High-Tech Award for Prof. Daniela Rus

Munich – Bavarian State Chancellery

Bavaria champions freedom of research – Presentation of the Bavarian Minister-President’s High-Tech Award 2026 to robotics and AI pioneer Professor Daniela Rus

High-tech is part of Bavaria’s DNA – Award ceremony at the Munich Residenz on July 23 (GERMAN, ENGLISH)

Munich. On July 23, 2026, Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder presented the Bavarian Minister-President’s High-Tech Award 2026 to Professor Daniela Rus—a pioneer in robotics and AI and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)—in the Hercules Hall of the Munich Residenz.

Stock photo from our archive: Residenz at the Hofgarten – entrance to the Hercules Hall – Theatinerkirche in the background (2025); Photo: Helga Waess (Press Photo Archive)

Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder:

“From medical robots at the operating table to the highway and the deep sea: your developments help make life on Earth longer and better.

This pioneering spirit aligns with the ‘Bavarian way of life.’ High-tech and peak performance have always been part of our DNA—and we are active globally in the field of robotics, too. In the face of international competition, innovation represents our great opportunity for future prosperity. That is why, in Bavaria, we champion the freedom of research. We are investing heavily in the High-Tech Agenda while simultaneously expanding our international network. Bavaria boasts the highest number of supercomputers and is home to key start-ups; furthermore, the Free State is home to the EU’s two best universities: the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and LMU Munich. The future is at home here. The High-Tech Prize recognizes this; with prize money of 300,000 euros, it is Germany’s most lucrative technology award.

Congratulations to all the award winners—you are brilliant role models who are making a real difference. Please keep up the great work!”

Munich: The Residenz and Feldherrnhalle viewed from Odeonsplatz – Photo: Helga Waess (Press Photo Archive)

Text information and quote from the Bavarian State Chancellery press release.

Munich is getting pandas!

Hellabrunn Zoo – “Munich will become Panda City!”

The pandas are coming! Fantastic that it's happening! The Bavarian Minister-President and the people of Munich are looking forward to 2028 and the new arrivals at Hellabrunn Zoo.

Bavaria will thus become the eighth panda location in the EU! Munich is getting black and white newcomers (Deutsch, English, Français, Italiano)

Munich. The Free State of Bavaria is building a panda enclosure in the Asia section of Hellabrunn Zoo. As the Bavarian State Chancellery announced, there will soon be two giant pandas at Hellabrunn Zoo. We are pleased to quote Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder: “Munich will become Panda City! Two giant pandas are coming to Bavaria, to Hellabrunn Zoo. This is a unique attraction and a major draw for visitors: Bavaria will thus become the eighth panda location in the EU. It is even unique in Europe that, with Berlin and now Munich, there are two pandas in one country. ...

SZ-Zeppelin über München, Platzhalter - Presse-Fotoarchiv: Helga Waess

...There are only 19 zoos worldwide with 51 pandas outside of China. Pandas are simply adorable. Since my trip to Chengdu and Beijing in 2024, I have been a strong advocate for pandas in Bavaria. It's fantastic that it's working out! This will promote species conservation and the survival of this endangered species, create a major attraction, and strengthen the partnership between China and Bavaria.

Cooperation and partnership are more successful than confrontation. We rely on open dialogue. Today marks the culmination of Bavarian-Chinese diplomacy. As the Free State of Bavaria, we are enabling the construction of a panda enclosure in the Asia section of Hellabrunn Zoo. The zoo's current 18,000 animals of over 500 species will then have new neighbors in 2028.

Thank you to China and Ambassador Hongbo Deng, the City of Munich and Third Mayor Verena Dietl, and the zoo and its director, Rasem Baban. Today, Bavaria is not only white and blue, but also black and white."

(Quote from bayern.de: Newsletter of the Bavarian State Government - January 23, 2026)

As early as January 21, 2026, Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder, together with Munich's Third Mayor Verena Dietl, Munich's Third Mayor and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Hellabrunn Zoo, and Dr. h. c. Rasem Baban, Director of Hellabrunn Zoo, announced a groundbreaking new construction project in the Asia Geozone, which will be completed in 2028.

Munich: ENGLISH GARDEN - bike tour

ENGLISH GARDEN - Impressions of a bike tour

Shady paths under old trees and the sound of the Isar ... Idyllic, green and relaxed people - that's Munich too!

