Fraunhofer IZM is in a criminal mood – as the setting for the Berlin version of Germany’s long-running crime drama series Tatort. The filming took place in early spring and featured German actor Mark Waschke in his role as Detective Inspector Karow, and two members of the Institute in non-speaking parts.

The film deals with the highly topical issue of artificial intelligence and the possible problems in the relationship between man and machine. Who would have thought that an episode of Tatort would be a great place to learn about the implications of Industrie 4.0 for us humans? The scenes were set in Hall 16, usually the home turf of Start-a-Factory, where a soccer pitch for mini-robots was set up, with a gigantic coffee-making robot on the sidelines. The battery lab of the IZM will also feature on screen.

Like their fictional counterparts, the real-life researchers of Fraunhofer IZM are also captivated by the future of Industrie 4.0: They are pursuing new opportunities and the future prospects of innovative technologies.

See our gallery for a close-up look at the Tatort filming at the Institute.

Broadcast on September 19, 2018, at 08:15 pm on ARD.