Speakers

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.