The 2nd Regensburg Innovation Congress showed that productivity does not come from technology alone, but from a complex interplay between people, machines, and a clear corporate culture.
How can companies operate more productively in times of digitalization, AI, and skills shortages? And what role do data, smart IT systems, robotics, and the symbiosis of humans and machines play? These questions were the focus of the 2nd Regensburg Innovation Congress at TechBase Regensburg. Under the motto “People. Machines. Digitalization – A Successful Combination for the Future?”, around 200 participants from business, science, and politics came together on Wednesday.
"Efficiency and innovative strength are key location factors, especially in global competition. In Regensburg, we are well on the way to achieving this. This is also confirmed by the recently published Prognos study, which ranks the Regensburg economic region eighth in Germany," emphasized IHK Chief Executive Dr. Jürgen Helmes in his welcoming address. The regional ecosystem, which enables research and innovation in numerous areas and clusters, plays a major role in this ranking.
Alexander Rupprecht, Managing Director of TechBase Regensburg GmbH, added: “Growing bureaucracy, the geopolitical situation, and the shortage of skilled workers, combined with increasingly complex technologies, pose major challenges for companies. The Innovation Congress aims to provide impetus for thought leaders in business and science and to highlight solutions.” As in the previous year, the congress was organized by the IHK Regensburg for Oberpfalz / Kelheim and the Cluster Mobility & Logistics – with support from the transform.r network and TechBase Regensburg.
IT: Room for improvement
Speaker Hanno Kempermann, Managing Director of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research, reported on transformation paths and future potential for the German economy. Looking at the status quo, Kempermann said that Germany lags behind other nations, particularly in the field of information and communication technology.
“However, we have enormous potential in the innovation fields of autonomous driving, humanoid robotics, and productivity gains through AI.” This is particularly evident in the manufacturing sector. “89 percent of external expenditure on research and development within the German economy is accounted for by industry. Bavaria in particular plays an outstanding role in this sector in terms of value creation in Germany,” said Kempermann.
AI for process optimization
In addition to the development of powerful server and IT system landscapes, the focus was on data usage strategies and the topic of IT security. Speakers Prof. Dr. Daniel Loebenberger from Fraunhofer AISEC, Johann Mooslechner from Synnotech AG, and Dr. Daniel Nowakowski from DEHN SE showed how companies can digitize their processes with the right data management, for example by using artificial intelligence for targeted personnel planning in logistics.
The congress also highlighted the current advances and challenges for the possible applications of AI in robotics. Prof. Dr. Martin Weiß from OTH Regensburg presented the state of research. His presentation was complemented by the industry perspective provided by Roland Ritter from KUKA AG. Georg Schlaffer from GEFASOFT Automatisierung und Software GmbH showed how AI can be used effectively from the perspective of a plant manufacturer. The consensus was that access to high-quality and sufficiently large amounts of data is a key challenge in all areas of AI application.
Humans and machines in the world of work
The innovation congress also addressed the question of how humans and machines can work together successfully and create real added value. Intelligent systems should not replace humans, but rather provide targeted support, as Dr. Johanna Bogon from the University of Regensburg pointed out. A practical example was provided by logistics specialist Andreas Weinhut from WEINHUT GmbH, who has made his vehicle fleet more efficient, sustainable, and safer for his employees with the help of sensor technology and AI.
Thomas Stelzer from Rohde & Schwarz called for employees to be involved in AI processes at an early stage, emphasizing that internal attitudes play an important role in this. People remain the central building block of digital transformation. It is crucial that employees are able to find their way around new digital working environments quickly and intuitively. This was also confirmed by Andrea Stich, Director of the Frontend Academy at Infineon Regensburg. At Infineon, despite all the digitalization, the focus is on people, and ultimately it is they who make the decisions.
Press contact (IHK Regensburg for Upper Palatinate / Kelheim):
Michael Vogel
Tel. +49 941 5694 299
Vogelregensburg.ihk.de
www.ihk.de/regensburg
Press contact (Cluster Mobility & Logistics):
Maria Hirschberger
Tel: +49 941 604889 26
maria.hirschbergertechbase.de
www.mobilitylogistics.de