Successful conclusion of the Robokind Foundation's Robonatives initiative

03.06.2022 - Two and a half years of funding with a total volume of 1.6 million euros are coming to an end - the project has now celebrated its completion at the Hannover Messe.

Presenter Felicitas Wüst (Robokind Foundation) together with foundation founder Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin, Head of Economic Affairs Ulf-Birger Franz, IHK Managing Director Maike Bielfeldt and State Secretary Stefan Muhle. Photo: Hannover Region/Borschel

What started in December 2019 is now coming to a successful conclusion two and a half years later in June 2022. The Robokind Foundation's Robonatives initiative was funded with around 1.6 million euros from regional, state and EU funds and has won numerous awards. The project has now celebrated its completion at the Hannover Messe.

© Robokind

Before the initiative began, key objectives were formulated that were to be achieved. These goals were continuously evaluated and ultimately achieved.

  • Establishing a regional "Robonatives" network by setting up new robot factories based on the model of the robot factory at Leibniz Universität Hannover in the Leine-Weser region and raising awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics among regional companies. The transfer of knowledge between companies was also a key objective of the initiative.
  • Research and development of new robotics courses with IHK certification for skilled workers, trainers and students to be included in robotics training
  • The testing of these courses in the corresponding lessons was also on the agenda.
  • Three robot factories have been set up in Lower Saxony. One of these is in the Hanover region, specifically at the Center for Robotics in Healthcare at the KRH. Two others are located in Lüneburg and Wilhelmshaven.
  • Four IHK-certified robotics training courses have been developed as part of the initiative. More than 170 people can now call themselves "users of tactile robotics". There is also the opportunity to obtain a robot driver's license - either as an adult or as a child. This has already been completed by over 400 people.
  • The initiative has been able to bring various awards to the Hannover Region. In addition, the initiative, together with the Hannover Region, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Robot Factory at Leibniz Universität Hannover, was awarded the Lower Saxony Innovation Prize 2021 in the Cooperation category.
Hanover Region
  • The Robokind Foundation was established in 2018 by Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin, then Head of the Institute for Control Engineering at Leibniz Universität Hannover. The Hannover Region supports the establishment of the foundation.
  • 2019 saw the launch of the "Robonatives Initiative" project, the high-tech education offensive in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, financed proportionally from EU, state and regional funds. The aim is to pursue a sustainable and long-term strategy for skilled workers to strengthen the Hannover Region and the state of Lower Saxony.
  • 2020 continues with a clear goal: by establishing a regional Robonatives network and identifying further locations for robot factories, robotics and AI are to be made accessible to a broad public and the robot factory approach at LUH is to be taken further into Lower Saxony. The project is the basis for keeping the key industries in the Hannover Region and Lower Saxony competitive.
"Addressing the shortage of skilled workers in the fields of digitalization and robotics is a key success factor for sustainable and successful economic development in Lower Saxony. This is where the Robonatives initiative came in, getting pupils interested in the topic at an early stage, supporting teachers in implementing it in the classroom and developing training courses for companies together with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. A real model for success! "
State Secretary Stefan Muhle
"The topic of robotics has been an absolute focus of regional economic development for years. It is a key technology for the industrial production of the future. It is therefore important that medium-sized companies also have access to the topic. The success of the Robonatives initiative also shows how important close cooperation between science, industry and business development is. "
Head of Economic Affairs Ulf-Birger Franz
"Robotics and artificial intelligence are the key topics for the next stages of the digitalization of our working world. Collaboration between humans and robots is creating a completely new need for qualified specialists in companies in order to secure the transformation of value chains for the future. We need to lay the foundations for this at school and integrate robotics more strongly into training. For three years now, we have been offering qualifications with IHK robotics certificates for trainees, which were developed via the Robonatives initiative. Our common goal is a new generation of skilled workers who have practically grown up with robotics. "
IHK Managing Director Maike Bielfeldt
"Robotics and AI will change all our lives: The importance of these key technologies is increasing rapidly. That is why we will need qualified, trained specialists and experts for these high technologies in the near future. The Robokind Foundation is already tackling this digital challenge and has already trained more than 500 Robonatives through its IHK-certified courses and free online offerings in order to exploit the immense potential for our society and economy."
Founder of the foundation Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin
"The 2021 Innovation Award winner impressively demonstrates that a non-profit foundation can implement an innovative idea in collaboration with partners from the innovation network for the benefit of science and industry. The project was made possible by close cooperation: all project partners are jointly supporting the successful model by contributing their very special expertise. That is exemplary! "
Dr. Hildegard Sander, Chairwoman of the Lower Saxony Innovation Network

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