From Haidhausen to Oberföhring and back through the English Garden

Munich. It's the hot August days in Munich that inspire us to take a bike tour along the Isar. Our bike tour with reliable "PAKKA" bikes begins above the Isar and will lead through the English Garden. We start on the eastern high bank of the Isar: in Haidhausen. Winding paths lead down to the banks of the Isar. We enthusiastically stop at almost every corner and enjoy the greenery, the shade and the romantic places where we are almost alone today.

 

Path on the high bank of the Isar near Haidhausen, photo: Helga Waess

From here we drive down to the Isar and continue towards Bogenhausen.

Isar Canal, photo: Helga Waess

We drive through lush green parks with old trees, which provide wonderful cooling at almost 35 degrees.

Angel of Peace, Munich Maximiliansanlagen, photo: Helga Waess

Here we allow ourselves a look at the Angel of Peace, which towers over Munich's Maximilian complex at a height of 38 meters.

Isar in Munich, photo: Helga Waess

We drive an idyllic route to the right of the Isar under tall trees. Here on the edge of Bogenhausen the Isar flows slowly towards the Oberföhring dam. There the Isar is dammed by 6 meters by the building, which appears almost monumental like a castle.

Oberföhring weir, photo: Helga Waess

The so-called inlet, on which ducks and swans frolic, spans the Middle Isar Canal. At this point we cross the waterways. However, this impressive weir is not, as one would expect, a hydroelectric power station.
However, a smaller power plant located slightly below feeds the Middle Isar Canal, which only flows back into the Isar near Landshut. On the route to Landshut there are several run-of-river power plants that generate electricity over a total gradient of 109 m.

Isar Canal at the Oberföhring dam, photo: Helga Waess

Cycling along the Eisbach from the north takes you directly past the Tivoli power plant. The secluded red brick building complex, surrounded by trees, was built in 1896 as a hydroelectric power station. The bare brick building in our photo can now be used as an event location. The rest of the former facility with the turbine hall over the Eisbach, boiler hall and machine facilities are only partially there.

Pakka bicycles in front of the entrance to the Tivoli power station, Photo: Helga Waess

Wide paths lead from the north of the English Garden towards the city.

Northern English Garden, Munich, photo: Helga Waess

 

Artists can exhibit their works in the Orangery at the English Garden - but the lists are long and you have to wait a while.

Orangery at the English Garden, photo: Helga Waess

Now we have earned a break in the beer garden at the Chinese Tower

There is an article about this in this blog: Munich tip: Beer garden with live music and Bavarian delicacies at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden ... The Chinese Tower in Munich: Traditional Munich cuisine and a cool Hofbräu beer with traditional folk music from the tower. The beer garden is open from Monday to Sunday during “beer garden weather”! Mon-Fri from 11 a.m. / Sat and Sun from 10 a.m

Beer garden at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden, Munich, Photo: Helga Waess

From afar we can hear the brass band playing beer garden music on a plateau of the 25 meter high wooden tower.

Chinese Tower - Pagoda with Bavarian live music, beer garden atmosphere in the English Garden, photo: Helga Waess

Here you can quickly start a conversation and find out who came here or was even born in Munich.

Monopteros in the English Garden, Munich, photo: Helga Waess

After a refreshing stay in the beer garden, we drive towards the city center, past the Monopteros Hill and experience the city panorama above the trees of the English Garden.

Meadow in the English Garden in Munich, in the background the dome of the Bavarian State Chancellery, the top of the town hall tower and the characteristic towers of the Frauenkirche Munich, photo: Helga Waess

Behind the trees rises the dome of the Bavarian State Chancellery, the top of the town hall tower and the characteristic towers of the Frauenkirche with their “Welsh hoods”.

Relaxed Munich residents and tourists lie, play and sleep on the meadows.

This is Munich too!

Literature on the topics mentioned

•     Manfred Nerdinger (ed.): Architecture Guide Munich. Reimer, Berlin 2002
•     Werner A. Widmann: A piece of beauty lies above the Eisbach. The Tivoli power station in the English Garden. Tivoli Handels- und Immobilien-Aktiengesellschaft, Munich 1986