Artificial intelligence is transforming products, processes, and value creation. For companies, the question is therefore no longer just what potential AI offers, but how it can be implemented quickly and efficiently.
AI Innovation Day 2026 offers concrete insights into the work of the Augsburg AI Production Network. The program features keynotes, best practices from industry and research, breakout sessions, guided tours, and networking.
The event is aimed at a select group of participants from politics, industry, research, and networks. The focus is on in-depth discussions, concrete project experiences, and new connections among the stakeholders shaping the AI-based production of the future.
Why now?
Artificial intelligence has long been more than just a topic for the future. It is becoming a decisive factor for competitiveness, resilience, and innovation. At the same time, many companies are finding that the transition from an idea or pilot project to robust implementation remains a key challenge.
This is where the AI Innovation Day comes in. The event demonstrates how AI can be brought into industrial application more quickly, what prerequisites are crucial for this, and how strong partnerships between academia, industry, networks, and policymakers can accelerate this transfer. At the same time, the event highlights the expertise, projects, and perspectives that the Augsburg region already brings together in this field today.
Key Topics
- Bringing AI into Practice: Artificial intelligence offers enormous potential for production, processes, and new business models. The crucial question, however, is how technological possibilities can be transformed into concrete industrial applications. The AI Innovation Day highlights the approaches, methods, and partnerships that are essential for this.
- Research & Industry: Innovations emerge where research, development, and industrial practice converge. The event highlights how companies and research partners in the Augsburg AI Production Network are jointly developing solutions and what concrete added value this generates for industrial applications.
- Guidance & Networking: The introduction of AI requires not only technological expertise but also strategic guidance, suitable framework conditions, and strong networks. The AI Innovation Day brings together the relevant stakeholders and creates a space for exchange, new connections, and shared perspectives.
Key Questions
- How can artificial intelligence move more quickly from research to industrial application?
- Which AI projects are already generating concrete benefits for companies today?
- What conditions do companies need for successful implementation?
- How can academia and industry collaborate more sustainably?
- What role do skilled workers, data, and infrastructure play?
- How does the Augsburg AI Production Network strengthen the region as a hub for innovation?
About the Augsburg AI Production Network
The Augsburg AI Production Network is a consortium comprising the University of Augsburg, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite, and Processing Technology IGCV, and the Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg. Regional industry partners are also involved. The goal is to conduct joint research on AI-based production technologies at the intersection of materials, manufacturing technologies, data-driven modeling, and digital business models.
Here's what you can expect:
- Gain perspective: Get insights into the strategic, political, and technological framework for AI in manufacturing and industry.
- Experience real-world applications: Discover specific projects and best practices resulting from collaboration between industry and research.
- Initiate collaborations: Meet key contacts from politics, industry, academia, and professional networks.
The AI Innovation Day is aimed in particular at:
- Policy makers
- Executive management
- Leaders in production, innovation, and digitalization
- Representatives of technology providers
- Representatives of research institutions
- Stakeholders and partners of the Augsburg AI Production Network
Keynote: Industrial AI: Balancing Innovation and Risk Management
How can the potential of industrial AI be harnessed in a secure and scalable manner? This keynote will highlight successful use cases, the requirements for AI at the industrial level, and the role of AI risk management in ensuring trust, reliability, and compliance.
Workshop: How Is Learning in the Workplace Being Rethought?
How can companies use AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for a new culture of learning and knowledge? The Center for Future Production provides practical insights into AI-based educational initiatives with companies and demonstrates how innovative learning formats open up new avenues for knowledge transfer. The focus is on a new project that combines practical, workplace-oriented learning through social video with the knowledge and expertise of the Centre for Future Production, carried out in collaboration with the Augsburg-based EdTech company Ghostthinker GmbH.
Pamina Zwolsky
AI Education Program, Center for Future Production / University of Augsburg
Martina Friedsmann
AI Education Program, Center for Future Production / University of Augsburg
Johannes Metscher
Managing Director & Head of Development, Ghostthinker GmbH
Workshop: AI-Based Security Testing
This presentation demonstrates how local AI models can help identify security issues in digital production systems within IT/OT networks without data leaving the company. The focus is on practical application scenarios as well as the opportunities and limitations of AI-supported security testing.
