Six schools from the districts of Warendorf and Gütersloh participated. The teams of pupils competed against each other with high motivation and had to first “get around the curve” in order to be able to “count peas” later on. After refreshments and the opportunity to look around the CLAAS site as part of the CLAAS Newcomers' Day taking place at the same time, another exciting challenge awaited them: “Watch out for the obstacle!”

All tasks could only be solved by precisely programming the robots. This was the only way the small machines were able to drive on a black line, recognize obstacles and stop at the right places. Many of the participants also learned that there are different (programming) approaches to reach the goal. The “RatsTeam” from Ratsgymnasium in Wiedenbrück was able to impress in all disciplines and won first prize. Second prize went to the ErNi team from Ennigerloh-Neubeckum comprehensive school and third prize went to the TechTitans from Steinhagen secondary school.

Over the past six years, the CLAAS Foundation has equipped a total of 12 schools in the districts of Warendorf and Gütersloh with mBot2 kits. The mBot2 plays a central role in project-oriented learning, which many schools are increasingly promoting.

This year's competition was organized by Malte Schön's team from the Technical Education Centre in Harsewinkel. The team was supported on site by Dr. Sergej Stoetzer from Makeblock Education, who was able to provide excellent advice to all participants with his extensive knowledge.

On 10 May 2025, theory will finally become practice: pupils will compete against each other in the mBot competition organised by the CLAAS Technical Education Centre (TBZ). They can also attend the Newcomers Day at the TBZ. This gives the participants an ideal insight into the training professions at CLAAS and allows them to make initial contacts and gather information on site.

Through this initiative, the Claas-Stiftung is reaffirming its goal of promoting education and enthusiasm for technical professions and preparing pupils for the challenges of the digital future.

Around 15 dedicated teachers took part in the training, which was led by Dr Sergej Stoetzer from MakeBlock. Malte Schön, trainer for mechatronics at CLAAS, presented the tasks of the planned competition. The participants embedded the small but powerful robotic vehicles and began with the initial programming. This enabled the mBots to navigate precisely along a black line, recognise obstacles and stop in the right places.

This training course serves as an introduction to mBots in the classroom and is intended to be used in technology and computer science lessons as well as in afternoon courses. The mBot is an example of project-orientated learning, which is becoming increasingly important in schools.

On 10 May 2025, theory will finally become practice: pupils will compete against each other in the mBot competition organised by the CLAAS Technical Education Centre (TBZ). They can also attend the Newcomers Day at the TBZ. This gives the participants an ideal insight into the training professions at CLAAS and allows them to make initial contacts and gather information on site.

Through this initiative, the Claas-Stiftung is reaffirming its goal of promoting education and enthusiasm for technical professions and preparing pupils for the challenges of the digital future.

The 34-year-old was welcomed by the Presidential Board of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and the supporting foundations of the Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Stiftung, the Claas-Stiftung, the Dieter Fuchs Stiftung, the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Stiftung and the Stiftung Stahlwerk Georgsmarienhütte. All foundations provide 25,000 euros per year for five years, totalling 625,000 euros in funding. The university will then take over the funding.

"With this endowed professorship, we will be able to successfully develop the research focus on sustainability technologies and processes that we have built up over the past few years. Christian Meltebrink will drive forward the automation of agricultural systems and support a key industry in this region through dialogue with companies from the agricultural engineering sector and the targeted promotion of young talent. This is made possible by the generous commitment of the foundations," emphasised University President Prof. Dr Alexander Schmehmann.

Expert for sensor technology in agriculture

Meltebrink's expertise is sensor technology. Sensors act as the eyes and ears of modern agricultural technology and provide real-time data on environmental conditions, soil health, plant growth and machine performance. A sensor detects physical or chemical changes in the environment and converts them into an electrics signal. This signal is used to gather information or to determine, for example, whether a robot should irrigate a crop or manoeuvre around an obstacle.

After completing a dual Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering - Automation in Baden-Württemberg, Meltebrink went on to study for a Master's degree in Computer Science - Distributed and Mobile Applications at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. In 2015, he received the Amazone Innovation Award and an award for the best Master's degree for his Master's thesis.

Establishment of a junior engineering group

He then started his career as Safety Manager at agricultural machinery manufacturer Strautmann & Söhne in Bad Laer, where Meltebrink developed a patented safety concept for autonomous agricultural machinery. It was there that he recognised the problem of the safe perception of people by self-driving agricultural machinery in the field and on the farm. Meltebrink completed his doctorate on this topic with summa cum laude honours at the Technical University of Berlin and developed a new testing methodology for sensors from different manufacturers as part of the "Agro-Safety" research project. During this time, Meltebrink also set up a junior engineering research group. Over the past two years, he has been responsible for portfolio and innovation management for sensor solutions for mobile machinery at sensor manufacturer SICK.

Practical research and teaching

"I want to offer application-oriented teaching with the associated practical training, taking into account state-of-the-art approaches and industry-standardised processes. In practical research, I will focus on agricultural processes and work closely with farmers and industry partners to develop new, intelligent sensor system solutions that improve day-to-day work," says Meltebrink. "The university's infrastructure, including the Agro-Technicum, offers me ideal working conditions."

