On 22nd September, Kai-Ingo Voigt, Viktoria Leutheuser and Felix Schäfer took part in the Siemens Tech Minds event in Erlangen. Hosted together with Schaeffler, this event was an impressive demonstration of how business and science can come together to shape the future of industry.
A highlight was the dialogue between Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Schaeffler CEO Klaus Rosenfeld, moderated by Barbara Hahlweg. Their discussion made clear how opportunities in AI, industrial data, and robotics can be turned into real-world applications when combined with Europe’s strong industrial foundations. Especially inspiring was the reminder that technology must always remain human-centred and responsible.
For us at the Chair of Industrial Management, it was exciting to take part in this evening, where regional strength met global ambition. The deep Franconian roots of Siemens and Schaeffler underline a key lesson: innovation does not only flourish in Silicon Valley – it also thrives in places defined by precision, reliability, and collaboration.
Many thanks to the organizers and speakers for their insights and for creating an atmosphere that connected industry, academia, and society. We left with valuable impulses for our research and teaching – and with renewed confidence that our region has what it takes to play a leading role in shaping the future of technology.
(All photos by Kai-Ingo Voigt)