Yousef Almajnouni is the General Manager of Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia. Before joining the Ministry, Eng. Yousef worked for over 20 years in leading manufacturing companies and the government sector, where he led key national strategic and transformational initiatives. Mr. Yousef holds an engineering degree and a master’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology.
Alexander Beck is Head of Strategy, Business Excellence, and Government Affairs at Siemens Switzerland AG. He has extensive leadership experience in digital transformation – particularly in areas such as Cloud, (I)IoT, and Cybersecurity, which are central components for Metaverse infrastructures. His previous positions at Nokia Networks and Siemens focused on Sales, national/international strategy and technology projects. His interests lie in strategic and digital innovation.
Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Gunter Beitinger is Senior Vice President Manufacturing at Siemens Digital Industries, overseeing several Digital Lighthouse plants. Before that, he served as Head of Business Excellence (Lean Management), Management Consultant to the Executive Board, Director of Industrial Engineering, and Plant Manager.
Gunter studied Industrial Engineering, Lean Management, and Business Administration in Germany and the USA. He began his career as a research associate at the University of Erlangen before joining Siemens, where he has held various leadership roles across different countries and business units, including SiemensVDO Automotive, Siemens Healthineers, Process Industries and Drives, and Digital Industries. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Advisory Council for Advanced Manufacturing, Founder and Chairman of the ESTAINIUM Association, and a Non-Executive Independent Director at EGLA.
Dr. Alexander Blass serves as the Head of Operations at NEURA Robotics with a clear strategic focus on innovation management, venture capital funding and company scaling. His career began with a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace. His doctorate in turbulence research gave him a profound insight into complex dynamic systems. At NEURA Robotics, Dr. Blass is responsible for the efficient implementation of processes and structures, operational scaling and the coordination of investments. Through advancements in combining modern agile methods with established structures, he has coined the term “Hybrid Agility”, continuously striving to find new ways to improve efficiency and flexibility. Together with the CEO, he plays a key role in shaping the company’s growth strategy and acts as an important bridge builder between technical visions and operational needs.
Mine Cetinkaya is an IoT Solutions and Applications Engineer at Perinet with extensive experience in system and software design, prototyping, and deployment across sectors including defense electronics, IT, automotive, and energy systems. She specializes in embedded systems, IoT protocols, and smart connectivity solutions. Throughout her career, she has contributed to innovative smart technologies by combining hands-on engineering expertise with agile project execution. Mine holds degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Communication and Information Technologies, and Business Administration.
Jesús de la Maza is President of the Innovalia Group, a strategic industrial alliance he has chaired since its inception. An Industrial Engineer and MBA, he brings over 20 years of experience as a European Commission expert in technological innovation for the industrial sector. He has founded and scaled more than a dozen technology-based SMEs now active in global markets. Innovalia comprises two divisions – Innovalia Digital and Innovalia Metrology – offering solutions in smart cities, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation. A pioneer in data space technologies, Jesús also serves on the board of the International Data Space Association (IDSA).
Dr. Miguel de Prado, Senior Research Engineer, acts as a research lead and manager at VERSES, overseeing the EdgeAI group and the successful development of the European Network of Excellence dAIEDGE project. Miguel is a distinguished professional in the field of embedded computing and AI with a remarkable academic background: a joint MSc. with a 1st class distinction from the University of Southampton & TU Kaiserslautern and a PhD from ETH Zürich under Prof. Luca Benini, focusing on optimizing neural network deployment and domain adaptation on edge devices. Miguel has extended experience in democratizing Artificial intelligence by helping companies and SMEs onboard and leverage AI, providing expert guidance, and fostering their AI development processes. His vision is to revolutionize Edge AI with cutting-edge hardware and software, pushing the boundaries of technology and making AI accessible and transformative for society.
Alessandro Favalli is in charge of international business development and internationalization at MADE Competence Center Industry 4.0, a highly specialized hub with the mission to promote digital innovation and smart manufacturing within Italian SMEs. He has 30+ years experience as innovation consultant and international project manager, setting up and running international projects and ventures for private clients, public entities and multilateral agencies, with outspoken entrepreneurial attitude. His main interests include innovation, sustainable SMEs development and international cooperation.
Rafik Feki is an Industrial Development Officer with a demonstrated history in supporting business ecosystem, enterprise modernization and innovation, I4.0 and digital transformation, quality infrastructure, Aid for Trade. He joined the United Nations Industrial development organization (UNIDO) in 2007 where he formulated, raised financing and implemented several projects in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, North and Sub-Saharan Africa in different topics related to industrial development and digital transformation. Among others, he’s leading the Initiative related to the Alliance for I4.0 and Smart Manufacturing in Africa (AISMA) and overseeing several Programmes supporting the establishment of smart factories in Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Cote d’Ivoire, etc. Before joining UNIDO, he was a project manager for the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ), supporting the implementation of a project in the area of SMEs upgrading and enhancement of local competitiveness.
Sebastian Friess is the Director of the Office for the Economy of the Canton of Bern (WEU-AWI), a position he has held since 2019. Previously, he led the Bern Economic Development Agency (BEDA) and served as Deputy Director of the Office for Economy and Labour (BECO). From 2010 to 2017, he worked in the Swiss federal administration. He held roles at the former Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology and at the newly established State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. During this time, he developed and led the federal innovation promotion policy. Among his key achievements was serving as the federal Project Lead for the development of the Switzerland Innovation Park structure, including overseeing the site selection process in collaboration with the cantons. Prior to his public service, Friess worked in the private sector in the Zurich Oberland and at Zurich-Kloten Airport. There, he was ultimately responsible as operations manager for the World Economic Forum in Zurich and Davos. He holds a PhD in Chemistry and Instrumental Analytics from ETH Zurich, as well as master’s degrees from ETH Zurich and the London School of Economics.
Dr. Thomas Gfeller is the CEO of the Foundation Switzerland Innovation as well as the co-founder and former president of Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, one of the Foundation’s six parcs across Switzerland. He’s also Board Member / Chairman in various industry companies.
Adam Gontarz graduated as a mechanical engineer at the TU Stuttgart. He worked as a research associate and did his PhD degree at the IWF at the ETH Zürich. Furthermore, he holds an Executive MBA degree from the ZHAW. At Swissmem, he has been responsible for the strategic and operational management of the industry sectors “Additive Manufacturing” and “Automotive”. Since April 2023, he became the Head of Digitalization, Innovation &Technology and a member of the Swissmem Executive Board. He is also founder and CEO of the ETH spin-off SIGMAtools GmbH, which offers innovative solutions in the field of data acquisition and analysis as well as resource optimization of complex mechatronic systems, machines and buildings. He brings with him a broad range of expertise and practical industry experience. At the same time, he is a guest lecturer for industrial communication, digitalization and innovation management at the OST and the HSLU.
Dominic Gorecky is a partner and executive board member at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG. He co-founded and leads the Swiss Smart Factory, Switzerland’s first and foremost test and demonstration platform for Industry 4.0.
He also founded the International Smart Factory Academy (IFSA) and co-founded the Swiss Cobotics Competence Center (S3C), where he serves as President of the Board. S3C is a national hub for industrial and academic partners to collaboratively develop and test next-generation robotic solutions.
Previously, Dominic was the head of research for the Innovative Factory Systems department at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In this role, he coordinated R&D for the living lab SmartFactoryKL.
Dominic contributes to the World Economic Forum (WEF) agenda and advises several Industry 4.0 start-ups. He co-founded the Swiss CxO Forum and chairs the International Smart Factory Summit.
In 2022, he was recognized as a Digital Shaper in Switzerland.
Dominic is passionate about driving responsible digital transformation for a sustainable society. He teaches various technology topics, including digital twins, cobotics, and IIoT in manufacturing. His PhD focused on the use of semantic technologies in the context of the digital factory.
Reto Grob is the CEO and Co-Founder of Augment IT AG, a Swiss company at the forefront of digital transformation in industrial sectors, leveraging cutting-edge augmented and artificial intelligence solutions. With a deep background in software engineering and innovation, he is committed to creating tangible value for shop floor workers by enhancing productivity, safety, and operational efficiency. Prior to founding Augment IT, he drove innovation at leading Swiss companies including Netcetera AG, Avaloq, and Swisscom, and gained valuable international experience working for five years in Japan’s mobile market as well as in Silicon Valley. His global perspective and hands-on approach have positioned Augment IT as a trusted partner in delivering impactful solutions across diverse industries.
Christian Haltiner is Managing Director of Dassault Systèmes for the strategic market Switzerland. He is also a member of the executive board of Dassault Systèmes EuroCentral. Christian has more than 20 years of experience in the IT sector and has a profound understanding of sale methodologies and partner management. After successful years as sales director at global market leaders like Canon or Microsoft, he joined the executive board of Rotring Data AG, where he got a deep understanding of modern innovation platforms, process optimization and manufacturing. He now focuses on the topics of “virtual twin” and digital continuity across all industries.
Johannes be Isa is a dedicated engineer who combines entrepreneurship and a scientific spirit. He is co-founder and managing director of the spin-off INOYAD Technologies, founded in 2019. The software company operates globally, developing and integrating innovative technologies for industrial companies and thereby contributing to more efficient production sites. The company also supports industrial companies in the training and development of employees in the context of Lean and Digital Manufacturing by designing and setting up innovation labs and simulations, including its own Smart Learning Factory solution. Prior to this, Johannes be Isa worked for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and headed multiple applied research projects in the production alliance for intelligent and resource-efficient production. He has already supported companies such as Bosch, Siemens and Volkswagen Group in their digital transformation and in setting up their smart factories. Through his work, he has already gained international project experience in Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. He received the Ph.D. degree for his work on dynamic production networks from Technical University of Munich, Germany.
Devendra Jain leads a global initiative at the World Economic Forum (WEF), exploring the transformative potential of frontier technologies such as AI, Robotics and Quantum in shaping the future of manufacturing while amplifying human ingenuity. He aims to channelize a multi-stakeholder community of experts worldwide to empower industries for the future and guide policymakers with frameworks that foster inclusive economic growth. With over 15 years of experience, including a decade driving large-scale digital transformation initiatives from vision to value realization, Devendra specializes in building data-driven cultures and managing organizational change to enable meaningful impact. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science, and thrives at the intersection of business and technology, driving responsible innovation for industry and society.
Professor Duck Young Kim is a full professor with the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from POSTECH and the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2006. He has solid industrial and academic experience as a Research Fellow with the DAEWOO Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin, South Korea, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Coventry, U.K., and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. He is currently a vice-president of the Society for Computational Design and Engineering, an associate editor of Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, and the director of the POSTECH-APPLE Manufacturing R&D Accelerator. His current research interests include industrial AI and autonomous manufacturing systems for the factories of the future.
Raimund Klein is the Founder and CEO of the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT), an independent institution focused on ESG issues and promoting global manufacturing transformation. With nearly four decades of expertise in business strategy, sales, and marketing, Raimund is a proponent of manufacturing digitalization, advocating for its essential role in future success. He champions collaboration between public and private sectors to drive industrial change across various regions and sectors. Raimund guides the development of frameworks and tools like the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) and the Consumer Sustainability Industry Readiness Index (COSIRI), aiding manufacturers and organizations in enhancing their transformation journeys and sustainability practices. Under his leadership, INCIT has formed strategic partnerships with entities worldwide, including significant initiatives in Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Selangor to promote Industry 4.0 and sustainability. Previously, he led Digital Industries ASEAN at Siemens, focusing on new business models in digitalization and automation.
Dr. Milan Kumar is a distinguished figure in the field of global technology as a Global Chief Information and Digital Officer (CDIO), renowned as a TEDx speaker, educator, international author and startups mentor. He currently serves as the CIO of ZF Commercial Vehicles based in Bern, Switzerland. He has led multiple global Digital Transformation initiatives and passionate about “Data Monetization”. Throughout his career, Dr. Kumar has supported technology transformation of many Fortune 500 companies such as VOLKSWAGEN Group, ZF Group, BMW Group, General Motors, British Airways, Reliance, Atlas Copco, Morgan Stanley, WABCO etc.