Prof. Dr. Lothar Braun
IT Security, Department of Computer Science / Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
Workshop: AI in Manufacturing—From Problem to Solution
The use of AI is widely discussed, but how AI can actually be applied in practice is often not entirely clear. We’ll present concrete examples of AI applications at the DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology and explore where and how AI can be used to benefit your business. Afterward, workshop participants will take the lead: based on your specific questions, we’ll work with you in small groups to develop ideas and approaches for implementation and identify technologies and potential partners for your AI project.
Dr.-Ing. Lars Larsen
Head of ZLP Augsburg, Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg
Dr. Alfons Schuster
Group Leader at ZLP Augsburg, Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg
Presentation: From Data Chaos to Scalability: Data Context as the Foundation of Industrial AI
There is often a significant gap between promising AI use cases and the reality on the shop floor: Scalable AI solutions require more than just large amounts of data—context is crucial. Drawing on concrete real-world experience, this presentation will highlight the success factors involved in implementing a semantically consistent database that serves as the foundation for end-to-end digitalization in production.
Lukas Wittmann
Group Leader for IoT and Connected Production, Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite, and Processing Technology IGCV
Presentation: Digital Twin of Cooling Processes in an Industrial Setting
Derived from the thermal management of the H2-cooled engine. Focus on MBSE and systems engineering.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Baeten
Research Professor of Lightweight Construction and Fiber Composite Technologies, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
Workshop: AI in Manufacturing—From Problem to Solution
The use of AI is widely discussed, but how AI can actually be applied in practice is often not entirely clear. We’ll present concrete examples of AI applications at the DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology and explore where and how AI can be used to benefit your business. Afterward, workshop participants will take the lead: based on your specific questions, we’ll work with you in small groups to develop ideas and approaches for implementation and identify technologies and potential partners for your AI project.
Dr.-Ing. Lars Larsen
Head of ZLP Augsburg, Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg
Dr. Alfons Schuster
Group Leader at ZLP Augsburg, Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg
Presentation: Extracting Insights from Scattered Data: Verifiable Answers for Production
Test reports, Excel spreadsheets, reports, photos: Most companies already have the knowledge about their own processes and products—it’s just scattered across many locations and in many formats. As a result, even simple questions about a complex production process can quickly become time-consuming. This presentation will demonstrate two ways to answer such questions using AI. The Quick Approach: An assistant searches the original files and provides an immediate answer. The Thorough Approach: With the help of AI, the data is converted into a knowledge graph once. Afterward, every number can be traced back to its source, the same batch is recognized as such across all sources, and experts determine what is considered verified. Only then can correlations be examined—for example, which process settings are linked to which product properties—and documentation such as a digital product passport be created.
Thomas Bjarsch
Department of AI and Digital Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite, and Processing Technology IGCV
"Research Meets Industry"
Under this motto, companies and research partners will work together to showcase what has already been implemented and the insights gained from their collaboration.
TrustME—Toward Certifiable AI in Aviation Manufacturing
How does AI research become a trustworthy application for industrial practice? Research and industry are working together to harness the potential of AI and overcome challenges related to data quality, traceability, and certifiability. The focus is on practical AI systems that meet regulatory requirements such as the EU AI Act and the certification standards of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Holger Weber
Research Scientist, Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg
Martin Frank
AI Manufacturing Engineer, Industrial Robotics & Automation, Airbus Aerostructures GmbH
From Model to Certified Component: End-to-End Data and Trustworthy AI in Aerospace Production
In the AMoBaCoD aerospace research project, Airbus, Fraunhofer IGCV, and other partners are developing an end-to-end model-based development chain in which they collaborate on a demonstrator aircraft via standardized semantic data interfaces. The presentation demonstrates how this data can be used—even at the design stage—to automatically determine a design’s cost, its carbon footprint, and whether it can be manufactured at all, as well as how AI methods such as predictive quality and anomaly detection extend this chain all the way through to production. The presentation concludes with the TrustME project, which addresses the critical question for the aviation industry: how must AI become trustworthy and certifiable so that a component it helped create is ultimately permitted to fly.
Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Maier
Department of AI and Digital Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite, and Processing Technology IGCV
Matthias Radny
Digital Architect & Digital R&T Portfolio Lead, Airbus Aerostructures GmbH
Predictions in Seconds: AI in the Injection Molding Process
Injection molding is a key industrial manufacturing process used to produce a wide variety of plastic components. Physical simulations are the established method for designing components and molds, but they typically require several hours of computation time. AI-supported models, on the other hand, can make predictions within seconds, enabling the rapid evaluation of many variants—especially in early development phases.
Prof. Dr. Nils Meyer
Data-Driven Product Engineering and Design, University of Augsburg
Dr. Jan-Martin Kaiser
Head of the Component Design, Reliability, and Validation Polymers Research Group, Robert Bosch GmbH
Keynote: The Future of Robotics
The convergence of artificial intelligence and physical robotics, combined with software platforms, makes it possible to simplify access to intelligent automation and scale industrial deployments. This keynote will explain how Intrinsic’s platform provides essential tools, infrastructure, robotic capabilities, and native ROS interoperability to bridge the gap between the flexibility of a makerspace and commercial, industry-ready deployments.
By building a collaborative developer ecosystem through open-source contributions, regional partner projects, and turnkey reference solutions, developers are empowered to efficiently create and deploy highly complex and variable robotic applications. Participants will learn how foundation models and a shared, open software base accelerate AI adoption and scale intelligent automation across the entire robotics market.
Guided Tours
Guided tours will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to conclude AI Innovation Day. You can choose from the “Halle 43” AI Experience Room at the University of Augsburg, a joint tour of the DLR ZLP in Augsburg and the Fraunhofer IGCV, and the Recycling Atelier Augsburg at the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. Separate registration is required for the guided tours; each person may select only one tour.
“Halle 43,” the DLR ZLP in Augsburg, and the Fraunhofer IGCV are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other. A shuttle bus is available to the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences’ Recycling Atelier.
Participation in AI Innovation Day 2026 is free—however, due to limited space, registration is required:
Register Now – AI Innovation Day
Guided tours are also available (spaces are also limited; see below for details; separate registration required):
Each person may select only one guided tour from the following options:
- The “Halle 43” AI Experience Center at the University of Augsburg; within walking distance of the event venue.
- DLR ZLP Augsburg and the Fraunhofer IGCV; within walking distance of the event venue.
Important Note: A security check is required. To this end, personal data will be collected and transmitted during registration. By registering, you agree to this and to the privacy policy. - Recycling Atelier Augsburg at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences; a shuttle service is offered from the event venue and back (very limited parking available).
Venue – Augsburg Technology Center
The Augsburg Technology Center is the main venue for AI Innovation Day 2026. This is where the opening ceremony, keynote speeches, technical discussions, and networking will take place. Ample parking is available directly in front of the building or in the immediate vicinity.
Drivers should follow the signs on the B17 from the “Haunstetten Nord” exit; public transportation is within walking distance via tram line 3 to the “Landesamt für Umwelt” stop. Further details on how to get there are available on the Technology Center’s website.
Augsburg Technology Center
Am Technologiezentrum 5
86159 Augsburg
Tour - DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology and Fraunhofer IGCV
The DLR ZLP Center for Lightweight Production Technology in Augsburg and the Fraunhofer IGCV are jointly participating in the afternoon tour program. The tour provides insights into research, production, and industrial implementation within the Augsburg AI Production Network. Special safety requirements apply to this tour, and separate registration is required.
Guided Tour - "Halle 43" AI Experience Space at the University of Augsburg
In the "Halle 43" AI Experience Center, the University of Augsburg, together with partners from the AI Production Network and various companies, is conducting research on industrial-scale facilitiesspanning 5,300m². During the guided tour, participants gain insights into the University of Augsburg’s current research and application topics.
Guided Tour - Recycling Atelier Augsburg at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
Used textiles are a valuable raw material. The “Recycling Atelier” at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences is the world’s first model factory for mechanical textile recycling and covers the entire textile value chain. During the tour, researchers from the AI Production Network at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences explain how high-quality textile recycling can help many industries solve their raw material challenges.
