The organizers and speakers of the 3rd Regensburg Innovation Congress. (Photo: TechBase Regensburg GmbH, Maria Hirschberger)
The 3rd Regensburg Innovation Congress demonstrated that competitiveness arises when companies actively shape change, make intelligent use of their data, and boldly explore new avenues.
How can companies successfully navigate technological acceleration and increasing competitive pressure? And what role do innovation capacity, data, and leadership play in successful transformation processes? These questions were the focus of the 3rd Regensburg Innovation Congress held at the Regensburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK). Around 180 participants from business, academia, and regional institutions exchanged ideas on economic transformation and appropriate strategies.
“Anyone who wants to remain competitive must be prepared to adapt continuously,” emphasized Dr. Jürgen Helmes, CEO of the Regensburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Upper Palatinate / Kelheim. This includes companies critically examining existing business models, actively utilizing new technologies, and embracing innovative approaches. “The Innovation Congress is intended to provide a platform for expanding networks, generating momentum, and further strengthening our regional innovation ecosystem,” said Helmes.
Alexander Rupprecht, Managing Director of TechBase Regensburg GmbH, also confirmed the importance of local networks and synergies: “Especially in times of major upheaval, it is not the size of a location that determines its success, but rather the collaboration among all stakeholders. With a strong SME sector, excellent universities, a wide range of clusters and institutions, and innovative startups, our region offers the best conditions for this.” As in previous years, the congress was organized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Cluster Mobility & Logistics at TechBase Regensburg, with support from the transform.r network.
Focus on the Future and Communication
The event kicked off with a presentation by futurist Prof. Dr. Laura Bechthold from the Bavarian Foresight Institute at the Technical University of Ingolstadt. She noted that the importance of foresight is steadily increasing in light of current changes in the economy, technology, and society. In addition to strategy development, innovation capacity, the development of modern business models, and transformation management, companies face the challenge of assessing the implications of technology and assuming social and ethical responsibility. Bechthold dispelled the “myth of inevitability”: There is not just one future, but many possible ones. The future, she said, is not a foregone conclusion, but a task to be shaped.
Among the key future trends from her perspective are AI-driven digitalization, the increasing automation of work processes - with a potential of 27 to 30 percent of work hours that could be automated by 2030—as well as addressing demographic change and the issue of longevity. By 2036, approximately 12.9 million workers in Germany will retire, while the proportion of people over 65 will grow to 45 percent of the population.
Communication is also essential in change processes, emphasized journalist and digital expert Holger Schellkopf in the congress’s second keynote address. Transformation cannot succeed through technology and theory alone - rather, it is crucial to engage employees, provide guidance, and make changes transparent.
Creativity, Data, and Leadership Are Crucial
In various expert forums, participants gained insights into the practical operations of regional companies. In the forum “Creativity Meets Efficiency,” Stefan Eckstein of Eckstein Design and Partner and Helge Flöge of GLAPOR Werk Mitterteich GmbH presented new approaches to product and process development. The focus was on designing products and processes with digital and sustainability requirements in mind, as well as effectively managing short innovation cycles.
In the forum “Reading the Future—Innovation Through Data,” Prof. Dr. Simon Preis from OTH Amberg-Weiden, Susanne Dierl from ibi research, and Roland Götz from Reinhausen GmbH highlighted how companies can develop new business models and make fact-based decisions through effective data management. German industry, for example, possesses a vast treasure trove of data that must be systematically harnessed for the profitable use of artificial intelligence.
Under the title “Actively Leading Change,” Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann from OTH Regensburg, Fabian Schünke from Herding GmbH Filtertechnik, and Max Holler from Gebrüder Dorfner GmbH addressed the question of how transformation succeeds in companies and what role leadership, corporate culture, and communication play in this process. The consensus was that the courage to think in new ways and a constructive approach to mistakes must be encouraged at all levels in order to remain innovative and competitive in the future.
Contact:
Michael Vogel, Tel. 0941 5694 299, vogelregensburg.ihk.de
Natalie Schwab, Tel. 0941 604889 20, natalie.schwabtechbase.de
Press Contact (IHK Regensburg für Oberpfalz / Kelheim)
Ramona Bayreuther
Tel. +49 941 5694 224, bayreutherregensburg.ihk.de
www.ihk.de/regensburg
Press Contact (Cluster Mobility & Logistics)
Maria Hirschberger
Tel. +49 941 604889 26, maria.hirschbergertechbase.de
www.mobilitylogistics.de