TUM San Francisco: Opening ceremony of the newest German Center for Research and Innovation

TUM Global, TUM San Francisco, News |

At the beginning of the year, the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) opened its sixth branch office worldwide in San Francisco. Due to Corona, the official ceremony had to be postponed. At the end of April, the time had finally come: guests from Germany and North America gathered in the Bay Area to celebrate the opening. TUM has been the main supporter of the DWIH offices in New York, São Paulo, and New Delhi for many years. Prof. Juliane Winkelmann, Vice President for International Alliances and Alumni, attended the festivities as our university's representative.

TUM representatives at the opening of DWIH in San Francisco
Representing TUM at the new DWIH San Francisco: alumnus Enrique Lin-Shiao, TUM Ambassador Polly Arnold, TUM Senior Vice President Juliane Winkelmann, and alumnus James Mister. Photo: TUM San Francisco
Dr. Zahar Barth-Manzoori, Director DWIH San Francisco and Ben Brisch, Director DWIH New York
Dr. Zahar Barth-Manzoori, Director of the new DWIH San Francisco and Mr. Ben Brisch, Director of DWIH New York. Bild: TUM San Francisco

The German Center for Research and Innovation is an initiative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). There are six representations worldwide: in New Delhi, Moscow, New York, São Paulo, Tokyo – and now San Francisco. The newest DWIH office is the second branch in the United States. San Francisco was a natural choice as it is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and thus in close proximity to the most important research and innovation sites in the Bay Area. 

Visit to the TUM partners UC Berkeley and Stanford

From April 27 to 29, 37 invited guests - representatives from German and U.S. politics as well as from research and science - had the opportunity to get to know the new representation in San Francisco and to learn first-hand about its offerings and opportunities. 

Highlights included visits to partners UC Berkeley and Stanford, including a tour of Berkeley's startup accelerator SkyDeck and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory. A tour of the Autodesk Gallery technology museum rounded off the delegation's program. The grand finale was the opening ceremony of DWIH San Francisco at the Exploratorium. 

Strengthening Germany’s reputation as the land of ideas

At the official opening ceremony on the evening of April 29, the director of the new DWIH center, Dr. Zahar Barth-Manzoori, presented its vision and mission. In doing so, she emphasized that the primary goal would be to promote Germany's good reputation as a land of research, science, and innovation.

She also explained that DWIH San Francisco will provide a platform for leaders in science, technology and the humanities to exchange ideas on topics such as climate, energy, and technology. The focus theme for 2022, she said, is Sustainable Innovation.

Here's to an exciting collaboration in the Bay Area!

Besides Senior Vice President Juliane Winkelmann, guests from TUM included TUM San Francisco liaison officer Jeff Ouimet, TUM Ambassador Polly Arnold, and numerous alumni. Moreover, DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee was present, as well as Vito Cecere, Director of Academic Relations for Education and Research Policy at the German Foreign Office, and Frithjof A. Maennel, Deputy Director General of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

TUM San Francisco is looking forward to working with DWIH's newest location and many exciting new collaborations.
 

More about the German Center for Research and Innovation
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