The HANNOVER MESSE Center Stage is becoming an absolute must-attend event – a stage program you simply must experience!
Around 80 outstanding speakers from all over the world will step into the spotlight here, turning the Center Stage into a unique place filled with inspiration, vision, and genuine moments of the future. Thought leaders, leading minds from business, science, and politics, as well as bold innovators, will not only share their success stories – they will show how the industry of tomorrow is already taking shape today. Anyone attending will gain exclusive insights, concentrated practical knowledge, and pioneering impulses firsthand. The Center Stage is more than just a program item – it is the place where ideas spark, perspectives emerge, and the future of industry becomes tangible.
AI in Industry
Monday, April 20, 2026 | 12:00 – 17:30 Europe on the Rise
The global race for computing power, data spaces, and AI expertise will determine the industrial value creation of tomorrow. Europe’s response is ambitious: sovereign AI infrastructures, interoperable data spaces, and industrial application expertise are intended to drive the digital breakthrough – supported by policymakers, industry, and international partnerships.
The conference brings together leading figures from politics, business, research, and industry to define Europe’s role in the AI race and make concrete implementation steps in industrial practice visible.
Top speakers:
- Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor
- Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence
- Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister, Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization
- Dorothee Baer, Federal Minister, Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space
- Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
- Gunther Kegel, President of ZVEI
- Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO Schaeffler
- Florence Verzelen, Executive Vice-President Dassault Systèmes
- Julie Sweet, CEO Accenture
- Bernie Wagner, CEO Schwarz Digits
- Rev Lebaredian, Vice President, NVIDIA
- Roland Busch, CEO Siemens
- Christian Klein, CEO SAP
- Daniel Metzler, CEO Isar Aerospace
Automotive Transformation
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 10:00 – 13:30 Realignment of a Key Industry
Climate policy requirements, disruptive technologies, and global value chains are fundamentally reshaping the automotive industry. At the same time, pressure is growing to combine resilience, sustainability, and digital innovative strength. Manufacturers and suppliers are transforming into software-driven mobility providers, while new players are reorganizing the market and regulatory frameworks are being redefined.
The discussion will focus on the key technological and industrial policy decisions needed to make Europe’s automotive industry fit for the future – economically strong, environmentally sustainable, and digitally sovereign.
Top speakers:
- Adrian Bron, Partner and Leader of Advanced Manufacturing & Services for DACH Bain & Company
- Michael Schretler, Senior Partner Bain & Company Bain & Company
- Timo Kistner, EMEA Industry Lead for Manufacturing and Industrial NVIDIA
- John, Lervik Founder Cognite
- Oliver Steil, CEO TeamViewer
- Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO, Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
- Florian Lechner, Head of Digital Production and Logistics Volkswagen
- Ozgur Tohumcu, General Manager Automotive & Manufacturing Amazon Web Services
Security, Defense & Industrial Transformation
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 14:00 – 17:30 Geopolitics and Strategic Realignment
The security policy situation is changing rapidly – with direct consequences for industry and defense. The Bundeswehr and the defense industry must adapt their strategies to safeguard sovereignty and operational readiness. Industrial companies are increasingly transforming into providers of security-relevant products and technologies, while the political framework is continuously being redefined.
The focus will be on questions of European procurement, dual-use applications, and resilient supply chains. The goal is to bring together decision-makers from NATO, the EU, the Bundeswehr, and industry, and to shape the alliance between industrial strength and Europe’s defense capability.
Top speakers:
- Christian Freuding, Inspector of the Army (rank: Lieutenant General) Bundeswehr
- Armin Papperger, CEO Rheinmetall AG
- Marc Wietfeld, CEO Arx Robotics
- Michael Schöllhorn, Chief Executive Officer Airbus Defence and Space
- Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support
- P Jan Hesthaven, President of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Next-Gen Energy
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 10:00 – 13:30 AI as a Driver of Energy Systems
The energy transition is one of the greatest transformation challenges of our time – with enormous implications for business, society, and industry.
Among other topics, the panels will examine self-managing grids that use AI to prevent outages and optimize energy flows, multi-day storage as a key to industrial energy independence, and the scaling of quantum computing in energy systems.
Global perspectives from Europe, China, India, and the United States show how industry and energy supply can be made future-ready through technological leaps.
Top speakers:
- Alexander Seitz, Executive Chairman Volkswagen Group South America Region
- Ulrich Leidecker, Chief Operating Officer/Spokesman of the Executive Board Phoenix Contact GmbH & KG
- Heike Riel, Head Quantum & AI Technologies IBM Research
- Regev Yativ, Chief Revenue Officer CLASSIQ
- Stefan Mecha, Chairman of the Board / CEO Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Humanoid Robots
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 14:00 – 17:30 The Future of Industrial Production
The industrial world is facing a turning point – and humanoid robots have the potential to become the centerpiece of this transformation.
