TWO DAYS. ONE INNOVATION CYCLE. – Thank You for Driving Innovation Together

Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day: Bringing Research, Industry, and Politics Together

The first Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day established a new platform for dialogue between research organizations, industry leaders, and policymakers, creating space for strategic discussions on the future of innovation in Germany and Europe.

The high-profile lineup reflected the significance of this ambition. Speakers included Prof. Dr. Martin Keller, President of the Helmholtz Association; Prof. Dr. Beate Heinemann, Chair of the DESY Board of Directors; Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space; Sarah Engel, Head of Global Public Affairs at TRUMPF; Mario Brandenburg, Vice President Public Sector at SAP and former Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research; and Dr. Kevin Jablonka from Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The event was moderated by science journalist Kristine August.

Throughout the day, participants explored how research results can be transferred more efficiently into industrial applications and what framework conditions are required to accelerate innovation. Discussions addressed Germany’s High-Tech Agenda, technological sovereignty, the role of large-scale research infrastructures, and the importance of long-term partnerships between science and industry.

A central theme was the contribution of cutting-edge research infrastructures and scientific excellence to solving major industrial and societal challenges. Speakers emphasized that future-oriented fields such as artificial intelligence, data-driven innovation, advanced materials, and sustainable energy technologies require close collaboration across sectors and disciplines.

One of the highlights of the event was the panel discussion, where representatives from research, industry, and policy shared their perspectives on strengthening Europe’s innovation ecosystem. While viewpoints differed, participants agreed on the importance of open innovation, long-term collaboration, and effective technology transfer as key drivers of future competitiveness.

Beyond the stage program, the event provided extensive opportunities for networking and exchange. The vibrant discussions and overwhelmingly positive feedback demonstrated the strong demand for platforms that connect stakeholders across the innovation landscape.

Innovation Challenge Arena: Turning Dialogue into Action

While the Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day focused on strategic perspectives and partnership building, the 3rd Hi-Acts Network Meeting concentrated on collaborative problem-solving and project development.

Around 65 participants from industry, research institutions, and innovation organizations joined the Innovation Challenge Arena, an interactive co-creation format designed to address real-world challenges through collective expertise and creativity.

Within just a few hours, participants explored challenges, shared knowledge, combined competencies, and developed initial concepts for future research, development, and innovation projects. The openness, engagement, and willingness to collaborate created an exceptionally productive atmosphere.

The Innovation Challenge Arena clearly demonstrated the value of bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences. New connections were established, promising project ideas emerged, and participants gained fresh insights into challenges from different angles.

Special thanks go to the Challenge Owners, the Challenge Champions from all five Hi-Acts Centers, and Tiffany Sacher for expertly facilitating the collaborative process.

Two Days. One Innovation Cycle.

Together, the two events represented a complete innovation cycle. The Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day created strategic orientation, fostered dialogue, and built new partnerships. The Innovation Challenge Arena immediately translated these impulses into concrete ideas, solution pathways, and potential collaboration projects.

Under the guiding theme “TWO DAYS. ONE INNOVATION CYCLE.”, both events highlighted that innovation is not a single step but a continuous process—from strategic discussion and knowledge exchange to collaborative project development and implementation.

The two days demonstrated the tremendous potential of strong partnerships between science, industry, and policy. They created new connections, generated valuable impulses, and laid the foundation for future collaborations.

We would like to thank all speakers, panelists, Challenge Owners, Challenge Champions, moderators, and participants for their commitment, expertise, and contributions.

We look forward to continuing the dialogue, fostering new collaborations, and working together to turn innovation into impact.

 Fotocredits: Dominik Butzmann / Photothek Media