Lower Saxony's Minister of Economics Olaf Lies has now handed over a grant for almost 70,000 euros. Further subsidies come from the district and city of Osnabrück as well as from regional foundations. Councilor Anna Kebeschull and Lord Mayor Katharina Pötter as well as Sabine Stöhr from the MINT working group of the foundation network for the Osnabrück region attended the opening of the MINT Factory.

Recent studies show that the need for action is great. There is a growing shortage of specialists in the MINT professions (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) as well as a lack of education in schools. To meet these challenges, a promising initiative has been launched in the Osnabrück region. The focus is on the introduction of learning factories at general schools, also known as MINT:Factories. These consist of 3D printers and electronic components to produce teaching materials that can be used in the classroom. The MINT:Factory can be used in various teaching fields, but the focus is initially on the Computer Science department, which will be introduced as a compulsory subject at all schools in Lower Saxony from summer 2023.

"We must design the training of MINT specialists so that they can apply their knowledge in practice and that the framework conditions are improved in such a way that the specialists in Lower Saxony feel comfortable and stay with us," Minister Lies said during the opening. "With the support of the interschool project MINT-Factory in the Osnabrück region, we are setting our sights right on this point and are supporting the development and application of digital skills in everyday school life with the development of learning factories - and are also ensuring a closer connection with the economy. The project is a successful example of how twelve schools, city and country work together hand in hand." Councilor Anna Kebschull is also pleased about the establishment of the MINT Factory. Investments such as these are necessary to ensure that the Osnabrück region remains a strong economic location. The initiative offers further perspectives: "After a successful test phase, we would like to extend the project to further schools in the Osnabrück region. The more children and young people come into contact with modern technology at an early stage and work with it, the more we arouse enthusiasm for the STEM subjects." Katharina Pötter also shares this view: "For the future of Germany as a location for innovation, we must promote the STEM potentials of young people even better. Therefore, I am very pleased that we are implementing the STEM Factory project together and have created a great, practical offer for the students with mobile robots, among other things," said the Lord Mayor.

The driving forces behind the MINT:Factory are the two vocational school teachers Kai Krafft and Hanno Rhauderwiek from BBS Brinkstraße. "My two colleagues have shown a tremendous commitment here, which impressed me very much," says Martin Henke, head of the BBS Brinkstraße school, adding: "The project also supports an important goal. It will bring about closer networking between general schools, our vocational schools and businesses in the region. In this way, synergies for MINT education will be created, which will have a very positive and lasting impact on the educational landscape. It is also gratifying that the project will be made possible by the Ministry of Economy, the City and the Osnabrück County as well as by foundations." The funding by the Ministry of Economy together with financial resources from the City and the Osnabrück County will make it possible to equip twelve schools with STEM:Factories in a first test phase starting in winter 2022 (Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium, Gymnasium Melle, Gymnasium Oesede, Bertha-von-Suttner-Oberschule Osnabrück, Oberschule am Sonnenhügel, Oberschule am Sonnensee, Oberschule Bohme, Oberschule Ludwig-Windthorst-Schule, Realschule Bad Iburg, Realschule Georgsmarienhütte, Thomas-Morus-Schule and Gesamtschule Schinkel). In addition, the project is supported by many regional foundations and business enterprises. "It is important for the foundations in the region that young people can discover what digitalization means in a very practical way when introducing the subject of computer science. The project makes current technologies tangible and is therefore also a valuable building block for professional orientation," emphasizes Sabine Stöhr from the MINT working group of the foundation network for the Osnabrück region.

Another partner is the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. Together with her and business partners, for example, a robot is being developed that can be produced in schools using 3D printers and makes computer science lessons more interactive for children and young people. This example can be used to illustrate practical everyday situations as well as topics such as autonomous driving and the application of artificial intelligence in the classroom. In this way, students gain practical experience and deepen their knowledge and skills in the fields of technology and programming at school - and even more extensively through cooperation with participating companies.

The CLAAS Foundation can help you – up to a maximum amount of 1500 Euro per team. Apply for a seed funding to get your first robot going and email us your application consisting of the following content by 21st April 2023:

• Short covering letter
• Description of planned robot
• Information on the team (name, age, course etc.)
• List and cost of equipment you wish to use and how much funding you require from the CLAAS Foundation.

