From AI to sustainability – OWL at Hannover Messe

AI and sustainability – these were the key topics with which the OstWestfalenLippe region presented itself at this year’s Hannover Messe from April 17 to 21. The world’s leading trade fair for industry showed that the technologies for competitive and at the same time climate-neutral industrial production are available. More than 130,000 visitors:inside exchanged views with over 4,000 exhibitors on current challenges.

“With the leading-edge cluster it’s OWL, OstWestfalenLippe is increasingly positioning itself as a high-tech location and pioneer for the transformation of industry. The joint appearance at the Hannover Messe was an excellent business card for this and the best location marketing. Here we were able to show what innovations the region has to offer in business and science. We are expecting a high level of attention from experts, decision-makers and multipliers from all over Germany and also internationally. The newly designed booth is a beacon in the center of Hall 7,” says Wolfgang Marquardt, authorized signatory of OstWestfalenLippe GmbH, explaining the expectations for the trade show appearance.

The OWL joint stand – organized by OstWestfalenLippe GmbH, owl maschinenbau and it’s OWL Clustermanagement GmbH – presented itself in an attractive environment in the heart of Hall 7. 35 companies, research institutions and networks demonstrated innovative solutions for machine learning, new mobility and the working world of the future. The AI Marketplace featured on a dedicated AI area athe the joint stand.

Live to explore: AI Marketplace demonstrator

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important key to innovative and efficient product development. With the AI Marketplace, a unique ecosystem is being created throughout Germany that enables companies to tap into the potential in this area. The linchpin is the AI Marketplace platform of the same name, where providers, users and experts can develop and exchange solutions for AI. Our vision is a marketplace that intelligently connects platform users with each other according to their supply and demand profile and at the same time offers a protected space for secure data exchange and data sovereignty. In addition, there will be an app store for AI applications that can be used directly by companies and, ultimately, a toolkit thanks to which individual AI building blocks can be assembled into company-specific overall solutions. The guarantee for success is our project consortium of 19 research institutions, networks and companies, whose nucleus is the leading-edge cluster it’s OWL.

AI potential in engineering: showing off our LEGO model

Visitors to the Hannover Messe were able to experience the platform live in beta release and learn about the potential and added value of AI, as well as try out the AI marketplace directly on the demonstrator. A particular magnet was the LEGO demonstrator, which playfully showed the added value of an ecosystem for AI – both on the supplier and the user side.

The response to the joint stand was impressive: Two state ministers, members of the federal and state parliaments, district presidents, company leaders, district councils, representatives of university and chamber presidiums, and regional politicians visited the stand. In addition, there were representatives of associations and 25 international delegations, 170 schoolchildren and two student groups from OWL. And of course the numerous trade visitors. At the OWL evening, around 300 visitors from the region were able to review their impressions of the trade fair week.