On March 4, 2026, the OT Security Forum took place at TechBase Regensburg—organized by the Cluster Mobility & Logistics as part of TRANSFORM.R. Thirty-six participants from 25 institutions—including industrial companies, startups, and universities—came together to discuss current threats, regulatory requirements, and specific areas of action in OT security.
Uwe Pfeil, Cluster Manager, and Steve Schumann, Project Manager at the Cluster Mobility & Logistics, opened the event and guided attendees through the program.
A special highlight: Klaus Hunsänger from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) provided a first-hand account of the current threat landscape. His conclusion: Every IT/OT infrastructure is a potential target, and even simple measures can significantly reduce the attack surface.
Following this, Sebastian Halbritter from Dissecto GmbH (a dSPACE Company)—a cybersecurity specialist based directly at TechBase Regensburg—highlighted the implications of the NIS 2 Directive on product development. The NIS2 Implementation Act has been in effect since December 2025—with specific requirements for risk management, supply chain security, and product security. His appeal: Even companies that are not directly affected should address these requirements early on.
After the break, Stefan Wendl from Baumann GmbH—an automation specialist and machine manufacturer based in Amberg with over 1,000 employees—presented best practices from the field of mechanical engineering. He demonstrated how OT security is implemented in industrial practice—from IEC 62443 to network segmentation and hardened systems. It became clear: regulatory pressure is growing, the integration of IT and OT is becoming mandatory, and the goal is to establish a comprehensive security concept.
In the concluding workshop, held in a World Café format, participants discussed three topics at different stations: Opportunities & Status Quo, Risks & Obstacles, and Next Steps. The experts moderated the stations and shared their perspectives—an intensive exchange that provided many concrete ideas.
What’s next?
The topic remains on the agenda: The Cybersecurity Kongress will take place on May 7, 2026, at TechBase Regensburg.
NOTE
This event is 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.