Prof. Cremers works at the intersection of image processing, machine learning, and robotics, with the goal of enabling machines to analyze and interpret visual data. His methods emphasize convex optimization, statistical learning, and neural networks. He has served as co-editor of the International Journal of Computer Vision, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, and the SIAM Journal on Imaging Sciences, and he is President of the European Computer Vision Association. He studied physics and mathematics at the Universities of Heidelberg, Indiana State, and Stony Brook, and earned his doctorate in computer science from the University of Mannheim in 2002. He then held a postdoctoral position at UCLA, joined Siemens Corporate Research in Princeton in 2004, and accepted a position at the University of Bonn in 2005. Since 2009, he has been a full professor of image processing and artificial intelligence at Technical University of Munich. Prof. Cremers directs the Munich Center for Machine Learning, the Munich Data Science Institute, and ELLIS Munich, and is a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Olga Fink has been an Assistant Professor at EPFL since March 2022, focusing on intelligent maintenance and operations. She is a research affiliate at MIT and an Innosuisse ICT expert. Her work develops hybrid methods that combine physics-based models with deep learning, including operational digital twins, transfer and self-supervised learning, deep reinforcement learning, and multi-agent approaches for intelligent maintenance and operations of infrastructure and complex assets. Before EPFL, she was awarded and held a prestigious Swiss National Science Foundation professorship and served as Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich (2018-2022); earlier, she led the Smart Maintenance Research Group at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (2014-2018). She sits on editorial boards of Mechanical Engineering and Signal Processing, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, and IEEE Sensors. Fink earned her doctorate from ETH Zurich, and a Diploma in industrial engineering from Hamburg University of Technology. She gained industry experience as a reliability engineer at Stadler Bussnang AG and as a reliability and maintenance expert at Pöyry Switzerland Ltd. Her recognitions include selection among Switzerland’s Top 100 Women in Business (2018) and as a Young Scientist of the World Economic Forum (2019).

Mani Golparvar is a Professor of Civil Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he serves as a Faculty Entrepreneurial Fellow, Excellence Faculty Fellow, and directs the Real-time and Automated Monitoring and Control (RAAMAC) Lab. He earned a PhD in Civil Engineering and an MS in Computer Science from UIUC in 2010, an MASc in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2006, and MS and BS degrees in Civil Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology (2005, 2002). Before joining UIUC, he was an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. Golparvar collaborates widely with construction firms—notably Turner Construction—holds multiple patents, and co-founded Reconstruct Inc., a venture-backed startup ($28M) that commercializes outcomes of his research. His honors include the 2018 ASCE Walter Huber Research Prize, 2017 ENR Young Professional Award, 2016 ASCE Dan H. Halpin Award, 2013 ASCE James R. Croes Medal, 2013 FIATECH CETI Award, and the 2012 ASCE J. of Construction Engineering and Management best paper award. He founded RECONSTRUCT, a startup delivering visual data analytics for construction projects; its UIUC-licensed technology has recieved multiple honors, including an Innovation Award from Turner Construction (2015) and recognition by the World Economic Forum (2016).

Gwyllim Jahn is the co-founder and CEO of Runchat, a technology startup building design agents to augment and automate creative workflows. He is also the Creative Director of Fologram, a company he co-founded in 2017 to develop software for fabrication in mixed reality. Fologram’s work has been internationally awarded, including for the 2019 Tallinn Architecture Biennale and the 2024 ACADIA Digital Practice award. Gwyllim holds a PhD from RMIT University where he is a lecturer in Architecture and Design. His research on digital craft, generative design and mixed reality fabrication is the subject of an upcoming book from Actar.

Ghang Lee holds a professorship in Architecture and Architectural Engineering at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, where he leads the Building Informatics Group. He also maintains an affiliation with the Technical University of Munich’s Institute for Advanced Studies as a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow. His research focuses on building information modeling, data interoperability, information requirements management, quality assurance, and artificial intelligence applications in the construction industry. Throughout his career, Prof. Lee has pioneered numerous innovative technologies. These include the eXtended Process and Product Modeling tool for developing information requirements aligned with ISO 29481 standards, a navigation system for tower cranes, and an intelligent emergency exit signage system utilizing IoT technology to guide building occupants toward safe evacuation routes. He has also created a mobile-based construction management platform and NADIA, a voice-controlled BIM detailing application. With over 200 academic publications, including contributions to the widely-referenced BIM Handbook, Prof. Lee has established himself among the most influential researchers in building and construction, as recognized by Stanford University and Elsevier’s global rankings. His achievements have been honored with numerous accolades, including national recognition from the Korean government, institutional research awards from both Yonsei University and Georgia Tech, and multiple teaching excellence distinctions.

Marc Nézet is a visionary leader at the forefront of digital transformation in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AEC/O) industry. As Chief Strategy Officer of the Nemetschek Group, Marc spearheads the company’s strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, venture investments, and AI innovation. He also leads the Operate & Manage Division as Chief Division Officer, driving the development of cutting-edge software solutions that revolutionize facility operations, reduce costs, and enhance energy efficiency. With over two decades of experience in the technology sector, Marc brings a wealth of knowledge in software transformation and strategic growth. Marc’s global perspective is shaped by his diverse international experience, having lived and worked in Finland, Russia, Turkey, Sweden, France, and now in Germany. This multicultural background enables him to bring a unique, worldwide view to the challenges and opportunities in the AEC/O industry.

Prof. Jörn Plönnigs was appointed in September 2022. Before that, he was a Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM Research, directing global efforts on AI at scale for Digital Twins and the future of infrastructure, and building AI products to enhance sustainability in facility and asset management. His work focused on uniting semantic knowledge graphs with machine learning and optimization to automate the development and operation of Digital Twins. Earlier, he led the junior research group Energy Design at TU Dresden and, as a Feodor Lynen Fellow of the Humboldt Foundation, headed the Data Science group at ITOBO, the Irish collaborative center for sustainable and optimized building operations. He studied electrical engineering at TU Dresden and earned a PhD in computer science. In 2017, he completed his habilitation at TU Dresden with the work Automating the Internet of Buildings, introducing methods to automate design and analysis processes for sustainable buildings.

The Bavarian Alps are easily reachable from Munich and are perfect for a day trip.

For more information on events and entertainment in and around Munich, explore the Munich Tourism website.

Syed Salman Ahmed, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Jose Quesada Allerhand, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
André Borrmann, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Dafydd Cotoarba, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Agata Dalach, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Mohab Hassaan, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Ina Heise, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Oindrila Kanjilal, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Nayun Kim, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Shih-Pu Kuo, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Sarah Mühlhaus, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Máté Péntek, TUM Venture Labs Built Environment
Panagiotis Petropoulakis, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Zijian Wang, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute
Andre Yu Li, TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute