Hannover Region successful in promoting robotics development

Hannover Region 2020: Hannover Region is no longer an insider tip as a location for robotics - on the contrary. For years, the Hannover Region Economic Development Agency has been supporting start-ups and scientists with various projects to create innovations with robotics technologies. Collaborative robots in particular - known as cobots - are the talk of the town. They are already able to take on very practical tasks and help people - often even more precisely and safely.

With ten different programs and a total funding volume of around 2.3 million euros, the Hannover Region has supported the development of robotics solutions since 2016 alone. "We want to make the Hannover Region one of the top locations for robotics in Europe. That's why we support robotics projects in schools, robotics training, start-ups and the expansion of existing companies. We have built up a strong network of players here in recent years," says Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs.

As a start-up, forwardttc also benefited from the region's support. Co-founder Dr. Jens Kotlarski remembers:

"Thanks to the cooperation with the Hannover Region and the funding provided, we were able to evaluate the possibilities and added value of augmented and virtual reality in robotics within forwardttc and build up our expertise. I am delighted that the results are still being used today in robotics training at Leibniz Universität Hannover and will be continued in the context of robot-assisted surgery in the future."

In summer 2020, the company joined avateramedical GmbH - the developer and manufacturer of the first German system for robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. Eight years after the founding of the company supported by the region, this is a milestone in its development, according to Prof. Tobias Ortmaier, Managing Director of avateramedical Digital Solutions alongside Matthias Dagen:

"The takeover enables us to play a decisive role in shaping a fascinating robot technology. Improving a surgical technique for the benefit of patients is highly motivating for all employees and we are delighted to be able to drive this forward together with our colleagues from Jena and Ilmenau.

Incidentally, Avateramedical itself received a funding commitment of 100 million euros from the internationally active Tennor Holding B. V. in mid-August of this year. V. For Ulf-Birger Franz, this is a good example of how targeted funding in robotics pays off:

"forwardttc GmbH is a prime example of how sustainability and progress can be successfully combined in the Hannover Region. With our programs and projects, we would like to encourage anyone interested to take a step in this direction as well."

Incidentally, the funding also leads to jobs - avateramedical Digital Solutions employs 17 people at its Hanover site.

Dr. Jens Kotlarski is certain that he will be able to make an important contribution to medical technology in the future with his former start-up project:

"Our focus on user guidance, image processing, cloud computing, virtual reality and artificial intelligence complements avateramedical's existing expertise. By focusing on software functionality and intelligence in the future, we can optimally support the development of the avatera system and contribute to the implementation of the goals."

The Hannover Region has been promoting research in the field of robotics since 2013 with numerous multifaceted projects. The Roberta RegioZentrum Hannover is aimed at pupils interested in technology from Year 4 upwards, introducing them to the topic of robotics in an educational and fun way. The region provides funding of around 374,000 euros. Since January 2016, the robot factory has also been offering a comprehensive package. The aim is to offer the generation of "robotic natives" an integrated and consistent range of training opportunities - ideally including robotics studies at Leibniz Universität Hannover. Cooperation with industrial partners will enable the strategic linking of school, university and industry. The robot factory's teaching modules are aimed at both LUH students and interested pupils under the umbrella of the Roberta RegioZentrum. The region has provided 600,000 euros in funding for this project. The Robonatives Initiative foundation project has been running since the end of 2019. The aim of this project is to create networks and meeting places for robotics experts. The design of innovative and efficient teaching concepts for nationally integrated training in the field of robotics and the development of qualification tools and further training concepts are also part of the program, which the Hannover Region is supporting with 600,000 euros.

About avateramedical Digital Solutions GmbH, formerly forward ttc GmbH

forwardttc GmbH, a spin-off from the Institute for Mechatronic Systems at Leibniz Universität Hannover in 2012, offered a wide range of software solutions for robotics, kinematics, visualization and mixed reality, as well as for safety and machine learning. The company was founded by Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Dagen, Dr.-Ing. Jens Kotlarski and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Ortmaier, three experienced engineers with academic and industrial backgrounds in mechatronics, robotics systems and software. As avateramedical Digital Solutions, forwardttc will continue to operate from its current location in Hanover and maintain its close relationship with Leibniz University.

avateramedical GmbH is a German medical technology company in the field of robot-assisted surgery based in the high-tech locations of Jena, Ilmenau and Hanover. The privately financed company was founded in 2011 by Prof. Jens-Uwe Stolzenburg and Dr. Hubertus von Grünberg and financed by Lars Windhorst in order to combine the expertise of leading European surgeons, top German managers and excellent German engineers and software developers. With currently around 200 employees, avateramedical has set itself the goal of combining modern medical technology with efficiency, quality, comfort and reliability. avateramedical GmbH is a subsidiary of avateramedical N.V.