When a minister of state steals the gag from the mayor at a topping-out ceremony, the silly thing thrown into the room slowly becomes serious. Bavaria’s Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU) told the audience from the boardroom of the Siemens global corporation on Monday that scientific circles would soon be talking about “Munich near Garching”. Blume saw proof of the powerful development of the small university town in the north of Munich, which radiates more and more excellence, in the emerging “Siemens Technology Center”, which was built for a mid-double-digit million sum right next to the research and development campus of the software group SAP height grows. More than 450 employees of the technology group are to develop future technologies there from autumn 2023; together with 150 students.
The future was the big topic at the meeting on the construction site on Monday morning. Against the background of the present, which is rather depressing due to the war in Ukraine and climate change, everyone tried to spread demonstrative optimism. Blume said that Germany and, of course, Bavaria first and foremost must now invest in their own strengths. Nothing describes the turning point better than that – and when “two international champions” like Siemens and the Technical University of Munich moved together in Garching.
As with SAP, it is another example of the “Industry on Campus” concept promoted by TU President Thomas Hofmann. It is important to build bridges between science and researching companies and to create a “knowledge hub”, said Hofmann. His predecessor Wolfgang Herrmann had already laid the foundation for this: the idea of bringing the technology pioneers from Siemens from Munich-Perlach to Garching came up about six years ago at a summer meeting at the Siemens headquarters on Wittelsbacher Platz, like Ludgar Meyer, head of technology at Siemens, told. Meyer still has 900 employees in Munich-Perlach, most of whom will soon be relocating.
Science Minister Markus Blume speaks of “fertile ground” for research. An “ecosystem” is being created in Garching.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The new building can already be viewed online as a digital twin
The future can only be great if everyone does their job in the present. Everyone expressly welcomed the mayor of the upcoming “science city” Garching; but also the workers, who with their bright work vests and construction site helmets contrasted with the suits. There is no topping-out ceremony where there is no talk of a shortage of skilled workers and scarce building materials: Actually, the workers should be in the middle of the celebration, said the head of Siemens Real Estate, Zsolt Sluitner. The challenges in the construction industry are great, confirmed general contractor Max Bögl, who emphasized that the research work that Siemens will conduct in Garching in the future will already help with the construction of the Technology Center itself.
The four-storey concrete skeleton building is still standing. SAP is building next door.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The four floors of the concrete skeleton building are already in place. 8,500 cubic meters of concrete and 1,200 tons of steel were used in the first construction phase, which will cover 14,000 square meters of floor space. A second is being planned with 12,000 square meters. The whole thing is being built according to the model of a “digital twin”, which already maps the building practically one-to-one on the network and from which a lot of data is obtained, as Bögl said. He spoke of “a glimpse into the future of construction” and attested that his industry had a great deal of catching up to do in terms of “standardization” and “industrialization” in order to be able to build sustainably, quickly and cost-effectively with scarce resources – a topic for the new Siemens branch.
Apart from such questions, the Technology Center wants to devote itself to the upcoming questions of digitization, as Siemens strategy chief Peter Körte explained. He’s not the only one who often uses the term “metaverse,” which Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has placed at the center of his corporate strategy. The world as a whole should find an image on the Internet. Korte said it is about the industry of the future, simulation, automation, additive and innovative manufacturing and the internet. Körte called for people to open up and praised “diversity”. Research and researchers from all over the world should feel at home in Garching. It was fitting, as he said, that everyone involved in the project could now get to know the Technology Center worldwide – virtually as twins, of course.
The smart building is intended to help in the battle for bright minds and provide an answer to climate change. According to project manager Mario Beck, the heat supply is to be provided by the city’s Energie-Wende-Garching GmbH, thermally activated intermediate ceilings are planned, ventilation with heat recovery and modern sensor and building technology.
Even if there is no timbered roof structure, there must be a topping-out crown: Albert Berger, Chancellor of the TU Munich, Mayor Dietmar Gruchmann, Minister Markus Blume, TU President Thomas Hofmann, Siemens Strategy Manager Peter Körte and Siemens Real Estate Manager Zsolt Sluitner ( from left) celebrate Hebauf in Garching.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The speakers invoked the power of innovation. “Something big is emerging here,” said Minister Blume.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
Incidentally, Garching’s Mayor Gruchmann appealed to the innovative group to make more effort with renewable energies. He addressed the Minister of State with the wish that the Free State should release a plot of land for a planned wind turbine right next door. He signaled willingness to large research and company builders to make areas available in the direction of the motorway. On the fringes of the event, Gruchmann revealed that he would like the TU to say goodbye to its gas-powered combined heat and power plant on campus. The city could quickly carry out a second geothermal well.