Representatives from research, business and politics will be focusing on the technology revolution that brings growth on September 25.
How can our small and medium-sized enterprises grow? What potential lies in future-oriented sectors such as robotics, biotechnology and defense technology? What makes a certain technology competitive? At the sixth World Market Leader Innovation Day held by WirtschafstWoche magazine, the focus will be on the power of technology and how it can be used as an engine for growth. As initiators of the event, Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) invite you to take part in this day full of practical examples, strategies and new ideas. At the same time, the event provides a unique platform to representatives from research, business and politics for exchanging ideas.
“FAU is a place that shapes the future. In our surroundings, research, teaching and entrepreneurship come together, with space for new ideas and ways of implementing them. Our ecosystem for startups connects startups, SME and international corporations. The World Market Leader Innovation Day shows how this platform for exchanging ideas between research, business and politics can create specific impetus,” says Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, FAU President.
“The Innovation Day is more than just an event – it is a symbol of the extraordinary spirit of innovation in the Erlangen region. Erlangen and Erlangen-Höchstadt belong to the most dynamic regions for innovation in Germany and not without reason: Thanks to the interplay between business, industry, SME and the public sector, our region has a reputation that goes way beyond its borders. In a period characterized by rapid change and major challenges, we need platforms that foster the dialog between business, research and politics. Exchanging information and ideas like this is the only way we can actively shape the future and secure our competitiveness in the long term. Germany’s strength comes from its regions and Erlangen as a region of innovation plays a decisive role in this. Our Sparkasse is proud to make an important contribution to this platform for exchanging ideas and to help to transform the innovative ideas of today into the solutions of tomorrow”, emphasizes Johannes von Hebel, Chairman of the Board of Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach.
“The Innovation Day of World Market Leaders in Erlangen has now developed into a landmark project in the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg and further afield. It is an excellent platform for the networking of business and research with the support of the Bavarian government, which is driving innovation forward with its policies,” explains Prof. Dr. Siegfried Balleis, Chairman of the University Association of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Driver of growth: Technology revolution
The kick-off event for this year’s World Market Innovation Day will be held on September 24, 2025 with a tour of the Siemens Gerätewerk plant in Erlangen, a factory with which the global company continues to set standards for future-oriented and highly efficient industrial manufacturing. The day will continue with a podium discussion about how Germany and Europe can become competitive once again as well as with a state reception of the Bavarian government. On the next day, the event will start with a welcome speech by Horst von Buttlar, Editor in Chief of WirtschaftsWoche magazine and FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger. An introduction to the topics of the day will be a look at upcoming technological developments followed by the first keynote speech that looks at the question of what industry can expect from the new government. The talk titled “Aufbruch Deutschland: Wie kommt das Wachstum zurück?” (Germany on the move: How can growth return?) will be given by Wolfgang Kirsch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management. The speaker of the second keynote speech has also been decided: Elias Schneider, CEO and co-founder of Codesphere, with a presentation called “Von der Vision zur Realität: KI-Transformation in der Praxis“ (From a vision to reality: The transformation of AI in practice).
From robotics and space technology to promoting innovation
In addition, participants can look forward to presentations, masterclasses and panels about robotics, spacetech, biotechnology and broader topics such as promoting innovation and data management. Prof. Dr. Sabina Jeschke, CEO of KI Park, will shed light on artificial intelligence and quantum computing regards the question as to where Germany currently stands in global competition and which potential the country offers as a high-tech location on an international level. In his presentation, Rainer Brehm, CEO of Factory Automation Siemens Digital Industries, will be talking about the integration of robotics in industrial processes and the next big step, whereas Dr. Kristina Wagner, CTO and CDO of OHB will be presenting new business models in the field of spacetech. The other confirmed speakers at the event include Dr. Prateek Mahalwar, Managing Director BIOWEG, Jan Kuenne, Vice President EU & India Pacific Enterprise Development Group, Bernhard Roth, Senior Vice President Central Research and Development at Miele, and Dr. Carolin Kaiser, Director of the Artificial Intelligence research field at Nürnberg Institut für Marktentscheidungen.
Highlights from FAU
FAU will be represented at the event by researchers presenting their work and providing valuable insights into potential applications:
- Dr. Ricardo Grieshaber-Bouyer, Professorship for Clinical Systems Immunology, will give a presentation about the latest developments in biotechnology.
- Dr. Roland Nagy, Chair of Applied Quantum Technologies, will be talking in a panel about quantum technology.
- At FAU’s booth, Dr. Johanna Geiß who founded her start-up “pelora” at FAU, will be presenting technology for indoor tracking.
- Also at the FAU booth, the team led by Prof. Dr. Sven Laumer from the Chair of Digitalization in Business and Society, will be talking about how people react to new (AI) technologies and adapt them.
FAU Innovation Days
For the first time in 2025, the World Market Leader Innovation Day will be accompanied by a special series of FAU events: The FAU Innovation Days. FAU will be celebrating the strength of innovation of its FAU ecosystem from September 22 to 26, 2025. Whether it’s at a workshop, networking event, summer school, presentation or an excursion, there will be plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas, get inspiration and to network with others during the week. The events are aimed at different target groups – from students and staff to researchers and representatives from business to the general public. More detailed information on the individual events is available on the FAU website.
Further information on the World Market Leaders Innovation Day
Please visit the website of the World Market Leaders Innovation Day for further details and to register for the event.
Further information:
FAU
Communications and Press
Blandina Mangelkramer
Phone: +49 9131 85 70229
presse@fau.de
Sparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach
Jessica Hahn
Phone: +49 9131 824-1201
jessica.hahn@sparkasse-erlangen.de