From May 18-20, 2026, MCube was represented at Europe's largest digital and society conference – right in the thick of it, not just on the sidelines.
The joint appearance of the clusters
MCube co-organized the joint booth of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) cluster and campus initiatives. Under the guiding theme „Germany's Engine Room of Innovation,“ 21 initiatives presented themselves jointly for the first time. Over the three days of the event, the booth became a central meeting point for exchange, networking, and discussions – and the place where pressing problems in our country were solved.
The goal of the joint appearance was to demonstrate how innovation is specifically generated in Germany – through networked innovation ecosystems that bring together science, business, startups, politics, and society. The central message was: Germany's innovative strength has long existed – but it often remains invisible. The participating clusters and research campuses showed at re:publica how concrete societal applications arise from scientific excellence: from new therapeutic approaches and women's health to hydrogen technologies, quantum sensing, and energy-efficient AIArtificial intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence - such as learning, problem solving or understanding language. In mobility, AI is used in route optimization, autonomous driving and intelligent traffic control systems to make mobility more efficient, safer and more sustainable. all the way to sustainable mobility and future maritime technologies.
Is Germany being left behind? On the contrary.
During re:publica 2026, much was said about AIArtificial intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence - such as learning, problem solving or understanding language. In mobility, AI is used in route optimization, autonomous driving and intelligent traffic control systems to make mobility more efficient, safer and more sustainable. and the major US tech hyperscalers, we demonstrated together with 21 innovation pioneers from all over Germany what Germany can really do. The enormous thematic breadth of the participating clusters and research campuses became particularly clear. It was precisely this diversity that made the joint appearance particularly effective and showed how broad the future topics are now positioned in Germany's innovation ecosystems.
MCube on stage
A special highlight of the joint appearance was the session „Germany's Innovation Engine Room: 11 Pioneers Live on One Stage“ on May 19th – in front of around 400 guests and moderated by our CEO Oliver May-Beckmann.
The stage was opened by Dr. Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Head of the Department for Technological Sovereignty & Innovation at the BMFTR, who emphasized the importance of regional innovation ecosystems for Germany's prosperity and technological sovereignty – and pointed out how crucial the collaboration between top-tier research, business, and society is for this.
Our Co-Director and TUM Vice-President Jeanne Rubner also impressively summarized it on stage – with three theses that capture the core of what MCube stands for:
Depth over hype. Societal innovation doesn't just arise from quick ideas. It needs fundamental research, technological excellence, and people who work on difficult questions for years.
Translation instead of silos. A good idea alone changes nothing. What's crucial is the ability to translate research into application – together with startups, industry, administration, and civil society. This is precisely why new innovation ecosystems are emerging in Germany.
Trust. Technology only becomes social innovation when people can understand it, shape it, and trust it. Especially when it comes to AIArtificial intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence - such as learning, problem solving or understanding language. In mobility, AI is used in route optimization, autonomous driving and intelligent traffic control systems to make mobility more efficient, safer and more sustainable., Medicine or mobility requires progress and social legitimacy. Therefore, universities must also be public places: places for dialogue, participation, and debate.
You can find the recording of the session here: „Germany's Innovation Engine Room: 11 Pioneers Live on Stage“
The first-time joint appearance at Europe's largest digital and society conference succeeded in significantly increasing the visibility of the cluster and campus initiatives and presenting Germany as an innovative location with a networked, capable ecosystem. The re:publica 2026 thus became not only a stage for technological innovations but also for a new understanding of collaboration, transfer, and shaping the future in Germany.
What remains
Germany is often considered too slow in global competition. But those who look closer see a highly precise innovation system that not only announces new ideas but also consistently puts them into practice. The re:publica 2026 demonstrated this – and MCube was there.
About the BMFTR's Cluster and Campus Initiatives
The BMFTR's cluster and campus initiatives combine scientific excellence, economic strength, and societal perspectives. Together, they form Germany's innovation engine room and contribute to translating research into applications and impact more quickly. For the clusters involved, the joint appearance marks an important step towards greater societal visibility. Because while Germany's innovative capacity is often discussed, re:publica primarily showed one thing: many solutions are already being developed today – in the country's innovation engine rooms.
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What is MOSAIQ?
Imagine something: There is more space for people. The streets have more trees and plants. Everyone can get around better. That's how your Schwabing-West district could be in the future. How would you like your district to be? We want to talk to you about it!
The project is called MOSAIQ. MOSAIQ is a research∙project. MOSAIQ means: Mobility and urban climate in the future city∙part. The Technical University of Munich is leading the project.
What is MOSAIQ about?
MOSAIQ wants to make the streets in the city∙part more beautiful. People should feel comfortable there. There should be more space. For meetings and plants, for example. You can help decide what is tried out in the Stadt∙teil. The ideas come from you. Some ideas will be tried out on the streets for a certain period of time.
The aim of MOSAIQ is to make urban districts good places to live.
At the same time, the climate in the city should improve. And people should be able to move around the city easily.
What is happening in the district?
