Bionicum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Bionicum was created as a project of the Bavarian future initiative "Aufbruch Bayern," funded by the Ministry of the Environment and coordinated by the Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (Bavarian Environment Agency) together with the zoo, the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg and the Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. In July 2014, the roughly 400-square-meter exhibition opened on the upper floor of the listed Naturkundehaus (natural history building) just past the zoo entrance – by its own account the first out-of-school learning center for bionics in Bavaria.

In parallel, university teams carried out research at the Bionicum on bionic materials, propulsion systems and optics until 2019; since 2019, the center has handled education and outreach for the BayBionik research network. Outdoors, a Bionic Trail along the animal enclosures and, since 2018, a Bionic Garden featuring plant models round out the offering.

In early 2023, responsibility passed from the Environment Agency to the Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns (Bavarian Natural History Collections), for which the Bionicum is one of five regional museums. After a renovation break from fall 2024 to February 2025, evolution as the basis of bio-inspired technology moved to the center of the permanent exhibition. At the end of September 2026, two walk-through adventure tunnels on the deep sea and the forest at night are being added. Special exhibitions that change every year and robot shows with humanoid robots appeal especially to families and school classes.

Highlights

• Robot demonstrations with the humanoid robots Nao, Emma and Momo
• Hands-on experiments on gecko adhesion, spider silk and self-sharpening teeth
• Evolution as the basis of bionics (since 2025)
• New adventure tunnels "Auf Tauchgang" and "Nachts im Wald"
• Bionic Trail along the animal enclosures and Bionic Garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Ideenreich Natur – Bionik und Evolution – Interactive theme islands show the solutions evolution has produced and how technology imitates them – from lightweight construction modeled on bone to robots with animal-inspired propulsion.
• Erlebnistunnel „Auf Tauchgang“ und „Nachts im Wald“ – Two walk-through tunnels take you via a submarine simulation into the deep sea and, with a UV lamp, into a forest at night full of fluorescent and glowing animals.
• Bionischer Rundgang und Bionischer Garten – Stations along the animal enclosures and a garden with plants such as burdock and nasturtium show biological models outdoors.

Founded

2014

Operated by

Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns (SNSB)

Director

Eva Gebauer

Admission & discounts

The Bionicum itself charges no admission but can only be accessed with a valid zoo ticket; the prices listed are the zoo prices as of February 1, 2026. On Tiergarten Day (last Monday of the month, except public holidays), reduced prices apply to everyone. Educational institutions that book a program exclusively at the Bionicum do not pay zoo admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition on the upper floor can be reached by wheelchair and stroller via an accessible entrance behind the restrooms in the zoo's entrance area. Wheelchair rental at the zoo (€5, reservation by phone required).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

Interactive exhibition with hands-on stations and robots. Scavenger hunts along the Bionic Tour in the zoo (leaflet at the entrance, smartphone scavenger hunt from 7th grade) and monthly public tours "Endlich Samstag!"/"Endlich Sonntag!".

Getting there & parking

On the second floor of the Naturkundehaus (natural history building), directly behind the zoo entrance.

Amenities & dining

Food and drink at the zoo (Tiergarten).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit