DHL, Germany, announced plans to expand its global innovation footprint to the Americas by breaking ground on a new Americas Innovation Center in Rosemont, Ill.

The Americas Innovation Center will offer unique insights into the future of logistics. The opening is planned for the summer.

"With our third innovation center worldwide, we will be able to create a platform for research and collaborative innovation between DHL customers, start-ups, academia, industry partners and innovation experts in the Americas region," says Matthias Heutger, senior vice president, global head of innovation and commercial development. "This visionary innovation center will further promote and nurture our worldwide leading position as the logistics innovation front-runner in one of our key markets. It will also help us to further build on successful partnerships that we have established with technology leaders and innovative start-ups in the region."

The new Americas Innovation Center will house DHL's logistic innovations and robotics, showcasing visions of what the world and its transport infrastructure might look like in 2050, as well displaying the latest technology trends in robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality.

The 24,000-square-foot, the state-of-the-art facility will also host trend and innovation events for up to 300 guests with high-tech features, futuristic designs, an impressive foyer and inspiring meeting spaces available to the public.

"Inspire, connect and engage—these are the main goals we pursue with our innovation centers. While inspiring our visitors in a unique environment and connecting them with logistics and innovation experts, we aim to support strategic customer engagement that has the potential to create new business and leverage thought leadership to explore the different ways in which technological development can benefit DHL and our customers in the future. Our new Americas Innovation Center—in close proximity to some of the world's most dynamic technology and innovation hubs—will help us to shape the future of logistics," adds Heutger.