The team selection will completed by the beginning of May 2023.

Looking forward to your application.

CLAAS Foundation FAO: Sylvia Looks Muehlenwinkel 1 33428 Harsewinkel Email: stiftung@claas.com

The Field Robot Event 2023 takes place from 12. – 15. June 2023 in Hoče, Slovenia, organised by the University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Please read more on http://www.fieldrobot.nl/event/

The CLAAS Foundation invited the winners of the Förderpreis der Wirtschaft to learn more about technology, agricultural engineering and agriculture at the Day of Agricultural Engineering in Harsewinkel. The Förderpeis der Wirtschaft was awarded for the 16th time in September to young people for their outstanding school achievements in STEM subjects at the University of Paderborn. They and their teachers had the opportunity to experience agricultural engineering live and in colour as part of a company tour. Furthermore, CLAAS young skilled workers presented their personal careers and training at CLAAS and gave valuable tips on career orientation. The Day of Agricultural Engineering was rounded off with a quiz about agricultural engineering and agriculture. The winners of the quiz won vouchers for the Technoparc shop. This day was a nice and informative break from the school routine for everyone.

The CLAAS Foundation was founded in 1999 and has since awarded the Helmut Claas scholarships, bonus prizes and international prizes on an annual basis. This year’s awards included one new category: The AgTex Doctoral Thesis Prize goes to a doctoral student in the second year of their thesis who is conducting research into agricultural machinery and mechanisation, tractors and engines or automation and electronics.

The individual prizes were awarded as follows:

Scholarships

1st prize: Patricia Ulbricht was awarded the leading prize for her Bachelor’s thesis on regenerative agriculture, which she wrote at the University of Leipzig. She can look forward to financial support totalling €7,200.

2nd prize: Paul Speitelsbach from the University of Hohenheim worked on the design of a tine-based traction system for lightweight robots used in the field. His thesis took second place with prize money of €6,000.

3rd prize: A student at Harper Adams University in the United Kingdom, Richard Geary, won third prize. His thesis entitled “Maize Belongs to the Farmer, Not the Field” investigates the optimisation of harvesting technology and earned him a grant of €4,800.

4th prize: Lasse Clausen analysed use of a CLAAS combine harvester in the field. The graduate of Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences received €3,600 in prize money.

Bonus prizes

Four bonus prizes, each worth €1,500, were awarded in addition to the annual scholarships.

A student of Harper Adams University in England, John David Kendal Morgan, received the prize in the category of Technical Solutions to Improve Animal Welfare. His thesis explored the development of a low-cost imaging system to analyse the behaviour of poultry in small Kenyan pens. James Patrick Nicol Shaw, also a graduate of Harper Adams University, won in the category of Improved Nutrient Management for Food Production. His thesis investigated the mechanical durability of digestate pellets. Coming first in the Technical Engagement category, Nathanael Ebertshäuser used field testing to determine and compare the rolling resistances of three tractors. He is a graduate of the University of Hohenheim. Jessica Emminghaus – also from the University of Hohenheim – won in the Innovation category with her thesis on electrification in agricultural technology.

AgTex Doctoral Thesis Prize (Agricultural Engineering Doctoral Prize)

Malte von Bloh received this year’s inaugural doctoral prize in the field of agricultural engineering, which is endowed with €5,000. Von Bloh researches the digital monitoring of plants in his doctoral project at Technische Universität München. Dr Hermann Garbers, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, is patron of the award.

International Student Prizes

The International Student Prizes worth €2,000 each were awarded to Henk Nap from Wageningen University (Netherlands), Christian Ciocirlie from the University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” Timisoara (Romania), Benjamín Zvara from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia), János Péter Jakus from Budapest BME University (Hungary) and Maciej Kubicki from Poznan University of Life Sciences (Poland). The Weihenstephan-Triesdorf scholarship went to Ibrahima Traore from Guinea.

