246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics, and Startups Across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe
246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics, and Startups Across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe  
Podcast: Manufacturing Happy Hour
Published On: Tue Jul 15 2025
Description: You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to automatica 2025 while we were there.Europe’s biggest AI and automation event is a must-visit if you can get over there. But if not, this episode has you covered.Between event talks, demos, and trips to the beer garden, we met some amazing people behind robotics and AI companies in Germany and beyond. Chris Luecke and Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) speak to company founders, innovators, and robotics pioneers, including:Wendy Tan White, CEO, IntrinsicDayana Ramirez Gutierrez, Chief of Innovation, TUMNicole Ebner, Head of Robotics/AI Startup Incubator, TUMDr. Martina Kohlhuber, Scientific Director TUM CampusAlwin Heerklotz, CEO, Innok RoboticsNikolas Roessler, CCO/CFO, Innok RoboticsDr. Christian Liedtke, Principal Consultant, KUKAPatrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director, VDMAYou’ll hear what makes Germany, specifically Bavaria, a rising star in robotics innovation, how AI is powering robotics’ evolution (and vice versa), and how European businesses approach innovation. In this episode, find out:Wendy gives us background on Intrinsic and explains what AI adds to robotics’ potential todayWhy we’re at an inflection point with AI and robotics and the top trends that are driving the demandWhy hardware and software are both equally important and why we need to think about the physical world as much as the digitalThe importance of hybrid skills and how a “confluence of knowledge” will drive more creativity and breakthroughs in tech  What we can learn about the innovation ecosystem in MunichHow we can empower startups to bring tech from academia into the working worldWhy collaboration is the key thing that the world can learn from Bavaria and German manufacturingA background on Innok Robotics and why the founders decided to focus on AMRs in outdoor applicationsWhy a niche market focus makes Innok Robotics stand out in their fieldWhy growth in new markets depends on the customers’ approach to risk tooWhat Germany brings to innovation – smart engineersWhy AI is the push that robotics needs (and vice versa) so we can start doing more with physical AIWhy more people should come to Automatica and see the reflection of European entrepreneurship and innovationThe challenges facing innovative startups in Europe, and why investors should be more open to riskEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“The thing AI can do for traditional robotics is add vision, touch, dexterity in a way we've never been able to provide with sensors before or at least in a cost effective way.” – Wendy Tan White“Our customers in Germany are forward-thinking and they take not only the risk but also the pain to start with a product that’s not finished yet. I think that’s been an important part of getting to where we are now.” – Alwin Heerklotz“We come from a world that we describe as a deterministic world... now we move into a different paradigm with AI...the robots become skilled, like humans have skills." – Patrick SchwarzkopfLinks & mentions:automatica, the world's leading trade fair for smart automation and robotics, automatica brings together all key technologies in the technology hub of MunichIntrinsic AI, a platform for the next generation of intelligent automation, making it easier for developers and businesses to unlock the value of roboticsTUM – Technical University of Munich, a university that brings talent from around the world to create innovations togethermunich_i, a top-level event in AI and robotics, presented at automatica 2025UnternehmerTUM, Europe’s largest center for startups and innovationrobo.innovate, Bavaria’s deep-tech incubator for start-up projects in the field of intelligent robotics & AIInnok Robotics, providing an autonomous platform for outdoor applications, including AMRsKUKA, German manufacturer of industrial robots and factory automation systemsVDMA, German Engineering Federation, one of the largest and most important industrial associations in Europe representing 3,600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companiesMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.