Dr. Kumar’s academic achievements include a PhD in AI Management and completion of the “Driving Growth Through Innovation” at the Harvard Business School. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the “Swiss CIO of the Year,” “Global Digital CIO,” and “CIO Excellence Award” from Economics Times.
Nikos Kyriakoulis is a Production and Management Engineer and has a PhD in Robotic Vision Systems. Since 2014 he has been working on the adoption of Industry 4.0 and how these technologies can be applied in the factories seamlessly and effectively, participating in more than 70 EU funded projects. He has collaborated with more than 150 top organisations and manufacturers succeeding more than €80 Millions of funding for innovative Industry 4.0 solutions. His vision is to make innovation easy for individuals and organisations by providing access to infrastructure, funding, data, network, experts, and live demonstrations so that they meet their true potentials. In 2016 Nikos co-founded CORE Innovation aiming at providing this opportunity to people and in 2020 co-founded CORE Innovation Center having succeeded more than €25M of funding. His latest endeavor is the Greek Smart Factory (GSF), a trusted platform to test and demo new technologies by joining forces with Academia, Tech providers, and industry. Nikos is a certified SIRI Assessor, able to assess manufacturing facilities and help companies in their Industry 4.0 journeys.
Dr. Dimitris Kyritsis is Professor Emeritus of ICT for Sustainable Manufacturing at Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Senior Advisor at SIRIUS labs of the Department of Informatics of the University of Oslo and Senior Advisor at Swiss Smart Factory, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. His research interests are Closed-Loop Lifecycle Management, Sustainable Manufacturing, Cognitive Digital Twins and Industrial Ontologies. He has more than 250 publications. Dimitris is co-founder of the Industrial Ontologies Foundry and, since 2019, he is actively involved in the WEF Platform on Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains.
Dr. Jay Lee is Clark Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of Industrial AI Center in the Mechanical Engineering of the Univ. of Maryland College Park.
His current research is focused on developing non-traditional machine learning technologies including transfer learning, domain adaptation, similarity-based machine learning, stream-of-x machine learning, as well as industrial large knowledge model (ILKM), etc. He is the founding director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) on Intelligent Maintenance Systems (www.imscenter.net) in partnership with over 130 global company members. The Center was selected as the most economically impactful I/UCRC in the NSF Economic Impact Study Report in 2012. He mentored his students won 1st prize on Data Challenge Competition (PHM Society) 6 times during 2008-2023 as well as developed a number of start-up companies including Predictronics through NSF iCorps in 2013.
He is a member of Global Future Council on Advanced Manufacturing and Production of the World Economics Council (WEF), a member of Board of Governors of the Manufacturing Executive Leadership Council of National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Board of Trustees of MTConnect, as well as a senior advisor to McKinsey.
Michela Magas is Chair of the Board and Director of Research & Innovation at the Industry Commons Foundation, focusing on cross-domain collaboration and enabling systems for industry. She has a track record of over 30 years of innovation, including serving as innovation advisor to the European Commission and the G7 leaders, Member of President von der Leyen’s NEB High Level Round Table, and Member of the Advisory Board of CERN IdeaSquare (ISAB-G). She currently serves as President of the KGA – the international Knowledge Graph Alliance. She is the Founder of Stockholm-based MTF Labs and has, over the past 13 years, been conducting technology experiments with over 8000 global, multidisciplinary contributors, and developing methods that have been selected as best practice for Knowledge Valorisation by the European Commission. In 2017 she was awarded European Woman Innovator of the Year.