Promoting innovative and sustainable agriculture in Osnabrück

"As the funding foundations, we are delighted to welcome Prof Dr Meltebrink as the new holder of the Chair of Autonomous and Collaborative Agricultural Systems. His expertise will breathe new life into the vision of innovative and sustainable agriculture in Osnabrück," says Sylvia Looks, board member of the Claas-Stiftung.

Source: Hochschule Osnabrück
Geschäftsbereich Kommunikation
Albrechtstraße 30 | Gebäude AF 0308 | 49076 Osnabrück
Redaktion: Isabelle Diekmann

Sylvia Looks, Executive Board member of the Claas-Stiftung, expressed her enthusiasm for the new cooperation: "We are thrilled to support this partnership between Wageningen University and Göttingen University. Both institutions are renowned for their contributions to agricultural sciences, and we believe that this collaboration will yield significant advancements in research and education, ultimately benefiting the global agricultural community." 

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Claas-Stiftung 's ongoing commitment to supporting academic development and advancing agricultural technologies. By bringing together two of Europe’s leading agricultural universities, the twinning cooperation seeks to enhance cross-border academic exchange and provide students and researchers with unique opportunities for collaboration and growth. 

Key Objectives of the Twinning Cooperation: 

1. Promoting Joint Research Initiatives: The partnership will facilitate joint research projects, harnessing the strengths and expertise of both institutions to address global challenges in agriculture and sustainability. 

2. Enhancing Educational Opportunities: Students and faculty will benefit from exchange programs, joint seminars, and workshops, enriching their academic experiences and broadening their perspectives. 

3. Fostering Innovation and Technology Transfer: By combining resources and expertise, the cooperation aims to accelerate the development and implementation of cutting-edge agricultural technologies. 

4. Strengthening International Networks: This initiative will not only strengthen ties between the partner universities but also expand their networks globally, creating new avenues for collaboration with other institutions and industry leaders. 

Professor Peter Groot Koerkamp, representative from Wageningen University, says: "This twinning cooperation provides a fantastic opportunity for our students and researchers to engage with their peers in Göttingen. By working together, we can tackle some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today." 

Professor Frank Beneke from Göttingen University shared similar sentiments: "We are excited to embark on this journey with Wageningen University. The exchange of knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly lead to innovative solutions and new insights in our field." 

This new partnership aligns with the Claas-Stiftung ’s mission to support educational and research initiatives that drive agricultural innovation and sustainability. The foundation continues to play a pivotal role in connecting academic institutions and promoting excellence within the agricultural sector. 

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 11th April 2025:

• 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 end of April 2025.

Looking forward to your application.

Claas-Stiftung
FAO: Sylvia Looks
Muehlenwinkel 1
33428 Harsewinkel
Email: stiftung@claas.com

The Field Robot Event 2025 takes place in summer near Milan / Italy. More information will follow in due course.

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

The foundation invited the award winners of the Förderpreis der Wirtschaft, which was awarded for the 18th time in September to young people for their outstanding academic achievements in STEM subjects at the University of Paderborn. During the Day of Agriculture, participants had the opportunity to dive deeper into the fields of technology, agricultural technology, and agriculture. A company tour provided insights into the production process of a harvesting machine. Two technical trainees from CLAAS shared their personal career paths and training opportunities at CLAAS, offering valuable career guidance tips. In a rallye focused on agricultural technology and farming, the top three participants won great prizes. Filled with new impressions and relieved from homework for the day, the participants headed home in the late afternoon.

"We are delighted to have received the largest donation to the capital stock since the Claas-Stiftung was established," reports Executive Board member Frank Klüsener. "The foundation's assets of almost 20 million euros will enable further initiatives in the future." The 40 per cent increase will enable the foundation's scope and activities to be further expanded and, above all, made more international. "Agricultural engineering is a global topic. We are therefore delighted to be able to play an even greater role in international projects and facilitate cross-border exchange between universities, colleges and their students," says Sylvia Looks, member of the Executive Board of the Claas-Stiftung.

In this special year, the award ceremony took place in a suitably festive setting. In his address, guest of honour Professor Giovanni Molari, Rector of the University of Bologna (Italy) - founded in 1088 and recognized as the oldest university in the Western world - discussed the importance of transferring scientific knowledge into practice. He also explored the future challenges facing agriculture. In this context, he emphasized the importance of the interaction between universities and foundations.

Subsequently, the young talents received their awards, totaling approximately 75,000 euros, after the winners of the four main prizes had presented their theses in brief talks to the audience. The awards were presented by Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees. In her speech, she spoke about the role of the Claas-Stiftung in connection with the current global challenges: "Promoting education, science and research is the foundation's mission, but conditions have changed over the past 25 years, and they continue to change. Today, agriculture faces major challenges such as climate change and a shortage of skilled workers. The foundation contributes through its various initiatives by supporting students, funding research projects, and inspiring schoolchildren in agricultural and technical subjects."  

