Transformation Summit 2026
- ARENA2036, Stuttgart
Mobility. Production. Network.
Which technologies will drive progress in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries? How can innovations be successfully transferred into industrial practice? And which partners, networks, and support programs can help make it happen?
Join us for insights and inspiration from industry and academia, interactive sessions and valuable networking opportunities. This year’s focus topics include digitalization in production, electric mobility, connected vehicles, internationalization, and skills development & continuing education.
The event is particularly aimed at companies from the automotive industry, mechanical engineering sector and industrial manufacturing.
Registration will be available soon.
Preliminary Program
The program includes presentations offering insights from both academia and industry, interactive sessions in four thematic areas (A/B/C/D), and optional early-morning lab tours at the University of Stuttgart’s institutes. In addition, partners from the network will showcase their work at ARENA2036.
The event will be held in German.
8:30 a.m. | Arrival and Registration |
8:45 a.m. | Lab Tours at the Institutes of the University of Stuttgart (optional participation)
|
9:45 a.m. | Arrival and Registration |
10:00 a.m. | Welcome Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, Rector of the University of Stuttgart |
10:15 a.m. | Keynote Prof. Dr. André Reichel, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH |
10:45 a.m. | "Challenges of Software-Defined Mobility" Dr. Thomas Beck, Managing Director Vector Informatik und Vector Consulting Services |
11:15 a.m. | Transfer |
11:30 a.m. | Parallel Interactive Sessions: A) Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) B) Digitalization in Manufacturing |
12:45 p.m. | Transfer |
| 13:00 p.m. | Lunch Break |
14:00 p.m. | Digitalization in Manufacturing |
14:30 p.m. | "Shaping the Paradigm Shift in AI Integration in a Human, Effective, and Responsible Way" |
15:00 p.m. | Transfer |
15:15 p.m. | Parallel Interactive Sessions: C) Internationalization in Electric Mobility D) Training and Continuing Education |
16:30 p.m. | Transfer |
16:45 p.m. | Closing and Follow-up Get-Together |
Registration will be available soon.
About
A joint event organized by the InnovationCampus Future Mobility (ICM) and the CARS2.0 Transformation Network.
The InnovationCampus Future Mobility (ICM) is the joint research platform of the University of Stuttgart and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for mobility and production. It is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Arts.
The CARS2.0 collaborative project is coordinated by Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation, WRS) and implemented together with the Bildungswerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft e. V. (Education and Training Association of the Baden-Württemberg Employers' Association), the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Region Stuttgart), and IG Metall Baden-Württemberg. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
Key data
| Date | 10-08-2026 |
|---|---|
| Time | 08:30 until 18:00 |
| Place |
ARENA2036
Pfaffenwaldring 19 70569 Stuttgart |
| Fee | Free of charge |
| Additional Info | Organizer: University of Stuttgart and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS). |