Miguel Mendoza is the Founder and CEO of Automated Data Systems SA (Mexico) and Laredo Quality Tools Inc. (USA), established in 1983 and 1986 respectively. With academic foundations in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and executive training from IPADE (AD2 Management Program), Miguel also holds a Six Sigma Black Belt certification. He actively shapes the future of engineering education as President of the Mechanical Engineering Council and member of the Mechatronics Council at Tecnológico de Monterrey (MX), and serves on the Industry Advisory Board at the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX). Last but not least, he is a longstanding contributor to the International Smart Factory Summit and collaboration platform.
Lars Meyer is originally from Trier, Germany, and moved to Zurich to study mechanical engineering at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH Zürich). During his third and final year of his bachelor’s degree, he had the unique opportunity to join the focus project CELLSIUS, where he took over the Module Lead for the hydrogen fuel cell system. After a first year as a focus student, he decided to stay as Team Lead of the hydrogen module with to goal to push sustainable innovation in the aviation industry.
Jan Mikolon works as Chief Technology Officer at QuantumBasel, a leading center of excellence for quantum computing and AI in Switzerland. Previously, he led IBM’s Center for AI in Mu-nich, where he developed advanced AI and quantum computing solutions for a wide range of industries. With deep expertise in both cutting-edge technologies, Jan continues to drive innova-tion and help organizations realize the potential of quantum and AI.
Marc Moal is the Global Head of Contract Manufacturing at Nestlé Nespresso SA, where he oversees the production of coffee machines and milk frothers. He brings a wealth of experience from multiple industries, having worked in sectors such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods, which has enriched his approach to Research & Development and Operations. Marc is committed to sustainability, embedding eco-friendly practices in the development and manufacturing of Nespresso machines. His leadership and strategic vision have significantly contributed to Nespresso’s growth and success in the competitive home appliances market.
Eng. Mohamed Taher Mouni is an industrial engineer with a background of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He held several positions as head of Performance and Industry 4.0 in Aerospace, Automotive and Pharma. With a decade of experience in deploying IIOT for real time monitoring, digital transformation assessments and Cobots in several industries. He’s also a founding expert of the Alliance for Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing in Africa (AISMA), an initiative launched by UNIDO.
Mauro Nart is the Founder and Managing Director of Pandia, where he leads product development, business development, sales, and customer success. Mauro is an experienced Customer Service Engineer with global assignments in commissioning, troubleshooting, and operator training within the packaging machinery sector. In his current role, he is responsible for strategic company leadership and the implementation of sustainable growth strategies. He brings strong expertise in sales, marketing, and scaling innovative solutions.
Dr. Clara Neppel is Senior Director at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional organization advancing technology for humanity. She is involved in efforts related to emerging technologies, standardization, entrepreneurship, as well as societal implications of technology. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Technical University of Munich and a Master in Intellectual Property Law and Management from the University of Strasbourg. Dr. Neppel is also an Independent Director of the Supervisory Board of EIT Digital, Co-Chair of the OECD Expert Group on AI, Data and Privacy, and Member of Austria’s AI Advisory Board and EY.ai Global AI Advisory Council.
As Business Development Manager at Proaction International, Leo Normandin brings over 9 years of expertise in Human Expenditure (HUMEX) initiatives, focusing on enhancing organizational performance across aerospace, food, construction, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors. Fluent in French, English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese, he fosters robust managerial practices that drive productivity, quality, and employee engagement. His approach involves coaching, digitalizing key management processes, and implementing Key Behavioral Indicators (KBIs) aligned with CAPEX + OPEX returns, establishing strong business relations that inspire investment in people and performance.
Yustinus Wahyo Nursanto serves as the Director of the ATMI IGI Center at ATMI Polytechnic Indonesia. With a foundation in manufacturing engineering from ATMI, Wahyo expanded his knowledge through a dual education experience in Switzerland. He gained valuable insights at the Institute of Rapid Product Development in St. Gallen while earning a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Post-Diploma in Business Engineering from Fachhochschule St. Gallen. After contributing to the Indonesian-German Institute Project, Wahyo is focused on developing a collaborative effort with the Swiss Smart Factory to enhance the ATMI Indonesia Smart Factory initiative.