The 2024 prize winners

Established in 1999, the Claas-Stiftung awards the Helmut Claas Scholarships, Bonus Prizes and International Student Prizes every year. The following prizes were awarded:

Scholarships

1st prize: Ferdinand Andreas Orth, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, dealt with the "economic and ecological assessment of different driving strategies of alternative machine concepts". He received 7,200 euros for his work.

2nd prize: Walburga Maria Amelie Puff, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, investigated "Digital solutions in viticulture". The prize is endowed with 6,000 euros.

3rd prize: Philipp Ulrich, Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, received 4,800 euros for "Optical determination of the moisture content of maize plants using artificial neural networks".

4th prize: This prize is endowed with 3,600 euros and was awarded twice this year. Max Eckey, University of Stuttgart, received the prize for "Experimental determination of the coefficients of friction of wheat straw under variation of surface pressure and moisture content". Jonas Gröner, Munich School of Engineering (TU Munich), was honoured for his bachelor thesis in the field of mechatronics.

Bonus prizes

In addition to the scholarships, three bonus prizes worth 1,500 euros each were awarded. Markus Peifer-Weihs, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, examined the "Structure of development cooperation in Kenya in relation to preservation tillage and the mechanization of small-scale farms". Lukas Weirowitz, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, developed a "System for foreign part detection in cotton processing using high-speed near-infrared spectroscopy". Archie Henry Bennett, Harper Adams University (UK), received an award for his study on the optimization of machine availability.

Bekzod Abdullaev from Uzbekistan is delighted to receive the scholarship for his MBA studies at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences.

Anniversary competition "Transformation in agriculture"

To mark the anniversary, the foundation announces a special competition for next year entitled "Transformation in Agriculture". The competition is open to educational institutions in agriculture and related fields. The focus will be on contributions and projects that reflect the foundation's guiding principles for improving education in agricultural engineering and its supporting sectors. Professors, supervisors, postdocs and doctoral students can apply for their respective institutions. A maximum of three prizes will be awarded for a funding period of three years. Prize money of a total of 25,000 euros per year will be awarded. Applications can be submitted until February 21, 2025.

New face on the Board of Trustees

In the anniversary year of the Claas-Stiftung, there is also a change in personnel: Dr Thomas Barrelmeyer, responsible for the development of self-propelled harvesting machines across the CLAAS Group, succeeds Dr Hermann Garbers as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Dr Garbers had been active in this role since the foundation was established and was bid farewell with great thanks and recognition.

About the Claas-Stiftung

The foundation collaborates closely with a jury of international experts in agricultural science, as well as with renowned colleges and universities in Germany and abroad. The foundation's assets amount to around 20 million euros. In addition to the Helmut Claas Scholarship, the Claas-Stiftung also supports international research projects at universities and promotes initiatives at schools to get pupils interested in science and technology.

The "Förderpreis der Wirtschaft" honours special achievements in the subjects of mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics in years 8 and 9 at all 26 grammar schools and comprehensive schools in the Hochstift. It is financed by companies based in the region and awarded in cooperation with the Liasion and Fundraising Office at Paderborn University. The sponsors include the VerbundVolksbank OWL, the company dSPACE from Paderborn, the Claas-Stiftung Harsewinkel and the sponsor community from the district of Höxter, consisting of the companies HEGLA GmbH & Co KG (Beverungen), Mahrenholz GmbH (Beverungen) and Vauth-Sagel GmbH (Brakel).

‘Securing skilled labour is also a major challenge for companies in our economic region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe. As a regional cooperative bank, it is therefore important to us to promote young talent in the natural sciences and engineering and to strengthen their motivation to study or pursue a career in these fields,’ emphasises Indra Köller, Deputy Press Officer at VerbundVolksbank OWL. ‘The Förderpreis der Wirtschaft" is an ideal platform to introduce young people from the region to the training opportunities in technical and commercial areas at dSPACE. I was particularly pleased that our current trainees and a dual student explained live why they are taking the training path with us,’ says Bernd Schäfers-Maiwald from dSPACE.

Sylvia Looks, Executive Board of the Claas-Stiftung, and Fynn Lammers (2nd Prize Helmut Claas Scholarship 2021), who is active in the alumni network, welcomed the guests. Among others, Alistar Wharton, who was honoured in 2005, was present as the "longest-serving" award winner. This was followed by short presentations: Paolo Bertin, is responsible for research and innovation of raw materials and obtaining optimal raw materials for later processing at the food company Dr Schär. Malte von Bloh is doing his doctorate at the Technical University of Munich in the field of machine learning.

Eberhard Weller from the Group History Team gave a guided tour of the hall with the historical machines on display.

In addition to discussions and a barbecue buffet, the evening concluded with an experimental challenge that combined sportiness with science and technology by demonstrating the influence of pre-acceleration on the speed of the crop flow in the combine harvester: the water in a large bottle had to be set in rotation so that it could flow out as quickly as possible. The record that evening was 6.5 seconds (absolute record 4 seconds).