Wherever flexibility, interaction with the environment, and safety are crucial, they can take on repetitive, physically demanding, or dangerous tasks. At the same time, they still face limitations today – for example in endurance, dexterity, cost, and robustness. Whether humanoid robots will prevail depends on how quickly technological, economic, and regulatory barriers can be overcome.
In keynotes, panel discussions, and live demonstrations, experts will provide technical insights, showcase practical examples, and share their visions for the future.
Top speakers:
- Dr.-Ing. Karsten Lemmer, Executive Board Member for Innovation, Technology Transfer and Research Infrastructure German Aerospace Center (DLR)
- Dr.-Ing. Alin Albu-Schaeffer, Director of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, German Aerospace Center
- Rev Lebaredian, Vice President, Omniverse and Simulation Technology NVIDIA
- Ulrich Homann, CVP & Distinguished Architect Microsoft Corporation
- Lara Sophie Bothur, Global Tech Translator & Influencer
- Olaf Lies, Minister-President of Lower Saxony
- Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice-President Production Network, Supply Chain Management and Logistics BMW Group
- Rory Sexton, Executive Director Agile Robots
- Dr.-Ing. Alexander Schoenmann, Professor of Industrial Engineering Technical University of Applied Sciences Ingolstadt
- Kal Mos, Executive Vice President Siemens Foundational Technologies
AI & Automation Best Practices
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 10:00 – 13:30 Experience Innovation, Unlock Potential
How are global companies such as Claas, Merck, and ON AG using AI and automation in production – and what challenges did they have to overcome? Leading brands will provide exclusive insights on the Center Stage into their strategies, solutions, and experiences with data-driven, automated production processes.
The focus is on real-world use cases – from AI-supported quality assurance and intelligent production control to automated logistics processes. It becomes clear how investments pay off, especially against the backdrop of current investment packages and government funding programs, how technology transfer succeeds, and which structures are needed to anchor innovation sustainably.
Top speakers:
- Markus Hacker, Senior Regional Director Enterprise & Country Lead DACH NVIDIA
- Robin Tuluie, Founder & Chairman PhysicsX
- Ulrich Homann, CVP & Distinguished Architect Microsoft Corporation
- Jan Godesaer, Vice President Service Function Digitalization and Processes Manufacturing CLAAS
- David Graurock, Head of AI Competence Center Wilo SE
- Dr. Michelangelo Conzoneri, Global Head of Group Smart Manufacturing Merck KGaA
- Pablo Erat, Director LightSpray On AG
- Hans Krattenmacher, Management Board, Innovation Mechatronics SEW-EURODRIVE
Startup Innovation @ Industry
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 14:00 – 17:30 Founders Are Transforming Production
Young, innovative, disruptive: startups are bringing fresh ideas to industrial SMEs – from energy efficiency and digital twins to resilient supply chains. On the Center Stage, founders will show how they improve processes, strengthen sustainability, and establish new business models through smart technologies and agile methods.
Successful practical examples, reports from pilot projects, scale-ups, and partnerships with corporates show how innovation turns into growth. The discussion will also address which framework conditions young companies need – from funding programs and venture capital to accelerators – and how their potential can be translated quickly into industrial value creation.
Top speakers:
- Carsten Maschmeyer Founder & CEO Maschmeyer Group
- Nils Müller, Founder & CEO TRENDONE GmbH
- Frank Notz, CSO Festo SE & KG
- Verena Pausder, Chairwoman of the Startup Association
- Nicole Büttner, CEO Merantix
Tech meets Talent
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 10:00 – 14:30
How New Technologies Are Changing Our Work, Culture, and Skills Artificial intelligence, quantum research, space tech, and new working models confront us with fundamental questions: Which technologies will shape the future? Which skills will be needed – and how do we shape the working world of tomorrow?
International leading researchers will provide answers in keynotes, a high- profile panel on Work, Culture & Change, and interactive formats. The thematic arc ranges from robotics and AI to quantum technologies and space tech – always with a view to societal and economic impact.
Top speakers:
- Jacob Beautemps, YouTuberBreaking Lab
- Rabea Rogge, German astronaut
- Amy Webb, Founder and CEO Future Today Strategy Group
- Ranga Yogeshwar, science journalist and science communicator
- Juergen Schmidhuber, Scientific Director of the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA
- Gina Vargiu-Breuer, Chief People Officer SAP
- Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the Central and Corporate Works Council Volkswagen AG
- Yaël Meier, Co-Founder ZEAM
- Philipp Lahm, World Cup-winning captain, owner of Schneekoppe
- Kai Roemmelt, CEO Udacity
