What is the goal of the Makeathon?

We aim to strengthen the connection between school graduates and students with the companies exhibiting at the fair. Despite the current challenging economic situation, many companies are keen to engage early with potential future employees. The Makeathon provides an ideal opportunity for this, as companies get direct, in-depth professional contact with young visitors. At the same time, participants gain initial insights into the methods, tools, and products of the industry. We see this as an important, practical complement to the often highly theoretical education in our academic system.

How does the Makeathon work?

In a Make-Marathon, or Makeathon, young interdisciplinary teams work within a highly limited time frame to implement an automation-related idea or task. In our large Makeathons, we usually give teams two to four days. However, within the constraints of a trade fair, especially with the challenge of expensive accommodation, this is difficult. For this first SPS-Makeathon edition, we organized it so that, on all three days, three teams have worktables set up in the fair‘s foyer. The participating companies – Baumüller, Murrelektronik, Pepperl+Fuchs, SEW Eurodrive, Sick, and Turck – have each booked a table for one to three days and will present automation tasks to the teams, which will consist of 7-10 members. These tasks will be tackled in collaboration with experienced engineers from the companies.

This approach is a win-win for all involved. Students and school graduates experience firsthand, rather than through typical career walks, what these companies really do. In addition to deepening technical knowledge, the personal interaction between companies and potential future candidates is also much more intense.

What can fair visitors take away from the Makeathon?

With this pilot Makeathon, we want to show visitors and other exhibitors new ways to make technical education engaging and up-to-date. At the same time, it demonstrates that such a Makeathon is an efficient method for companies to spark early interest in their innovative technologies among young people and establish personal connections with students and their professors. These relationships will remain important in the future because the shortage of skilled workers will persist in the coming years.

What happens after the Makeathon?

The SPS Makeathon is one of many building blocks we are planning with New Automation to bring more momentum into the education sector. The day after SPS, we will organize an Education Hub at Electronica. Additionally, we are planning Makeathons for Didacta and Automatica in 2025. Besides activities at various fairs, we will continue to hold large and small Makeathons in Gran Canaria, Italy, Austria, and across Germany.

Entrance Hall 3C, (Hall 1 & 3C)