Christian Ochsenbein is Head of the Swiss Battery Technology Center and a Partner at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne. With over 15 years of experience in electric mobility and battery R&D, he co-founded several initiatives, including SolarXplorers and the Swiss Battery Association iBAT. A pioneer in solar-powered travel, he completed the first solar boat circumnavigation from 2010 to 2012.
Antonio Padovano is Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Industrial Systems Engineering and Head of the Human-Machine Symbiosis Lab, a research laboratory of the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering of the University of Calabria, Italy. His research and contribution in national and international funded projects is profiled in human-centered systems, human-machine symbiosis and human augmentation for a smart workforce, as well as digital twin solutions and simulation systems with a focus on the manufacturing and logistics sectors. He is also the Head of the Smart Brewing Learning Factory, a research and educational environment for human-centric factories. He carried out research work at several institutions, such as MIT Zaragoza Logistics Center, BIDMC (Harvard Medical School) and Rutgers Business School. He has 8+ years of consulting experience delivering digital transformation and simulation services to several companies and research institutions, including NATO STO CMRE, Baker Hughes, Engineering. He is Area Editor of premier scientific journals, such as Computers & Industrial Engineering, and member of the organization committee of international scientific conferences such as ISM.
Jamie Paik, Director and Founder of the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), is pioneering the field of human-adaptive robotic systems. Her groundbreaking work in self-morphing robots represents a paradigm shift in how robots can naturally integrate into human environments. At RRL, she leads interdisciplinary research combining innovative design, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent control systems to create robots that transform their physical architecture in response to human needs. Her lab’s developments have revolutionized applications across medical assistance, automotive interfaces, space exploration, and wearable technology, with research featured in Nature, Science, and IEEE Transactions in Robotics. This impact extends to industry through RRL’s technology integration into Mercedes’ concept car Avatar, demonstrating how transformable robotics can enhance human-machine interfaces in everyday scenarios.
Christian Piechnick is the CEO and co-founder of Wandelbots, a leading deep-tech software company revolutionizing industrial robotics. With a background in Media Informatics and Software Architecture from TU Dresden, he co-founded Wandelbots in 2018 to democratize robotics through intuitive, no-code solutions. Under his leadership, the company secured €120+ million in funding and launched NOVA, the first hardware-agnostic operating system for robots. Recognized as “Newcomer of the Year” by the German Startup Association in 2020, Piechnick continues to drive Wandelbots’ mission to make automation accessible to businesses worldwide.
Dr. Foivos Psarommatis is the founder and CEO of Zerofect GmbH, a Swiss company pioneering digital solutions for sustainable manufacturing, with a strong focus on the development and implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Recognized as one of the early innovators in the DPP space, he brings a novel, systems-driven approach to traceability and circularity in production. He is also a leading figure in Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM), having modernized and set the foundation for its current form. A researcher at the University of Oslo and chair of a CEN/CENELEC group on ZDM standardization, he is listed among the world’s top 2% scientists every year since 2022.
Georg Püschel is the Co-Founder of Wandelbots, a Dresden-based startup that raised about 130m to revolutionize industrial robotics. With a software engineering background, Georg focuses on accelerating the adoption of Wandelbots Nova’s platform for manufactures who are digitizing, simulating, and up-levelling their production lines. Georg is at the forefront of AI experimentation, embracing the potential of this transformative technology for programming industrial robots, designing whole virtual factories and squeezing the last bit of efficiency from production data.
Elias Remele is the CSO and co-Founder of Augment IT AG – a Swiss company focused on helping industrial organizations advance through practical digital transformation using Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Before moving to Zurich, Elias co-founded and scaled two tech start-ups in Austria. He was drawn to Switzerland by its strong tech ecosystem and the opportunity to explore how XR and AI can deliver real value for industrial companies.
Elias has a background in sales and business, with a hands-on approach to guiding customers from early ideas to stable, scalable XR and AI solutions. Whether it’s in transportation, manufacturing, automotive, or life sciences – the same core challenge comes up everywhere: the need for modern tools that guide and support workers on the shop floor in an efficient and lean way.
