How can new technologies be applied innovatively in aerospace manufacturing? For two days, industry leaders came together with tech experts and startups at the de:hub Journey in Dresden. The goal of this compact event: to showcase practical innovations and promote technology transfer.
Organised in collaboration with three Digital Hubs – MediaTech Hub Potsdam, Smart Systems Hub Dresden und Digital Hub Industry Bremen – the event sparked an in-depth exchange on future technologies for aerospace manufacturing.
Three Hubs, Four Focus Areas
Participants experienced a dynamic day filled with practical insights and match making. In rotating sessions, they explored the following key topics:
- Simulation-Based Production Planning
- Smarter Shopfloor & Predictive Maintenance
- Additive Manufacturing & Automation
- Supply Chain Intelligence & Intralogistics
Mixed Reality as a Game Changer in Manufacturing
The MediaTech Hub Potsdam, together with startup 2Sync, showcased the potential of auto-adaptive mixed reality (MR). Spatial computing solutions make it possible to adapt digital content to real-world environments in seconds.
Use cases include interactive production planning with physical and virtual objects, virtual training and education, and immersive marketing and trade show experiences.
Robotics for Lunar Missions
A highlight of the event was the keynote by Lin-Yu Oei from Neurospace. The Berlin-based startup is developing modular rovers that can operate individually or in swarms – for applications ranging from geological research to building lunar infrastructure. With projects like the HiveR platform and the ‘TACHELES’ satellite (part of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission), Neurospace demonstrates how flexible robotics is opening up new horizons.
Hands-On High Tech at Companies
The journey also included visits to AMAREA, a pioneer in multi-material jetting for 3D printing, and Herone, a TU Dresden spin-off specialising in ultra-light composite profiles for aerospace. Both companies offered hands-on demonstrations of how innovation can revolutionise production processes.
Interdisciplinarity as a Driver of Innovation
For us, the de:hub Journey made one thing clear:
- Practical relevance is key. Technologies like mixed reality, simulation, additive manufacturing, and intelligent supply chains are no longer concepts of the future – they’re already delivering real value to aerospace manufacturing today.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration creates new perspectives. The combination of media tech, smart systems, and smart manufacturing is creating solutions that reach far beyond the industry itself.
- Collaboration accelerates innovation. Matchmaking, company visits, and open discussions directly promote knowledge transfer and strengthen the network between startups, industry, and research.
Here are some impressions from the event.
