The US internet group Meta will open a location in Munich on the “Campus of Ideas” in October 2023. Meta is known for its social networks Facebook, Instagram and Threads as well as for the messenger service Whatsapp. The company owns Quest, a manufacturer of virtual reality glasses, formerly called Oculus. Meta already has offices in Berlin and Hamburg. The employees in Munich should primarily deal with artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. Immersion is the immersion in another world, often with the help of virtual reality devices used for video games and educational purposes, for example.
A spokesman for the group said that top Bavarian research, the good supply of specialists and the proximity to relevant companies in Bavaria were decisive for Meta’s investments in Munich. The economic area around the state capital has developed into an important technology location thanks to its two universities, the university, many Dax companies and a large start-up scene. Google and Apple have invested hundreds of millions in Munich to research artificial intelligence and the latest chips.
The city is also a magnet for developers and companies from all over the world in the field of immersive technologies. Meta has already invested in Germany and Munich in recent years. The company sponsored the “Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence” at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). And there is a partnership with the start-up Straightlabs, which offers training courses for the automotive industry using VR glasses.
“We also work very closely and intensively with BMW,” says the Meta spokesman. “It’s about how you can use virtual reality to design new cars or improve customer contact.” There is also a joint research project with the automaker to explore how virtual reality could one day be integrated into smart vehicles to entertain passengers, make navigation easier or improve safety. About a year ago, Meta took over the start-up Presize, a spin-off from TUM. Presize helps customers find the right sweater or pants size when buying clothes online.
The new offices of the Facebook group in Balanstraße extend over two floors and offer space for around 100 employees. Where Siemens once designed electronic components and semiconductors, they are to advance immersive technologies and artificial intelligence in the future. They should also expand partnerships with companies and academic institutions in Bavaria. From Munich, Meta’s sales and distribution teams will cover southern Germany in the future.