For the third year in a row, the Regensburg Innovation Congress brought together companies, research institutions, and network stakeholders from the region—and once again sent a strong signal in favor of actively addressing economic change. Under the theme “Sustainability Through Adaptation”, the event on June 18, 2026, offered a good mix of keynote speeches, expert forums, a trade exhibition, and networking opportunities. The congress was organized as a joint event by the Regensburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Upper Palatinate / Kelheim, the transformation network transform.r, and the Cluster Mobility & Logistics.
The event kicked off with a “Brezel & Brainstorming” business breakfast, which provided participants with an opportunity for informal exchange and initial inspiration before the official program began. Dr. Jürgen Helmes, Chief Executive of the Regensburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Upper Palatinate / Kelheim, and Alexander Rupprecht, Managing Director of TechBase Regensburg GmbH, delivered the opening remarks.
The event’s substantive program began with a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Laura Bechthold, a futurist and founding professor at the Bavarian Foresight Institute and the Technical University of Ingolstadt. Under the title “Crisis-Resilient and Future-Proof—Strategies and Inspiration for the Day After Tomorrow,” she vividly illustrated the competencies companies need to remain capable of taking action in the face of global upheavals and technological changes.
In the afternoon, participants split into three parallel expert forums that explored different dimensions of transformation. Forum I was titled “Creativity Meets Efficiency – Smartly Managing Short Innovation Cycles” and was moderated by Michael Vogel (Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce). In his presentation “Think Why – How Industrial Design Brings Innovation to Life,” Stefan Eckstein, CEO of Eckstein Design and Partner, demonstrated how design thinking can act as a driver of innovation. Helge Bo Flöge, Technical Director of GLAPOR Werk Mitterteich GmbH, concluded the forum with his presentation “From CO₂ Pressure to Competitive Advantage: A Paradigm Shift in Construction,” illustrating how environmental requirements can become strategic opportunities.
Forum II, titled “Reading the Future – Innovation Through Data”, was moderated by Natalie Schwab (TechBase Regensburg GmbH) and focused on the growing importance of data-driven decision-making processes. Prof. Dr. Simon Preis from OTH Amberg-Weiden provided insights into “Value-Added Data Management for Industrial AI Projects”. Susanne Dierl from the Mittelstand Digital-Zentrum Handel / ibi research GmbH at the University of Regensburg highlighted how artificial intelligence is changing shopping behavior and forcing the retail sector to innovate. Roland Götz, Head of Innovation and Technology at Reinhausen GmbH, used his company as an example to describe the journey “From Machine Manufacturer to Digital Champion” and emphasized how the systematic collection and processing of data is fundamentally transforming business practices today.
Forum III, titled “Actively Leading Change—Encouraging the Courage to Think Differently”, was moderated by Thomas Genosko (Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce). In her presentation “Responsible Leadership—What We (Don’t) Know”, Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann from OTH Regensburg offered a critical reflection on the current state of leadership research and practice. Fabian Schünke, Managing Director of Herding Filtertechnik GmbH, shared his experiences with organizational change: “How does transformation work in small and medium-sized enterprises—an important but, unfortunately, unhelpful question.” Maximilian Holler, Brand & Innovation Executive at Gebrüder Dorfner GmbH & Co. KG, concluded the forum with his presentation on the brand as a tool for change management—with a special focus on middle management.
In the closing plenary session, Holger Schellkopf, journalist, media manager, and digital expert, summarized the key insights of the day: Under the title “No Transformation Without Communication—Why Change Needs a Voice,” he emphasized that successful transformation must be communicated both internally and externally.
Accompanying the conference agenda, a trade exhibition offered a wide range of opportunities for direct exchange. Represented were bavarian certification GmbH, Die Lobby GmbH, Innok Robotics GmbH, the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Augsburg (ibi research GmbH), ONRAsens, SpaceNet AG, Synnotech AG and Thinkwerk Systems GmbH. The Transformationsnetzwerk transform.r and the Cluster Mobility & Logistics also presented themselves as joint exhibitors; the latter actively promotes networking among stakeholders in mobility, logistics, and innovative technologies in the region as part of the M-AIR ecosystem.
The congress was moderated by Michael Vogel from the Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Upper Palatinate / Kelheim
Note
The event was part of the German federal government’s Transformation Networks (funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, BMWE). The Regensburg-based project transform.r supports companies in navigating structural change in the automotive industry.