Calendar

Come and discover the expertise of INSA’s research teams in drone technology

INSA Strasbourg, a leading French engineering and architecture school based in Strasbourg, is opening its doors for a project presentation and discussion with the research team on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, at 5:30 p.m. (estimated duration: one hour). The HEDRAF technology transfer project combines several innovations: a hybrid technology combining lithium batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and organic solar panels, a lightweight yet resistant structure made from bio-based materials, and vertical take-off and landing capabilities for rapid on-site intervention. Its on-board intelligence should enable it to track smoke plumes, remaining at their edge to avoid sensor saturation, in order to provide accurate real-time measurements of the chemical composition of the air. This work illustrates the growing role of drones as scientific and operational tools in the service of civil security and environmental monitoring.

What you can expect during this meeting, which will be held in French (and English if necessary):

• Presentation of the R&D work carried out as part of the cross-border HEDRAF project (INSA Strasbourg, CNRS (ICPEES laboratory) and the University of Freiburg): Dronautics; Hybrid energy storage system for drones; embedded systems; 3D air pollution mapping tool
• Sharing experiences with professionals
• Exhibition of prototypes
• Opening up the field of cooperation in R&D

The visit is organised as part of INSA Strasbourg’s ‘At the Heart of Research’ series of events.
Registration is required – The number of places available is limited.

Are you interested in drones?

A second Lab visit on this topic is planned for 26 March at Hochschule Offenburg! The Institute for Unmanned Aerial Systems (IUAS) at Hochschule Offenburg focuses its application-oriented research and development on unmanned aerial systems as well as radar and antenna technologies. See the programme here

April 21, 2026 – LabVisit at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences: Discover the expertise of our research teams in materials, fatigue testing, and non-destructive testing.

Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, a university of applied sciences in Rhineland-Palatinate, will open its doors on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 1:30 to 5:00 PM for an exclusive tour of its newly commissioned laboratory building. With a usable floor space of almost 10,000 square meters, the laboratory building is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated new constructions in the region, housing over 100 laboratory and workshop rooms. It stands for scientific excellence in the fields of materials, fatigue testing, and non-destructive testing.

The facilities include, for example:
• a wind tunnel for aerodynamic tests,
•  a high-voltage laboratory,
•  an anechoic chamber,
•  an engine test bench and a pump test bench,
•  equipment for testing the fatigue behavior of materials and components.

These infrastructures enable the development of innovative solutions for industry and research, and strengthen the key role of non-destructive testing and material characterization in modern technical applications.

What to expect at this event:
•  Guided tours of the laboratories and demonstrations of the equipment
•  Presentations of the research work by the teams of Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences
•  Exchange with experts and researchers
•  Exhibition of ongoing projects and industry partnerships
•  Openness to collaboration in research and development

Start-Up Stories Trinational is a trinational event format that puts real start-up stories, challenges, and entrepreneurial journeys from Germany, France, and Switzerland at center stage. The focus lies on personal experiences, learning processes, and key entrepreneurial decisions — beyond traditional pitch formats.

The event is thematically linked to the KTUR project and is implemented with the support of Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald. In 2026, the format will take place twice and is designed as a scalable, repeatable event within the trinational innovation ecosystem.

• 2:00 PM Arrival & networking/exhibition phase (15 min)
• 2:20 PM Welcome address (5 min)
• 2:25 PM Two keynotes (15 min each)
• 3:00 PM Panel discussion (45 min)
• 3:45 PM Networking and exchange session

What to Expect
• Two inspiring keynote talks featuring personal start-up stories
• A moderated panel discussion with founders from Germany / France / Switzerland
• Open exchange and networking with founders, students, and innovation stakeholders

The event combines inspiration, dialogue, and networking in an open and low-threshold setting.

Speakers :
Sarah Harbarth is Founder & CEO of KUORI, a Swiss cleantech start-up transforming consumer plastics using food byproducts such as olive pits and walnut shells. Her work tackles microplastic pollution and advances a post-oil circular economy.
KUORI is supported by the EU Horizon Program and received the Renewable Material of the Year Award 2023.
Sarah was selected for the UBS Female Founder Program (2024) and named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Laurent Decrue is Founder, Co-CEO & CFO of Holycode, an AI & tech solutions company for start-ups and SMEs. Founded in 2014, Holycode supports companies in building and scaling digital products and technology teams.
Laurent is a serial entrepreneur, having founded and held key leadership roles in four start-ups, including DeinDeal, Bexio, and MOVU. Under his leadership, MOVU received the Golden Headset Award (2017).
He is also a startup investor, backing promising early-stage ventures and supporting founders in scaling their businesses.

Are you looking for an internship, a topic for your Master’s thesis, or even a future-oriented job?
Then the KTUR Startup Job Fair is the right place for you.

The Startup Fair is a special kind of career fair that connects motivated students and PhD candidates from the Upper Rhine region with innovative start-ups. Founders and employees from start-ups will be on site to present their work and give first-hand insights into the start-up world.

For Start-ups

• Present your company or business idea and connect with talented and motivated candidates
• Start-ups from all disciplines and fields are welcome
• Exhibition space is provided free of charge

For Students and PhD Candidates

• The Startup Fair is not only about jobs – you can also look for internships or suitable topics for Bachelor’s or Master’s theses.
  Maybe you’re even interested in taking the next step and becoming a co-founder
• Need a professional application photo? No problem – a professional photographer will be available (registration required)
• You can also talk to selected experts about what a professional application looks like today and what employers pay attention to

Event Details

When: Monday, April 27, from 5:30 PM
Where: Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany

Snacks and drinks will be provided free of charge.
Admission is free, but places are limited – online registration is required.
The event is bilingual, with English as the main language.

Students can register via Eventbrite

More information

If you are a start-up interested in participating, please contact Frauke Lorenzen: frauke.lorenzen@zv.uni-freiburg.de.