Thomas Rilke is the General Manager of Deutsche Messe Technology Academy in Hannover, Germany. The Deutsche Messe Technology Academy is the Industrial Academy of HANNOVER MESSE and is running Smart Factories around the world. Before being responsible for the Academy Business Thomas Rilke was responsible for the Automation Sector and the Digital Sector of HANNOVER MESSE.
Dr. Dominik Rohrmus is the CTO of the non-profit and pre-competitive German association Labs Network Industrie 4.0 e.V. (LNI 4.0), fostering the digital transformation of SMEs in a wide range of industrial sectors while focusing on data ecosystems internationalization as well as testing and verification. Holding a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Dominik worked for German SMEs in the industrial and healthcare sectors before joining Siemens in different functions in the field of manufacturing and production development in 2005. In 2009, he founded the company program sustainable production engineering. Since 2013, he is the head of the group that is responsible for shop-floor equipment and standardization of the future for Siemens factories worldwide with execution in a Czeck Republic Siemens Energy factory. Since 2021, Dominik is also COO of Gaia-X, setting up the association for trusted data ecosystems, growing it in one year to 350 members. Dominik is member of several industry association gremials, the International Manufacturing-X Council and supports the international industrial standardization.
Prof. Dr. David Romero is a Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at the Departments of Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics of the Tecnológico de Monterrey University in Mexico and the Scientific Vice-chairman for the World Manufacturing Foundation. His research interests include: Circular Manufacturing, Service Engineering and Product-Service Systems, Cyber-Physical Systems and Human Systems, Advanced Production Management Systems, Green Virtual Enterprises, and Technology and Engineering Management in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He is a member of the Society of Collaborative Networks, the IFAC TC5.3 on Enterprise Integration and Networking, the IFIP WG5.7 on Advances in Production Management Systems, the IFIP WG5.12 on Architectures for Enterprise Integration, the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society, and the IEEE Internet of Things Community. Furthermore, he is an Agenda Contributor at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Council on “Shaping the Future of Advanced Manufacturing and Value Chains”, and a World Manufacturing Forum (WMF) Ambassador. He has published more than 200 journal and international conference articles. He serves on different technical and scientific committees and advisory boards in academia, industry, and government in the disciplines of business and industrial engineering. Nowadays, he is focused on promoting the concepts of the “Operator 4.0/5.0” and “Digital Lean Manufacturing”; the father of both terms.
Dr. Elisa Roth stands for “Valuing Value Creation.” She studied industrial engineering at TU Darmstadt and earned her PhD from the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, researching technology-enabled learning and worker assistance systems. As a fellow at the World Economic Forum, she helped put this topic on the global agenda through the Augmented Workforce Initiative. With experience in operations consulting, product development, and business development, Dr. Roth now drives the future of people-centric manufacturing as founder and CEO of Augmented Industries. She and her co-founder Dr. Mirco Möncks were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in Industry & Manufacturing for their innovative AI-powered workforce excellence software, which counts e.g. Siemens, Ford, and BMW as their customers.
As the Chief Digitalization and Innovation Officer at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Jason has led the organization’s digital and transformation initiatives, driving innovation and solutions. His leadership focuses on optimizing service delivery through digital solutions in close collaboration with stakeholders to enhance processes. With extensive leadership experience at UNIDO, he has served as head of IT, strategic financial management, business transformation and communications. Prior to UNIDO, Jason led finance management consulting in the UK public sector and served as head of finance in a large multi-national organization. He is a chartered management accountant and holds an MBA.
As the Executive Director of SHRDC, Sook Ling Teh brings 22 years of experience in workforce and talent development. Passionate about advancing smart and sustainable manufacturing, she forges strategic collaborations with the Swiss Smart Factory and industry partners to co-create impactful upskilling programs. She empowers the Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0 team to design industry-relevant training solutions and deliver application-driven R&D support, enabling SMEs to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies and accelerate their digitalization and sustainability transitions.
