Focus on energy and sustainability: Global Market Leaders Innovation Day
Global Market Leader Innovation Day organized by FAU and Sparkasse Höchstadt Herzogenaurach will be held in Erlangen for the fourth time on September 14, 2023
On Thursday September 14, 2023 decision-makers from business, industry and research are set to meet once again in Erlangen for the “Global Market Leaders Innovation Day” run by the business journal WirtschaftsWoche. This gathering of SMEs is initiated by FAU, Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen-Höchstadt Herzogenaurach and the University Association Erlangen-Nuremberg. This year the focus is on energy and sustainability.
According to Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of FAU, “Erlangen is the first choice for research into sustainability and energy. It makes sense to focus on this important topic for the Global Market Leaders Innovation Day 2023. In particular when it comes to research into hydrogen, FAU is one of the main driving forces in innovation, both from an economic and a technological point of view. For example, with Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies we have launched one of the most successful international start-ups in the area of hydrogen. Top FAU researchers at the FAU Profile Center Solar are also driving research forward with outstanding concepts for new technologies in the area of solar energy. At the current time, FAU holds the record for designing the most efficient solar cells.”
“We are glad that the Global Market Leaders Innovation Day that we initiated is now taking place for the fourth time in Erlangen. This year the event is focusing on energy and sustainability. These topics are a major challenge for stakeholders at all levels, in particular in view of the fact that the quantities of energy we require are forecast to keep increasing, whilst sustainability is emerging as a megatrend of our times. The impact of the Innovation Day is felt across the whole of Germany, presenting Erlangen as an attractive location for business. This allows us, with the support of many other stakeholders, to make a highly visible contribution to boosting the economy in the region. At the same time, we can make a valuable contribution to our involvement in local society,” stresses Johannes von Hebel, Chairman of the Board at Sparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach.
“I am very proud that Mr. Beger is able to attend our conference on behalf of UNIDO, which is the agency at the United Nations responsible for industrial development,” explains Prof. Dr. Siegfried Balleis, chairman of the University Association Erlangen-Nuremberg.
The City of Erlangen is also involved in the Innovation Day. “Sustainable mobility is one of the greatest challenges facing us today. Inspiration, innovation and the correct political agenda all have a key role to play. Our region stands for innovation, and this area is no exception. The Global World Leaders Innovation Day has the potential to boost innovation for the transport revolution,” states Dr. Florian Janik, mayor of the City of Erlangen.
A new addition to the program: Research meets Industry
The Global Leaders Innovation Day is a platform for politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and young talents to meet, share ideas and initiate innovative projects.
The participants will be welcomed by Horst von Buttlar, editor in chief of WirtschaftsWoche, Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of FAU, and Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian Minister of the Interior for Sport and Integration. The highlight keynote speeches on the challenge posed by the transition to renewable energy will be given by Dr. Franziska Brantner, parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Daniel Schmid, Chief Sustainability Officer SAP, and Vinod Philip, executive board member responsible for Global Functions at Siemens Energy.
The WirtschaftsWoche is pleased to welcome Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder as a special guest for a discussion via a digital connection.
This will be followed by high-profile speakers and exciting discussions. The newly appointed FAU professor for Power to X technologies, Prof. Dr. Bastian Etzold, will contribute his expertise to the round table discussion on “Hydrogen as a silver bullet – is it the energy source of the future?” His research focuses on electro-chemical procedures suitable of replacing current combustion processes at the same time as making them more sustainable.
Another panel of high-ranking experts will deal with the issue of climate neutrality as a competitive advantage: Frank Thelen, Chief Procurement Officer thyssenkrupp Materials Services,
Lisa Reehten, director of Bosch Climate Solutions, Dr. Burkhard Naffin, CEO Fels-Werke GmbH, and Barbara Metz, deputy director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany). DATEV CEO Prof. Dr. Robert Mayr will give a presentation on digitalization as a competitive factor.
The editors of WirtschaftsWoche will meet Carlo Lazzarini, CEO PWO Group, Heike Niederau-Buck, CIO J.M. Voith SE & Co. KG, Dr. Florian Schütz, managing director of KI Park, and Thomas Buck, CIO Vitesco Technologies will meet to discuss “Digital, sustainable and innovative – which competitive factors should SME’s take into account in future?”
A new addition to the program is the “Speakers’ Corner Special: Research meets Industry.” FAU professor Dr. Christoph Brabec, Chair of Materials Science (Materials in Electronics and Energy Technology) and Director of Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI-ERN) will speak about his research area, “multi-benefit PV”: innovative photovoltaic technologies, the new applications they make possible and what they will mean for SMEs. This new addition to the agenda is designed to bridge the gap between research and industry, encouraging knowledge transfer from scientific findings to industrial companies, facilitating access to research institutions and communicating requirements from industry to research. As in previous years, start-ups such as the FAU spin off Amerial will have a chance to present their innovative business ideas during the “Newcomer on stage” session.
Further information on the Global Market Leaders Innovation Day
Please visit the website of the Global Market Leaders Innovation Day for further details and to register for the event: https://www.weltmarktfuehrer-innovationday.de
Further information
Communications and Press at FAU
Blandina Mangelkramer
Phone: +49 9131 85 70229
presse@fau.de
Sparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach
Benjamin Mair
Phone: +49 9131 824 1200
benjamin.mair@sparkasse-erlangen.de