Situation

MTU Aero Engines needed a place to extend its innovation capabilities, a space in which it could explore new product improvements, services and business models. “Basically, the Inno Lab pursues three goals: We look for trends. We generate ideas. And we promote a corporate culture in which innovations thrive.” Dr. Carsten Subel, head of the Inno Lab at MTU.

Solution

A truly hybrid environment, where “new ideas, (can be) quickly prototyped”, where rapid and vivid creative collaboration, concentrated work and active testing and perfecting of technology can all happen simultaneously and seamlessly. The lab’s concept draws inspiration from the company’s main areas and contexts of work: hangars, airports, turbines, air travel and transportation in general, and even the sky, became strong references for the design, early on.
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The Inno Lab is not located directly on the MTU Aero Engines’ plant site in Munich, but it is adjacent to it. In its bright rooms, everything is laid out in such a way that creative work can be done. A kitchen equipped with a large central block provides a warm environment for socializing as well as a practical layout for creative exchanges and presentations.
At the center of the Inno Lab, we find the larger, open “pitching area” offers a compact atrium for small audiences and a stage where new ideas are presented.
Facing each other we have the small rapid prototyping, VR/AR and testing facilities, and the aptly named “sky room” that houses the more permanent work stations, in a calm, serene atmosphere.

Separating these two rooms, we find a large table and a number of hot desks that will accommodate impromptu conversations, group meals as well as larger events. Custom-built large paper-plane-like panels fly over the entire Inno Lab facilities to ensure good sound insulation.

“At the Inno Lab, we first identify a technology with potential, then we identify specific areas of application for it at MTU.
For us, it’s always about creating a tension between problem and solution (…) Even completely by chance, over lunch.” Dr. Carsten Subel, head of the Inno Lab at MTU.

The room can comfortably host 12 permanent team members, and over 50 people for events and presentations.

Images: Benjamin Anthony Monn | New Order