IBM Internet of Things Headquarters in Munich - Year in Review

My personal highlights from the growing ecosystem of our Watson IoT Center

The end of a year always offers a great opportunity for reflection and gratitude. This year, I’m looking back to what we have created in Munich with the launch of our Watson IoT Center. I’ve been thinking back to all the teamwork that has gone into bringing this space to life – everything from the pre-launch finishing touches and hosting so many of our clients and partners to arranging presidential visits and winning international awards. What an incredible year it has been!

Photo: IBM Watson IoT Center is located in one of the iconic buildings of Munich – in the Highlight Towers

When we started, we had a bold vision for the future. This was IBM’s first headquarters outside of the US and we wanted to make it the epicenter of Industry 4.0 revolution, a hive of innovation that would become the heart of C21st business transformation. It would also be something that would also empower whole communities to tackle complex and disruptive challenges around all physical things becoming digital and connected at a rampant pace, and showcasing the art of what’s possible with the Internet of Things (IoT) and Augmented Intelligence.

We brought 15,000 m2 of the Center to life by infusing many of the interactions you have in the space with IoT. We set up sensors that play the sound of the ‘music’ from the data within the center. We also created a cool ‘digital twin’ that helps you get around, find work spaces and optimal times to visit the café.

I remember the excitement and pride I felt with my incredibly passionate and ingenious team, when we officially opened the space on that unseasonably mild and sunny winter’s day in February. I also remember the gentle buzz of the drone flying overhead, highlighting our arrival and illuminating the IBM logo onto the glistening glass-fronted building!

I remember looking skyward up at Highlight Towers that day and imagining all the potential innovation that would be born out of our collaboration with clients, partners, industry leaders, start-ups, developers and students – making it a living and breathing epicentre of innovation with a powerful global ecosystem.

And what’s even better than that feeling of anticipation? Seeing it all happen, right before our eyes!  

Activating our IoT Ecosystem

In less than twelve months, we have successfully created our very own first-of-its-kind IoT ecosystem. First, Avnet/Tech Data, BMW, BNP Paribas, Capgemini and Tech Mahindra joined our collaboratories in the Center with us on the launch day; to explore how IoT and cognitive technologies can drive transformation for their companies and clients.

Shortly afterwards, we opened our doors to UnternehmerTUM, the Center for Innovation and Business Creation at the Technical University Munich, to work together on today’s new-collar skills challenge, on upskilling digital professionals and on incubating start-ups. We share a combined mission of bringing the right skills to the market for this era of AI.

Then, Bavaria-based Fortiss Research, notable birthplace of as many as 13 Nobel laureates, joined forces with us to work on cognitive robotics and manufacturing projects.

 Tweet: Exciting work with our colleagues and Nobel laureates from the Fortiss Research

That was also the day German Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the IoT Center to see how Germany is turning into the global center of IoT and Industry 4.0 and fostering its role as a leading industrialized country. He also caught a glimpse of how we are creating a unique and truly collaborative global ecosystem to drive this innovation.

Photo: Visit of the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife

And together with our partners, we’ve uncovered new business opportunities and contributed to the development of skills far beyond all the professionals based in the IoT Center. We have welcomed coding camps, college and university students and hosted the Invent a Chip competition to find Germany’s best young engineering talents together with one of the Europe’s largest engineering and scientific associations VDE.

Photo: Coding camps and hackathons turn to be fun as well!

 We also implemented some new approaches, like the very first international #IBMNextGenLab initiative which included around 50 millennials from both IBM and our first collaboration partner BMW working together on new millennial-minded ideas for the future of mobility.

Photo: The first ever #IBMNextGenLab bringing millennials from IBM and BMW together

To date, we have opened our doors to over 22,000 visitors to our Munich HQ this year, including business and governmental delegations from countries such as Australia, China, South Korea, USA and United Arab Emirates. We have also welcomes visitors from every country in the European Union, as well as EU and international institutions such as the European Parliament, European Commission, and NATO.

These are just some of my personal, initial highlights from the Highlight Towers this year and there’s much, much more to come. Lots of exciting opportunities await ahead and we will continue to drive forward and scale up our IoT ecosystem.

We look forward to sharing more outcomes from our IoT headquarters with the world – and meanwhile, if you’re ever in Bavaria, our inspiring Munich IoT team, led by @Sherri Thomas, is eager to show you around!