How can mobility and transportation become both cleaner and safer in the future, leverage new technologies, and remain efficient? How do new solutions move from research to practical application? These were the questions addressed at the Thuringian Mobility Forum 2026, which was jointly organized by the Thuringian Center for Innovation in Mobility at the TU Ilmenau, the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH-MID) at the Bauhaus University Weimar, and LEG Thüringen, with support from Regional Management Thüringer Bogen. Under the motto “Vision Zero: Clean Mobility. Safe Travel,” more than 160 representatives from academia, business, politics, and the field, along with around 30 exhibitors, gathered on October 1 at the Festhalle in Ilmenau.
Transfer
Clean and safe mobility – how do we make it happen?
The Thuringia Mobility Forum 2026 discusses ways to achieve mobility that is both safe and environmentally friendly
“This year’s theme clearly illustrates what the future of mobility is all about,” said Thuringia’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Colette Boos-John, in her opening remarks.
Behind this theme lie major changes: Vehicles are becoming more electric. They are becoming more connected and increasingly automated. At the same time, production processes – and thus entire value chains – are changing.
The Thuringian automotive industry is also feeling the impact. “However, its breadth provides a strong foundation, especially now that the industry is changing.” It was therefore crucial that research and industry come together to turn new technologies into concrete applications. “This is precisely where change becomes an opportunity.”
Thuringia as a model region for autonomous driving
Dr. Tobias J. Knoblich, State Secretary and Head of the Thuringian Ministry of Digital Affairs and Infrastructure, also highlighted the opportunities presented by the transition to electric propulsion, digitalization, and automation: “This will reduce dependence on oil, protect the environment, strengthen Germany as a business location, and increase safety.”
Despite ambitious climate goals, greenhouse gas emissions in Germany have fallen only marginally since 1990 and now account for more than 22% of total emissions. In addition, sharply rising costs for personnel, fuel, and operating expenses in private transportation and public transit are taking a toll, which – especially for people in rural areas – does not always give them the freedom to choose between different mobility options.
This makes it all the more encouraging that digitalization and automation have gained momentum rapidly in recent years, Dr. Knoblich highlighted:
The development and deployment of driverless vehicles are no longer just a vision of the future. This is demonstrated, for example, by the Robobus and the extensive research projects of the Thuringian Center for Innovation in Mobility and the Bauhaus University Weimar.
However, these developments do not simply happen on their own, Dr. Knoblich emphasized:
These transformative processes require intensive preparation, tailored funding, a healthy dose of creativity, and the courage to try new approaches. That is precisely why I am committed to making Thuringia a model region for autonomous driving.
Developing Solutions Together for the People
As representatives of the Ilm District and the city of Ilmenau, First Deputy Alderman Kay Tischer and Mayor Dr. Daniel Schultheiß also focused on the people in the region: “One of our core priorities is to make mobility accessible to everyone – every man and every woman – and to create options that are actually useful,” said Kay Tischer.
ThIMo Director Prof. Dr. Matthias Hein described the opportunity to network even more closely with one another at the Thuringian Mobility Forum, with these opportunities and challenges in mind, as a unique opportunity:
We are in a very exciting time of mobility and transportation transformation, in which the need to shape the future of public transit is greater than ever before. At the same time, the technologies are more advanced than ever before. The forum therefore offers an excellent platform for engaging in dialogue, generating new ideas, and developing partnerships.
Various projects from academia and industry demonstrated what this might look like in practice. In his presentation, Thomas Kraus of PWP Systems GmbH outlined, among other things, approaches to environmentally oriented traffic management in Erfurt, as well as the BMFTR-funded project “Mobility Network for Sustainable Rural Living Spaces” (MOVEwell for short), which involves the establishment of the AVF Competence Center in Thuringia. Dr. Sanwardhini Pantawanevon of Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH presented the CONTROL collaborative project, funded by the BMWE, which is part of the VDA’s flagship initiative “Autonomous Driving” and focuses on reliable sensor data for safe, highly automated transportation systems.
Developing technologically sound and practically applicable solutions in collaboration with partners from academia and industry, transferring findings from the laboratory into practice, and supporting companies – particularly in the automotive and supplier industries – through their transformation, was also described by University President Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Sattler as an important task and the “third mission” of the TU Ilmenau:
No mobility is not a solution either. I am absolutely certain that this event can help us take a step forward together.
The Automotive Industry in Transition
The keynote address by Andreas Rade, Managing Director of the “Politics and Society” division at the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), highlighted how this transformation is already shaping the automotive industry today and what challenges it entails. The focus was on the changes that are presenting not only manufacturers but also suppliers and small and medium-sized enterprises with new technological and economic challenges.
Susanne Schulz from the federal government’s Autobahn GmbH demonstrated just how closely vehicles and infrastructure will need to interact in the future. When it comes to automated driving, she explained, it is not enough to simply equip vehicles with high-performance sensors. Roads, traffic management systems, and communication infrastructures would also become part of the transportation system. Connected mobility could thus create new opportunities for traffic management and road safety, but at the same time places high demands on data, technology, and infrastructure.
Clean mobility is more than just electric mobility
The keynote address by Dr. Ingo Düring, an air quality expert from the Saxony Chamber of Engineers, explored the question of how transportation can be made more environmentally friendly. It became clear that sustainable mobility does not begin and end with the powertrain. In addition to exhaust emissions, tire wear, brake dust, and road wear also play a role. At the same time, ensuring traffic flows as smoothly as possible can help reduce pollution. Digital technologies also offer new possibilities here for monitoring traffic flows and managing them more effectively.
Anke Koller, Head of the Department for Traffic Development and Mobility Strategy at the Hamburg Authority for Transportation and Mobility Transition, impressively illustrated how mobility and traffic are evolving in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg using concrete examples of urban development and traffic space planning.
Alexander Moser-Haase, Head of the Policy and Transportation Division at the German Road Safety Council (Deutscher Verkehrssicherheitsrat e. V.), focused on traffic safety. In his presentation, he viewed “Vision Zero” as both an innovation and a risk management strategy: a safe transportation system must, among other things, account for human error. Hazards must be identified early, risks reduced through preventive measures, and errors mitigated through multiple layers of protection.
"Vision Zero" is a guiding vision and by no means a utopia
In the afternoon, the Network Forum provided a space for direct exchange. About 30 companies and startups presented their developments, while ThIMo and other research and industry partners showcased current research projects and vehicles.
The diverse program concluded with a panel discussion featuring Andreas Rade, Anke Koller, Dr. Ingo Düring, Susanne Schulz, and Alexander Moser-Haas. The focus was on the topic “Mobility and Transportation Caught Between Globalization, Transformation, and Sovereignty: Can We Achieve the Turnaround?”, which was examined from the different perspectives of companies, a major city, transportation systems, traffic safety, and environmental protection. In response to moderator Matthias Hein’s closing question, all participants agreed: “Vision Zero” is a guiding vision and by no means a utopia.
The Thuringian Mobility Forum thus made it clear: The mobility of the future will not be driven by a single technology. Electric mobility, automated driving, digital infrastructure, and intelligent traffic control must work together. It is crucial to bring together research, business, politics, and practical application.
“It will be crucial to translate scientific expertise and industrial experience into economic and municipal implementation in order to bring innovations from the laboratory into practical application,” said Matthias Hein.
Open dialogue among all stakeholders, political will, perseverance, and a goal-oriented commitment to responsibility are essential elements for successfully navigating the mobility and transportation transition.
Highlights from the Thuringian Mobility Forum 2026
Contact
Prof. Matthias Hein
Direktor Thüringer Innovationszentrum Mobilität