Michael Reichel (ari)
New insights – deeper understanding – social relevance in Thuringia and around the world: The startup centers in Thuringia see themselves not only as workspaces for startups, but also as facilitators and hubs for innovation, economic progress, and social advancement.
With the lecture series “Thür auf – Innovation im Dialog,” Thuringia’s startup hubs provide insights into future-oriented industries and the world of entrepreneurship.
But what are these future-oriented industries? What global future trends have scientists identified, and how might these impact the economy and community life in Thuringia? What are the challenges and issues that are likely to occupy us most in the future, and with what ideas and technologies do we intend to address these challenges as early as possible? Is it even scientifically possible to look into the future?
Absolutely! Futures studies is the “systematic and critical scientific examination of questions regarding possible future developments in the technical, economic, and social spheres.” And the Ilmenau Technology and Startup Center, together with Gründerforum e.V., aims to offer guests this glimpse into the future in another lecture in the series “Thür auf – Innovation im Dialog.”
On April 22, 2026, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Ilmenau (TGZ), Ehrenbergstraße 11, 98693 Ilmenau, they invite you to keynote presentations and discussions on the topic “The Future Is No Accident: Why Waiting Is Risky”
Research – Assess – Act – How We Prepare Today for Tomorrow’s Markets
Starting at 6:00 p.m. – Keynote Presentations
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in Leipzig, Christine Koch explores possible future scenarios and how these can be influenced through active participation and integrated into corporate strategy. With nearly twenty years of professional experience as a systemic organizational consultant in industry, her interest is not merely academic but aims to deliver direct benefits for companies and people. In her presentation, she will introduce methods of futures research and provide insight into how research findings can have a lasting positive impact on the strategic development of companies.
Sven Müller is responsible for investment controlling at SPRIND, the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations. Breakthrough innovations create new markets or fundamentally transform existing ones. SPRIND is active across Europe, identifying and promoting groundbreaking technologies and topics that have the potential to fundamentally improve people’s lives. Whether a project supported today with the potential for breakthrough innovation will truly take off will likely only become apparent in 10–15 years. Sven Müller discusses the criteria SPRIND uses to identify future potential and the conditions under which projects can thrive.
Starting at 6:45 p.m. – Panel Discussion
So, can we shape the future? Can we, as a society, lay the foundation today for how we will live together and work tomorrow? And what can we do—both individually and through our networks—to ensure that our shared future is truly worth living?
During the panel discussion, constructive, forward-looking, and even critical questions are encouraged: Are we currently moving in the right direction? The audience is invited to take this opportunity to voice their questions and concerns about the future—perhaps, together with our experts, we can find some new, surprising, and forward-looking answers.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. – Reception and Networking
All guests are cordially invited to a reception in a relaxed atmosphere. Take this opportunity to delve deeper into the topic through direct conversation and to strengthen your connections with companies, scientists, and political representatives.
Since the number of participants is limited, we ask that you register in advance at