All the award-winning students were presented with a certificate and prize money of 75 euros by the sponsors, the University President and the Vice President for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Prof Dr René Fahr. The Förderpreis der Wirtschaft is awarded for special achievements in the natural science subjects mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. The awards were given to the best students in classes eight and nine of all 26 grammar schools and comprehensive schools in the Hochstift region.

The Förderpreis is financed by companies based in the region and awarded in cooperation with the University's Staff Office for University Networking and Fundraising. Riegraf praised the outstanding achievements of the students and encouraged them to continue their commitment. "In order to be able to cope with the great challenges we face in the areas of climate protection, sustainability or artificial intelligence, we need students who are as committed as you are, especially in the natural sciences and engineering." She also thanked the participating companies: "Without the great support of the sponsors, this event would not be possible. The fact that it has been able to take place so successfully for sixteen years now is the result of a sustainable cooperation between the university and the municipality, the districts of Höxter and Paderborn and, above all, the regional companies that are involved here with great continuity."

VerbundVolksbank OWL has also been committed to the Förderpreis der Wirtschaft for a long time. "The companies in our economic region will continue to be in urgent need of good young talent in the future. The talent is there, you just have to find it. The Förderpreis der Wirtschaft is a good instrument to make these talents visible to companies at an early stage. That is why we, as a regional cooperative bank, are very happy to support the Förderpreis," emphasises Thorsten Heggen, press spokesman for VerbundVolksbank OWL.

In addition to VerbundVolksbank OWL, the sponsors include the company dSPACE, the Claas Foundation Harsewinkel and the sponsoring community from the district of Höxter, consisting of the companies HEGLA GmbH & Co KG (Beverungen), Mahrenholz GmbH, (Beverungen) and Vauth-Sagel GmbH (Brakel). The representatives of the Paderborn districts (District Administrator Christoph Rüther for Paderborn and District Director Klaus Schumacher for Höxter) and the city of Paderborn (Deputy Mayor Sabine Kramm) presented a Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum voucher.

Good news at the start of the winter semester at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences: The endowed professorship "Autonomous, Collaborative Agricultural and Sensor Systems" has been filled. With Prof Dr Mario Theers, the university has been able to recruit a proven expert for this subject area, which plays a significant role in modern agricultural technology.

After positions in research and practice now at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück

After studying physics at RWTH Aachen University, the 34-year-old worked as a doctoral student at the Jülich Research Centre. He then developed algorithms for automated driving at ZF Automotive in Düsseldorf and was involved in several research and development projects. What appeals to him about the endowed professorship? - "Of course, the teaching and the exchange with the students. In addition, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, with its success story of interdisciplinary research in agricultural engineering and its innovative Agro-Technicum, offers an excellent environment for exciting research projects," says Theers.

New Agro-Technicum is one of the most modern research infrastructures in Europe

The Agro-Technicum, which opened a few months ago, is one of the most modern research infrastructures for agricultural systems engineering and field robotics in Europe. Developed at the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics (IuI) at the Westerberg campus, it houses a research hall with five laboratories and an experimental field where, for example, autonomous field robots are tested in long-term use.

For many years, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has enjoyed a high reputation in the field of agricultural robotics and sensor systems - throughout Germany and internationally. Prof Dr Arno Ruckelshausen, who has been setting standards in this field for decades with projects in research, development and transfer, has played a decisive role in shaping this good reputation. Mario Theers will succeed him in the medium term.

Five regional foundations enable the establishment of the professorship

The establishment of the endowed professorship was made possible thanks to five regional foundations. Together, the Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation, the CLAAS Foundation, the Dieter Fuchs Foundation, the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Foundation and the Stiftung Stahlwerk Georgsmarienhütte Foundation have supported Lower Saxony's largest university of applied sciences in further expanding its strong position in agricultural engineering through the new professorship. The five foundations have made a total of 625,000 euros available for this purpose.

Success story to continue

"I would like to sincerely thank the founders for their remarkable commitment," says University President Prof Dr Andreas Bertram. The establishment of the endowed professorship illustrates anew: the university and the region stick together and strengthen each other.

