appointed to the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing. Alena Buyx is also a fully qualified physician with additional degrees in philosophy and sociology.
Director of MIRMI and holder of the Chair for Robotics and System Intelligence, founder of FRANKA EMIKA GmbH, Director munich_i
Prof. Sami Haddadin is the Director of Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MSRM) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and holder of the Chair for Robotics and System Intelligence. His research interests include intelligent robot design, robot learning, collective intelligence, human-robot interaction, non-linear control, real-time planning, optimal control, human neuromechanics, and robot safety.
From 2014 to 2018, Prof. Haddadin held the chair of the Institute of Automatic Control at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover. He holds degrees in electrical engineering, computer science and technology management from the Technical University of Munich and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He received his doctorate, summa cum laude, from RWTH Aachen and has published more than 130 scientific articles in international journals and at conferences. In 2016, he also founded Franka Emika GmbH in Munich.
The success of automatica as the leading exhibition for smart automation and robotics is not based on reactions. Rather, it is a driving force that actively promotes digital transformation. It is in this open and interdisciplinary space that visions come about and turn into significant innovations for industry and society. In recent years, automatica has developed not one but two such spaces to congenially connect people, companies, and science in an environment characterized by the pandemic. One was the virtual automatica sprint 2021 format; and the second was the munich_i high-tech platform, which premiered in its digital format and will enter its third round as an in-person event in 2023—to further pave the way for progress in AI and robotics.
The Bavarian state capital is an established international high-tech hub. The unique combination of business, research, education, and politics favors its innovative climate and accelerates technological advancement. More than 100 of the world's leading companies (Forbes list of the 2,000 largest publicly traded companies) have their branches here. In addition, it has the highest concentration of TechDax companies in Germany. In addition to the major global players, lateral thinkers and start-ups feel equally welcome here—and Munich being a huge talent pool with two elite universities and around 120,000 students plays a major role in this. The collaboration between automatica and MIRMI further strengthens the great appeal of this top location and promotes interdisciplinary cooperation between research and industry in the service of society.
