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DFKI - Innovative Retail Lab: Selected Landmark 2009 – Land of Ideas


 
 
  • For the benefit of customers: products that think. From more than 2,000 applications received from companies, research institutes, art and cultural institutions, community and charity projects and initiatives, DFKI with its contribution Innovative Retail Lab (IRL) at the headquarters of the GLOBUS SB-Warenhaus Holding was picked as one of the winners. With its innovations, IRL is one of the "365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas" in 2009, each on one day can present their ideas. The public is invited on the 18 May 2009 to learn about the work of the DFKI-Innovative Retail Lab in St. Wendel.

    IRL RetailLaboratoryIRL

DFKI Living Lab opened in St. Wendel


 
 
  • n October 1st 2007, DFKI and the German retail chain Globus launch the new research laboratory Innovative Retail Laboratory (IRL). Work in the IRL will focus on the development and testing of innovative solutions for retail and logistics that are supposed to create an advantage for clients when they go shopping.

    IRL RetailLaboratoryIRL

  • In this context new research results of the field of innovative software systems, Artificial Intelligence, human-computer interaction, wireless sensor networks, mobile broadband communication as well as of the internet of things and services are connected with each other to become novel selling and shopping assistant systems. In order to be able to run this laboratory of 500 square metres, for 3 years Globus will provide the financial means for the creation of a sponsored chair (professorship) and a DFKI research team.
  • Thomas Bruch, CEO of the Globus SB-Warenhaus Holding, understands the connection of the information and comunnication technology with the neccesities of the retail sector as a huge potential that goes beyond sale. “Being the driving force for innovation, IT provides the opportunity to further improve processes in the retail market as well as the services for our clients. With the creation of a research laboratory in our head office, we might furthermore be able to enthuse more young computer scientists about the retail market and that way tackle the shortage of experts.“
  • Joachim Rippel, Minister for Economy and Science in the Saarland, regards the research cooperation between Globus and the DFKI as an important component of the Saarland’s innovation strategy: “This shared research laboratory of Globus and DFKI can be seen as a role model for the aspired connection between business and science. I am convinced that IRL will serve as a beacon for the IT clusters in the innovation strategy, because it combines computer science, the retail market and the logistics sector for specific implementation.“
  • “Because of their research in the field of intelligent shopping environments, DFKI gained a reputation worldwide during the last few years and with Globus it has now found an ideal partner to accelerate the implementation of the results and to enable innovation in the whole of the retail value chain“, said Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster, CEO of the DFKI’s management board. “The cooperation and the permanent dialogue of our reseachers with experienced Globus experts allows for an increased concentration of work on the specific demands and potentials of future self-service store houses and accelerates the implementation of research results. This way inventions can become innovations with a real custmomer’s benefit. The new laboratory is also a very important platform for further planned projects of the DFKI within the government’s hightech strategy and the excellency cluster competition of the German Research Ministery.“
  • Being the business centre of North Saarland, St. Wendel sees this as a confirmation for their consequent location policy. “We are delighted that we won Prof Wahlster, who is a well-known expert worldwide, for the Globus research laboratory“, said mayor Klaus Bouillon. “St. Wendel, which is known for progress in the retail market and business in the region, will organise an international congress once a year and expand it to become a high ranking event. We will also use the cooperation with DFKI to examine possibilties to optimize our administration and implement them.“