The Dean of the Faculty IuI and Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof Dr Alexander Schmehmann, is also grateful for the support of the regional players: "And with Prof Dr Mario Theers, our endowed professorship is first-class: His outstanding professional know-how in theory and practice, his teaching competence and also international experience speak for this. I am looking forward to our new colleague and with him to a new chapter in our success story," says Schmehmann.

Please find the latest experience of our current exchange student, Fynn Lammers, below:

'Within the CLAAS Foundation’s University Twinning Program between Harper Adams University and the University of Applied Science Osnabrück I got the chance to study two master degrees at the same time: a two-year master course in M.Sc. „Applied Crop Science“ at the University of applied science Osnabrück and a one-year master in M.Res. „Precision Farming“ at the Harper Adams University which is integrated in my master studies in Osnabrück. My research project, which is the main part of my studies at Harper Adams University, deals with autonomous crop farming in Germany. Even though the number of autonomous equipment for crop farming increases fast, only a bit is known about the economic feasibility and possibilities of the adoption into the current production processes. Therefore, I evaluate and compare different approaches of autonomous equipment with the current conventional technologies from an economic point of view. Prof. Dr. James Lowenberg-DeBoer in the UK and Prof. Dr. Hubert Korte in Germany supervise my project – so I have supervisors from both universities, which are in each case specialist for agricultural economics and agriculture technologies. Furthermore, I am in a close contact with the HandsFreeFarm-project that farms 35 ha with autonomous equipment. Besides my study work, I take part in the usual student life such as the engineering society, the HAU football club or the student union events. This project is a great experience for me and I learn a great deal about autonomy and about international scientific work. Thank you to all involved parties, which made this programme possible.'

A kit of various components was given to the participating schools in advance by the CLAAS Foundation and had to be assembled with precision and perseverance. Each school received class sets of 20 metal construction kit tractors, which were assembled in class.

The pupils then had to compete in three disciplines with their electrically powered tractors last Saturday in a hall at CLAAS Weser-Ems GmbH in Molbergen. Speed counted in the slalom course, dexterity was important in the obstacle course, and on the agricultural course the small tractors had to pass narrow obstacles and park in reverse in a barn.

"Our aim is to ensure that technology, science, mathematics and computer science are firmly established in schools at an early age. In addition, technology should be fun, and that's most fun when you're working with others," said Sylvia Looks from the CLAAS Foundation Board of Directors.

During the break, CLAAS Weser-Ems Managing Director Ingo Ordel invited the pupils to take a ride on real agricultural machinery and experience agricultural technology on a large scale.

Finally, the highlight and conclusion of the competition was the award ceremony. The team "TrekkerBres 1" stood at the top of the podium and received 300 euros for their class coffers, 2nd place and 200 euros went to "Agrartechnik Wirkner" and "Team Lilpeep" took 3rd place with 100 euros.

Various types of vegetables are gradually planted in the generously proportioned area, which then need to be tended. For the second planting, heat-loving varieties such as tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins will move into the beds. A reseeding will take place in August.

The school garden is intended to create a better sense of nature, food production and also its marketing among the students of year seven and eight. "We are very excited about this garden as it is a great addition to our otherwise more technical funding projects," says Sylvia Looks from the Foundation's Board of Directors. "And it fits right in with our idea of getting the younger generation interested in agricultural issues as early as possible. In addition, this programme is designed to run for several years and we are thus complying with the idea of sustainability " With this initiative, the CLAAS Foundation would above all like to actively contribute to strengthening the agricultural understanding of the coming generations.

In addition, there will also be an agricultural use of the garden: While many subjects such as "agriculture, nutrition and sustainability", biology, chemistry, politics and geography can be directly integrated, there is to be a special "SmartGarden 4.0" project for computer science, STEM, robotics and physics. There will also be corresponding further training for teachers.

The school garden will initially be funded for three years and will, of course, be continued and cultivated by the students beyond that time.

Who is the 'GemüseAckerdemie'?

The 'GemüseAckerdemie' is an educational programme of the non-profit association Acker e.V., which was initiated and founded by Dr Christoph Schmitz in 2014. Within the multi-year, practice-oriented educational programme, children and young people grow up to 30 types of vegetables in the field.

