RIGI 2026 Summer Program in Full Swing

Over the coming weeks, the interns will not only contribute to research projects across the institute but also participate in a structured scientific and community program designed to complement their research experience. Through weekly workshops, lab tours, networking activities, cross-site visits, and professional development sessions, the program aims to foster both scientific growth and a strong sense of community among early-career researchers.

This summer our internship program has:

• 25 interns, 10 faculty supervisors, and 29 day-to-day mentors
• 13 workshops and professional development sessions
• 3 major cross-site events (including visits to MPI-IS Tübingen and KIT)
• Intern research talks hosted throughout the summer

The workshop series has already begun with sessions on peer mentorship and 3D printing. Throughout the summer, the program will continue with sessions ranging from hands-on scientific topics such as microrobot collectives and soft matter techniques to professional development workshops on entrepreneurship, CV preparation, and working in an international scientific environment. Additionally, interns will continue to take part in talks and workshops led by researchers and professional staff from MPI-IS, covering both technical and transferable skills.

One of the highlights of this year’s program will be the RIGI x CaCTüS cross-site events, bringing together interns from RIGI based in MPI-IS Stuttgart, and CaCTüS, based in Max Planck Campus in Tübingen. During two visits to Stuttgart and Tübingen, participants will explore research facilities, attend demonstrations and professional development sessions, and connect with fellow interns across both locations.

Later this summer, the cohort will also visit the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), another partner institution within the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) network. Hosted by Prof. Dr. Tamim Asfour from the Institute for Anthropomatics and Robotics (IAR) and High Performance Humanoid Technologies (H2T) at KIT, the visit will include research lightning talks by both RIGI interns and KIT researchers, interactive lab tours, and opportunities to network with students and scientists from another leading robotics institution. By connecting interns across RIG partner sites, these exchange visits aim to broaden scientific perspectives and strengthen collaborations within Germany’s robotics research community.

Beyond research, RIGI places a strong emphasis on community. Weekly group lunches, networking activities, and the opportunity to present their research at the end of the internship all contribute to creating an environment where interns can learn from one another, exchange ideas, and build lasting connections.

As the full cohort now in Stuttgart, the summer program has entered its busiest (and the most fun!) phase. Over the next two months, interns will continue developing their research projects while engaging with researchers, mentors, and fellow students across the Robotics Institute Germany network, gaining experience that extends well beyond the laboratory.