Guests from around the world

The year 2019 brought a host of interesting international encounters. Scientific and political delegations from numerous countries visited Fraunhofer IAO in order to discuss the latest research trends with German experts.

Delegation of scientists from the city-state of Singapore

On April 13, a delegation of scientists from the city-state of Singapore visited Fraunhofer IAO’s Neurolab to learn about methods of ergonomic workplace design and the institute’s current research in the fields of neuro-ergonomics and neuro-adaptive technologies. Their interest in these subjects has been prompted by the serious impact of demographic change, with which the Singapore economy is also confronted. The group led by Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Manpower, gathered information on German labor policy in this area and successful examples of preventive corporate strategies. As a result, cooperation between Fraunhofer IAO and the Work Safety and Health Council of Singapore is to be expanded.

French delegates from business, government and research

On May 16 and 17, a group of French delegates from business, government and research visited Fraunhofer IAO to discover more about artificial intelligence “made in Baden-Württemberg.” The guests, who included the director of France’s national AI research program, were impressed by the exceptional quality, depth and breadth of the institute’s research and its activities in the area of knowledge transfer.

Thai royal family

On June 27, Fraunhofer IAO was honored to welcome a member of the Thai royal family, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who visited the institute’s Future Work Lab and its Interaction Lab. Popularly referred to as the “Princess of Technology” in Thailand, on account of her commitment to the promotion of science and technology, she is the patron of an educational establishment in Bangkok. She was able to take home some ideas for its curriculum from Stuttgart.

Delegations from China

Fraunhofer IAO also welcomed several delegations from China in 2019. The first was in April: a group of high-ranking representatives of Hefei University, with which Fraunhofer IAO has been negotiating a formal cooperation agreement to take effect in 2020. In June, Minister Counselor Yin Jun and First Secretary Sun Guowang, from the Department of Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy to Germany in Berlin, visited Fraunhofer IAO to learn more about the institute’s work and sound out possible future Sino-German collaborations. Lastly, in October, Fraunhofer IAO received a group of high-ranking representatives of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). CASC is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss how the institute might be able to contribute to CASC projects such as the Chinese Mars mission.