The AgTEx Doctoral Thesis Prize is awarded to doctoral candidates with a focus on agricultural engineering

• Are you a doctoral candidate who has completed the first year of your project?
• Are you working on technology related to the field of agricultural engineering?

Then we are looking for applications for the AgTEx Doctoral Thesis Prize 2022. The closing date for the application is the 1^st July 2022.

The prize has a value of 5.000 Euro for free use by the successful applicant. Next to the financial recognition, the winning candidate will also be invited to the annual Award Presentation of the CLAAS Foundation and to become involved with the successive Prize selection in 2024.

What is the application process?

The application submission consists of a summary of your concept and first achievements of your doctoral project and a description of your project plan to completion, which must cover one of the following topics:

• agricultural machines and mechanization
• tractors and engines
• electronics, automation and digitalization

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to your application!

CLAAS Stiftung
Sylvia Looks
Postfach 1163
33426 Harsewinkel
Germany

E-Mail: stiftung@claas.com
www.claas-foundation.com

The CLAAS Foundation can help you – up to a maximum amount of 1500 Euro per team. Apply for a seed funding to get your first robot going and email us your application consisting of the following content by 2nd May 2022:

• Short covering letter
• Description of planned robot
• Information on the team (name, age, course etc.)
• List and cost of equipment you wish to use and how much funding you require from the CLAAS Foundation.

The team selection will completed by the end of May 2022.

Looking forward to your application.

CLAAS Foundation FAO: Sylvia Looks Muehlenwinkel 1 33428 Harsewinkel Email: stiftung@claas.com

The Field Robot Event 2022 takes place from 14. – 16. June 2022 on the "Ausstellungs- und Handelszentrum" at Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, collocated with the DLG-Feldtage.

Please read more on http://www.fieldrobot.com/event/

With the Federal Cross of Merit, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honoured Dr. Garbers' decades of voluntary work in agricultural machinery associations and foundations.

Dr. Garbers is still involved today as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees in the CLAAS Foundation, which aims to get young people interested in modern agricultural technologies and related sciences. He played a key role in the establishment of the CLAAS Foundation in 1999 and was a strong advocate for STEM promotion in schools.

"He has continuously accompanied the Foundation as a valuable, guiding advisor from the very beginning," says Sylvia Looks (Executive Board of the CLAAS Foundation).As a mechanical engineer with a doctorate (University of Braunschweig), he built up a network within the industry, the university and association landscape at an early stage.

Dr. Hermann Garbers worked for many years in the Association of German Engineers (VDI) in the field of agricultural technology and was also active for more than 15 years in the Agricultural Technology Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). He was one of the initiators and founding members of the VDMA Steering Committee for Agricultural Engineering, which has established itself as a strategic management body in all technological matters. In 2010, he was elected Chairman of the Board and held this office until 2016. In this capacity, he was instrumental in the reorientation of the European industry association CEMA, which today has great influence on the European Commission when it comes to regulations for agricultural technology.

In his professional career, Dr. Garbers contributed to the successful development of the CLAAS Group, which he joined in 1984. After holding positions as Head of Preliminary Development and Technical Development Planning for the entire product range, he took over the development of the successful combine harvester range from 1988. His era as Managing Director for Technology and Quality began in 1999 and lasted until his retirement in 2014.

Dr. Hermann Garbers worked for many years in the Association of German Engineers (VDI) in the field of agricultural technology and was also active for more than 15 years in the Agricultural Technology Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). He was one of the initiators and founding members of the VDMA Steering Committee for Agricultural Engineering, which has established itself as a strategic management body in all technological matters. In 2010, he was elected Chairman of the Board and held this office until 2016. In this capacity, he was instrumental in the reorientation of the European industry association CEMA, which today has great influence on the European Commission when it comes to regulations for agricultural technology.

In his professional career, Dr. Garbers contributed to the successful development of the CLAAS Group, which he joined in 1984. After holding positions as Head of Preliminary Development and Technical Development Planning for the entire product range, he took over the development of the successful combine harvester range from 1988. His era as Managing Director for Technology and Quality began in 1999 and lasted until his retirement in 2014.