Eduardo Vendrell Vidal (BSc, PhD in Informatics) is associate professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain. He is currently the Academic Director of the BSc on Industrial Informatics and Robotics, organized in the School of Informatics, where he was the Dean between 2009 and 2017. He was also the UPV Vice-President for Studies, Quality and Accreditation (2017-2021). He acts as Executive Director of EQANIE, the European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education, and is member of the Exec Committee of IGIP (International Society for Engineering Pedagogy).
Patrick Villiger is Co-Founder and Technical Advisor at huvi.swiss, a company specializing in infrastructure-independent remote systems for fast wildfire detection. With a solid background in robotics, software engineering, and the machine industry – including hands-on experience on the shop floor – Patrick combines deep technical know-how with practical industry insight.
He is also Co-Founder and CEO of Acceliox and SwissSoftware.Group, which deliver turnkey smart factory and energy management solutions to SMEs across Switzerland and Europe.
Dr. Chua Wen-Shyan is currently the Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0 under the Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC). His key area of expertise lies mainly in the area of Control and Automation Systems, Fault Detection and Identification (FDI), and Predictive Maintenance Strategies which are widely used in Industry 4.0 applications. As the Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0, Dr. Chua and his team are focused in delivering high impact talent development programs to accelerate the growth of local talents who would be the workforce in supporting the growth of Industry 4.0. He is also currently one of the Certified Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) Assessor (CSA) and Consumer Sustainability Readiness Index (COSIRI) Assessor (CCA) in which him and his team are passionate in supporting companies to achieve sustainable smart factories.
Jan Wokittel is a visionary leader at the forefront of industrial innovation. As Digital Strategy Delivery Lead at Roche, he drives digital transformation in global production systems. A passionate entrepreneur, Jan has founded three startups and authored a book on how disruptive ideas can change the world.
Beyond his professional role, he serves voluntarily on the board of the Association of German Engineers (VDI), advocating for innovation, education, and future talent. Jan combines strategic insight with hands-on experience to shape a more agile, impactful future for industry and society.
Moritz Wullschleger is an automation and digitalisation expert with a passion for turning big ideas into groundbreaking realities. Currently Head of Automation & Industrial Digitalisation at VTU Switzerland and Co-Founder of Aitexa, he’s leading the charge in revolutionizing pharma and process engineering through generative AI. With an EMBA in Digital Leadership and over 15 years of experience, Moritz combines deep technical know-how with visionary business strategy. Join his session to discover how Aitexa is setting new standards by accelerating factory planning – faster, smarter, and more sustainable.
Faisal Zia is the Technical Director at GSMA, leading business development and innovation growth through the GSMA Foundry. He collaborates with industry partners to accelerate the adoption of technologies like 5G, AI, and Non-Terrestrial Networks. Faisal also curates the Sports and Entertainment Summit at MWC Barcelona, shaping conversations around tech and entertainment convergence. Previously, he focused on network economics and cost-saving innovations in GSMA’s Future Networks programme. With over a decade of experience across telecom, IT, rail, and fintech, Faisal is a recognized expert in technology strategy, agile models, and emerging telecom solutions.
Ciyong Zou is a Deputy to the Director General and the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Directorate oversees the Organization’s normative contribution to the sustainable development goals, in addition to supporting and advancing the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development in the environment, energy, and SME areas. Advancing competitiveness and job creation are also key impact dimensions for the Directorate, in addition to the advancement of digitalization and artificial intelligence. Mr. Zou is also the Director General’s Special Representative for the G77 and China. Before joining UNIDO, Mr. Zou performed multiple roles, including as Deputy Director General of International Department at the Chinese Ministry of Finance and Alternate to the Chinese Executive Director at the World Bank, and Global Environmental Facility Operational Focal Point for China.
Prof. Detlef Zühlke is known as the pioneer of Industry 4.0, which evolved from the smartfactory-KL. He was the founder and CEO of this organization until his retirement in 2019. He was also a research director at the Innovative Factory Systems department at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI and a full Professor at the University of Kaiserslautern/Germany. After his retirement he is still active as an honorary executive board member of the smartfactory-KL association and also a keynote speaker and consultant on the international level.