Expert Day @ ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT
Expert Day:
Science meets Industry
Connect your science to industry. Discover innovation opportunities and real collaboration potential.
The Expert Day is a curated half-day event for researchers who want to connect their research with real-world applications.
Whether you’re curious about industry collaboration or want to bring your research into the world – this is your platform to explore it.
Participation, including food and beverages, is free of charge. The event is supported by the KIT-Gründerschmiede.
Date:
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 from 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Place:
ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT in Karlsruhe
TRAVEL:
Shuttle from Karlsruhe Main Station will be provided at 12:40 PM (South Exit Bus Station) and back to Main Station 6 PM
Research topics
Participating Companies
If your research aligns with these topics, this event offers an excellent opportunity to engage with leading industry experts.
ADS-TEC Industrial IT
Focus Topic: Secure X Operation – IT security for connected production environments and infrastructures
#CyberSecurity
#AssetDetection #PatchManagement
Balluff EMEA
Focus Topic: From Edge to Insight – turning industrial data into value through intelligent networking solutions
#SmartNetworks
#DeviceToDecision
#EdgeAnalytics
Koehler Group
Focus Topic: Circular Economy & Paperization: New Applications for Paper
#Paperization&Bioeconomy
#PaperForTheFuture
#Decarbonization
#DigitalTransformation
Scharr
Focus Topic: Green Chemistry
#MolecularTransition
#Carbon Cycle
#Green Catalysis
#PowerToX
Festo
Focus Topic: Smart Manufacturing – Data-driven, human-centric & AI-enhanced production
#AIReadyInfrastructure
#HumanInTheLoop
#AssistanceSystems
#AIDrivenProcessOptimization
IPAI Foundation
Focus Topic: Applied AI
#AIApplications
#Impact
#AppliedResearch
#DataScience
VECTOR Informatik
Focus Topic: Applied AI
#EmbeddedSoftware
#BigDataAnalytics
AGENDA December 2025
Half a day dedicated to collaboration and innovation
Connect with industry experts and peers driving the transfer of research
1:30 – 2:00
Welcome, snacks & opening
2:00 – 3:00
Keynote (Inspiration: how research becomes innovation) & Company flashlights (Understand industry needs)
3:00 – 5:00
Matching & Topic Stations (1:1 conversations – explore project matches & collaborations)
5:00 – 5:30
Networking & Dinner (Casual exchanges with researchers & industry)
Optional: Pre-Event Workshop „Bridging the Gap – Communicating Research Beyond Academia“ Co-organized by hei_INNOVATION on 25th November from 11 AM – 12:30 PM (On site at University of Heidelberg)
In this 90-minute pre-event workshop, you’ll learn how to communicate your research clearly and convincingly — not just to peers, but to industry partners, investors, and broader audiences.
We’ll focus on making your message accessible, relevant and collaboration-ready.
This session will help you prepare for impactful conversations and successful connections during the Expert Day and in general.
Our speakers
Keynote and company flashlights from different experts
Joy Lauter
Project Lead @ IPAI Foundation
#companyflashlight
Dr. Sven Körner
Founder thingsTHINKING & Vice President Community Aleph Alpha
#keynotespeaker
Dr. Alfons Riek
Vice President Innovation & Technology @ Festo
#companyflashlight
David Schweizer
Management Corporate Development & IT @ Scharr
#companyflashlight
Dominik Track
Data Scientist @ Balluff
#companyflashlight
Peter Guse
Business Development @ Vector
#companyflashlight
Steffen Greiner
CEO @ ADS-TEC Industrial IT
#companyflashlight
Michel Yammine Izaguirre
Projekt & Venture Manager @ Koehler Paper
#companyflashlight
Dr. Eric Heintze
Senior Technology Expert @ NXTGN Management GmbH
#moderator
Zeiss innovation hub @ KIT as a location
Be where innovation happens
Set in an inspiring environment of innovation and collaboration, the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT offers a bold space where ideas come to life. Surrounded by startups, researchers, and visionaries, this is where the future gets built.
CONTACT
Do you have any questions?
Then contact Tanita Martsch directly by email. We look forward to hearing from you.
Tanita Martsch
Senior Talent Success Manager
