Event Details:
- Event Start: 04/16/2026 · 02:00 PM CET
- Event End: 04/16/2026 · 04:00 PM CET
- Location: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131 Karlsruhe (TBC)
- Language: English
- Tickets: Free
Are you interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the American innovation landscape—particularly the Midwest region centered around the Chicago metropolitan area—expanding your network, or connecting with potential U.S. partners from industry and research? Then this Interactive Transatlantic Collaboration Session offers a unique opportunity. A delegation of senior representatives from the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) and World Business Chicago (WBC) will visit Karlsruhe to experience the regional innovation ecosystem and engage directly with German companies, research institutions, and technology partners.
At the core of the session are personal dialogue and a deeper mutual understanding of the two economic regions—with a particular focus on industrial AI, automation, digital twins, and applications in manufacturing, logistics, and smart infrastructure. As a German organization, this event offers you the chance to showcase your expertise, ask questions about the U.S. innovation environment, and establish initial direct connections with representatives from the Chicago ecosystem.
Program Highlights:
- Opening & Networking Kickoff: Overview of new collaboration and funding opportunities between WBC / GCEP and the State of Hessen
- Regional Pitches: Short insights from the U.S. delegation on innovation potentials and economic opportunities in the Chicago region
- Practical Dialogue: Experience report from a German company that has successfully expanded into Greater Chicagoland
- Open Networking: Opportunity for informal discussions, questions, and initial cooperation talks
- (Optional) Individual Meetings: Possibility to engage in one-on-one conversations with specific representatives
Key Takeaways for Participants:
- Direct access to decision-makers from the Chicago technology and business community
- Insights into concrete market opportunities in the U.S., especially in hightech industries
- Understanding of frameworks, contacts, and support structures that facilitate engaging with the U.S. market
- Opportunities to present and discuss your own technologies and competencies
- Inspiration for joint projects in industrial AI, automation, digital twins, and smart industrial applications
- Strengthening of transatlantic networks with a focus on applied research and industrial technology transfer