On this page, we review the highlights of the event together in the form of a post-event report and provide further media and information about the event. Have fun browsing!

Ü:MO 2025 - Shaping the future together at the ARENA2036 research campus

Under the motto "About the future of tomorrow.", over 370 participants from industry, science and politics came together at ARENA2036 on June 26, 2025 to discuss the latest developments in mobility, production and digital transformation. With a varied supporting program of keynotes, deep dives, project fair and networking, this year's Ü:MO event was the central annual event in the ARENA2036 ecosystem.

Project fair at the heart of the event

At the heart of the event was an extensive project fair with around 50 exhibiting projects that offered insights into research projects and application-oriented technologies. Visitors were able to network directly with the people behind the projects while they presented their topics. The open atmosphere facilitated genuine encounters and made the special ARENA2036 spirit tangible: Innovation is not created here in a quiet chamber, but in a lively exchange - through collaboration and joint design. At the ARENA2036 stand, exhibited hands-on activities offered the opportunity to get to know concrete starting points for cooperation in the ARENA2036 ecosystem. Visitors were able to find out directly how they can get actively involved, dock onto projects or realize new ideas together with others.

"Trust, reliability and shaping things together are the foundations of ARENA2036. As part of Ü:MO, we want to look to the future - to where major challenges await us, but also enormous opportunities. We want to tackle these together and drive them forward. We show that innovation through cooperation is not just an empty shell, but a living reality. That we are not standing still in Germany, but are thinking ahead and, in particular, in ARENA2036, also thinking anew." Says Peter Froeschle, Managing Director of ARENA2036.

Impulses from business, research and politics

The program featured high-profile keynote addresses that shed light on current challenges and future prospects. Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, Rector of the University of Stuttgart, kicked off the event. In his remarks, he bridged the gap between science and application and emphasized the importance of interconnected research and innovation ecosystems. Today, more than ever, he noted, these ecosystems are key to efficiently translating knowledge into socially and economically relevant solutions. Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission, followed with a strategic European perspective. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty as the foundation for Europe’s digital competitiveness—not only at the political level, but also as a prerequisite for sustainable innovation structures throughout Europe. With an eye toward the dynamics of transformation processes, Prof. Dr. Henning Kagermann, Chair of the Board of Trustees of acatech e.V., then underscored the role of collaborative innovation platforms. They not only provide guidance in complex times of upheaval but also enable rapid and profound change—by specifically bringing together stakeholders from different fields. Severine Siebert, Vice President at Nokia Corporation, demonstrated what this cooperation can look like in practice. Using concrete use cases, she illustrated how collaboration within ARENA2036 is already enabling measurable progress today—for example, in the areas of 6G, artificial intelligence, and the industrial metaverse. Dr. Stephen Travers of Mercedes-Benz AG concluded the keynote series. With a practical insight into the digital transformation of production, he demonstrated how data-driven processes, agile development methods, and intelligent systems are revolutionizing industrial value creation—and how this is creating new spaces for innovation right on the shop floor. Hethis with reference projects that emerged from ARENA2036. 

Diving deeper: Technological deep dives

Several in-depth sessions—known as “Deep Dives”—followed, facilitating an intensive exchange of ideas with attendees. Participants discussed key future topics such as data spaces, Asset Administration Shell, quantum technologies, automated wiring harness production, the circular economy, fully digital product development, and applications in the Industrial Metaverse. Invited experts in these fields provided additional insights through a series of presentations. The sessions facilitated focused discussions at a technical level and demonstrated the diversity and practical relevance of the research conducted at ARENA2036.

Conclusion with a view

To wrap up the day, the summer get-together in the evening provided an opportunity for informal conversation. In a relaxed atmosphere, discussions were deepened, new connections were made, and the day’s ideas were further explored. The mood: inspired, open, and forward-looking. With Ü:MO 2025, ARENA2036 has once again impressively demonstrated how excellent research, cross-sector collaboration, and bold ideas work together in an open innovation ecosystem. The day once again highlighted what lies at the heart of our research campus: shaping innovation together—across disciplines, organizations, and borders. Next year, we aim to continue shaping the future together—with new ideas, exciting projects, and open dialogues, the research campus will once again host the Ü:MO series on June 18, 2026.

You can find more information about the event on the event page:

Here you’ll find information about the keynote speeches, including recordings.
Click here to watch the official aftermovie.
You’ll find exciting highlights from the event in our comprehensive photo gallery.
Here you’ll find a detailed overview of ARENA2036’s offerings for our members.