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Technical
Tours

Go behind the scenes of earth Observation. Explore our exclusive selection of site visits, offering deep dives into cutting-edge research facilities. 

Please note that Technical Tours are primarily reserved for CAETS members and acatech Fellows on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-members who wish to participate can request to be added to a waiting list by contacting info@caets2026.org.

Technical Tours can be booked directly via the registration Shop. If you have already completed your registration, you can still add a tour later.

Please Note: It is possible to book tickets for the Convocation and a Technical Tour at the same time. Please use the shopping cart in our shop to do so.

DLR Oberpfaffenhofen – Where Vision Meets Reality

©DLR

  • Time
  • 13:00 → 18:00
  • Location
  • Münchener Straße 20, 82234 Weßling
  • Departure
  • TBC

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of Europe’s most advanced research hubs. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen is a cornerstone of international space flight, robotics, and Earth observation. This tour offers CAETS 2026 participants a unique opportunity to witness high-end engineering and mission-critical infrastructure in action.

Tour Highlights

This excursion provides deep insights into the technologies driving modern exploration:

  • German Space Operations Center (GSOC): Step into the „Heart of German Spaceflight.“ From controlling satellite constellations to supporting the International Space Station (ISS) and future lunar missions, the GSOC is where complex orbital operations come to life.

  • Robotics and Mechatronics Center (RMC): Discover the future of autonomous systems. We will visit the labs developing intelligent space robots—such as the humanoid „Justin“—designed to perform intricate tasks in the harshest environments on Earth and beyond.

  • Earth Observation & Navigation: Learn how space-borne data is used to monitor global climate change and how the DLR contributes to the precision and security of global navigation systems like Galileo.

Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP)

  • Time
  • 13:00 → 18:00
  • Location
  • Boltzmannstr. 2, 85748 Garching
  • Departure
  • TBC

Join us for an in-depth technical exploration of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching. This tour offers a rare look at the complex engineering and infrastructure behind nuclear fusion—the process that powers the sun and holds the key to a carbon-free energy future.

Tour Highlights

  • Introductory Presentation: The tour begins in the Institute’s lecture hall with an expert briefing on the physics of magnetic confinement and the global roadmap toward fusion energy.

  • The ASDEX Upgrade Experiment: Visit Germany’s largest Tokamak-type fusion device. You will see the experimental hall and learn how this machine paves the way for the international ITER project.

  • Control Room & Operations: Experience the „nerve center“ of the institute, where scientists monitor and control high-performance plasma discharges in real-time.

  • The Power Supply Center (Energiezentrale): A highlight for engineers—discover the massive technical infrastructure required to provide the peak power needed to heat plasma to over 100 million degrees.

  • Visitor Center: Explore interactive exhibits that visualize the history and future of fusion research.

©MPI für Plasmaphysik/Volker Steger

Research Brewery Weihenstephan

© Marc Stamm

  • Time
  • 13:00 → 18:00
  • Location
  • Alte Akademie 3, 85354 Freising
  • Departure
  • TBC

Join us for an in-depth technical exploration of the Research Brewery Weihenstephan at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). As the oldest active brewery site in the world, this state-of-the-art facility bridges centuries of tradition with cutting-edge bioprocess engineering, food science, and automation technology.

Tour Highlights

  • The Technical Pilot Plant (Technikum): Visit the heart of the research facility. You will see the highly automated, industrial-scale brewing systems where scientists experiment with raw materials, recipe development, and process optimization.

  • Micro-Brewing & Innovation Labs: Discover the small-scale experimental setups used for high-precision testing, where new yeast strains, innovative filtration techniques, and sustainable brewing methods are developed.

  • Control Systems & Automation: Experience the modern „nerve center“ of the brewery, where complex biological processes—from mashing to fermentation—are digitally monitored and controlled in real-time.

  • Quality Control & Analytics: Learn about the rigorous biochemical and sensory analysis required to meet the highest standards of food safety and product consistency in modern beverage technology.

  • Empirical Quality Assurance: Because one can never trust data alone, we will, of course, conclude the tour by conducting some hands-on sensory testing of the liquid research results.

Please note that the venue is not fully accessible.

Deutsches Museum

  • Time
  • 13:00 → 18:00
  • Location
  • Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München
  • Departure
  • TBC

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, one of the world’s largest and most traditional museums of science and technology. This exclusive tour bridges pioneering historical achievements with cutting-edge innovations, offering a deep dive into the evolution of science, engineering, and future technologies.

Tour Highlights

  • Curated Exhibition Overview: Embark on a guided journey through selected landmark exhibitions, including the German Future Prize (Zukunftspreis), Music, Chemistry, and Agriculture. Discover how groundbreaking scientific discoveries have continuously shaped our modern world.

  • The Future Box: Step into the museum’s interactive innovation lab. This segment focuses on emerging technologies, sustainable developments, and next-generation engineering solutions that will define our global future.

  • Exclusive Archives Tour: Gain rare access to the museum’s historic archives. Explore the vast repository of original documents, blueprints, and historical records that document centuries of technological breakthroughs and engineering excellence.

Please Note: As no transportation is required for this Technical Tour, registration is free of charge. To sign up, please send an email requesting participation to info@caets2026.org. Participants are responsible for their own catering.

© Deutsches Museum