Ü:MO 2026 – A Day Full of Exchange, Innovation, and Collaboration

With over 500 participants and more than 50 projects on display from nearly 60 participating partners in academia, business, and research, Ü:MO 2026 once again impressively demonstrated how valuable exchange and collaboration are for innovation.

Kickoff with Technology Sessions

The program kicked off with six technology sessions on selected, key topics for the future. Experts from the respective fields provided in-depth insights into various use cases. This created an opportunity for direct discussion to address participants’ own use cases and develop solutions and ideas for specific challenges within their own companies. The breadth of the topics demonstrates the depth of expertise within the network and how diverse the range of topics at the research campus has become.

Insights from Business, Academia, and Politics

Our four keynote speakers provided thought-provoking insights based on real-world experience. Following an introductory digital address by Dr. Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz of the BMFTR on the importance of the “Research Campus” funding initiative for Germany’s innovative strength, Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, President of the University of Stuttgart, highlighted the role of technical universities as drivers of innovation.

Dr. Andrej Heinke, Vice President of Corporate Research at Robert Bosch GmbH, then delivered a keynote address from an industry perspective, highlighting how critical infrastructure is becoming increasingly important—especially in times of geopolitical tension—and how interdependencies affect us all.

The subsequent keynote address by Rainer Brehm, COO of the Automation Business at Digital Industries and CTO of Siemens AG, focused on the path toward fully autonomous production and the growing importance—in an era of skilled labor shortages and rising costs—of “automating automation itself.”

The event concluded with remarks by Prof. Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at UNSW Sydney. She offered an international perspective and highlighted, in particular, the potential for research collaborations between Australia and Europe.

Project Fair: The Heart of Exchange

The comprehensive project fair, which filled the entire research hall, showcased more than 50 projects. The ARENA2036 spirit was more palpable than ever before: People struck up conversations with one another, and corporate boundaries faded into the background.

The focus was on a shared desire to make a difference and to foster innovation precisely at the intersections where it is most urgently needed. By talking with the people behind the projects, participants were able to identify points of connection for their own use cases and even generate entirely new ideas and initiatives.

New Members and an Active Network

The ARENA2036 initiative relies heavily on its partners and members. Since Ü:MO 2025 last year, the network has welcomed no fewer than eleven new members.

To celebrate this occasion properly and at the same time provide a fitting stage for the new members, a dedicated booth for new members was set up. In addition, some members took the opportunity to present their goals, innovations, and expertise on stage.

It quickly became clear: As part of ARENA2036, you’re part of a network of experts the likes of which is rarely found in such concentration. With every new member, this range of topics and our collective expertise continues to grow—so we were all the more delighted to welcome the new members.

Closing Remarks and Informal Discussion

After the intensive program activities, there was plenty to discuss. During the relaxed evening events, participants were able to explore initial ideas in greater depth and further expand their professional networks.

Over a cool drink and in a summery atmosphere, an open exchange took place among equals. United by the vision of bringing innovation to life through collaboration, the day came to a close in an inspiring spirit of togetherness.