Concentrated AI expertise in Baden-Württemberg
Europe's largest center of excellence for artificial intelligence and modern robotics, Cyber Valley, has gained a new Corporate Network partner in Festo. In the year of its 100th anniversary, one of the leading manufacturer of automation technology is taking the next step in bringing modern AI technologies into industrial practice. Cyber Valley offers a platform for scientists and companies to deepen basic research in machine learning, intelligent systems and robotics.
Festo is contributing to the partnership with its Festo IoC lab, based at one of Cyber Valley’s founding partners, the University of Tübingen. This focuses not only on research and development of artificial intelligence, but also on developing networks for start-ups in artificial intelligence. "At the Festo IoC lab, we will expand our research and collaboration with start-ups in the field of generative AI and generative design," explains Dr. Shahram Eivazi, Head of the Festo IoC Lab and Technology Expert of the Advanced Development Artificial Intelligence team at Festo in Esslingen.
In detail, the AI expert lists the following goals of the cooperation:
- Enabling AI to better understand automation systems.
- Using AI to synthesize novel solutions at different levels of automation.
- Bringing together Cyber Valley start-ups with Festo and its AI team.
AI in Festo's sights
Since 2021, Festo has been intensifying its cooperation with the University of Tübingen as part of an industry-on-campus project led by Dr. Shahram Eivazi. The initial focus was on deep reinforcement learning for robotics: In this case, the robot tries to learn how to achieve a given goal through trial and error. Based on the feedback received, the robot gradually optimizes its actions until it successfully solves the task. Generative models and interpretability are other AI fields that are being investigated in an application-oriented manner. The potential for AI-based applications to increase overall equipment effectiveness in production is enormous. The results are therefore continuously incorporated into existing and new AI applications from Festo.
Cyber Valley Community
By creating a vibrant ecosystem, facilitating smooth collaboration and rapid knowledge-exchange between science, business, and society, Cyber Valley envisions a future where the full potential of intelligent systems is leveraged for the greater good of the world.
The Cyber Valley Community comprises of AI researchers, companies, academic institutions, start-ups, investors, networks, platforms, foundations, and other partners from science, business, and society. One of its aims is to promote the start-up culture in science so that findings from basic research can be applied quickly. Cyber Valley creates an ideal environment for the founding of start-ups and technology transfer.
The Cyber Valley Corporate Network drives innovation in the field of AI and robotics, enabling all members to leverage AI-driven insights and diverse opportunities for collaboration between research, start-ups, and industry. Festo is now strengthening this network as a valued partner.
Festo is a global player and an independent family-owned company with headquarters in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. Festo has set standards in industrial automation technology and technical education ever since its establishment, thereby making a contribution to sustainable development of the environment, the economy and society. The company supplies pneumatic and electrical automation technology to 300,000 customers of factory and process automation in over 35 industries. Digitalization, AI and the LifeTech sector with medical technology and laboratory automation are becoming increasingly important. The products and services are available in 176 countries. With about 20,600 employees in over 250 branch offices in around 60 countries worldwide, Festo achieved a turnover of around €3.45 billion in 2024. More than 8% of this turnover is invested in research and development. In this learning company, 1.5 % of turnover is invested in basic and further training. Festo Didactic SE is a leading provider of technical education and training and offers its customers worldwide comprehensive digital and physical learning solutions in the industrial environment.
