
Thinking Machines Ahead
How Autonomous Systems will Transform the Way we Work.- 00 years
- 00 months
- 00 days
- 00 hours
- 00 minutes
- 00 seconds

This conference will highlight possible future developments of automated and autonomous work environments, such as university laboratories, agriculture, and healthcare. While automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, often following predefined rules and processes, autonomous systems are capable of making decisions independently, adapting to new situations without human input.
We will discuss emerging trends and how these technologies may evolve over the next decade. What changes can we expect in the collaboration between humans and machines? Will humans continue to play a central role, or could work environments be fully autonomously managed by machines?
In expert talks and a podium discussion, we will explore the future of autonomous systems, which promise to revolutionize industries by offering greater flexibility and decision-making capabilities. These systems have the potential to transform our daily lives and society at large, far beyond what traditional automation can achieve. Join us for this engaging discussion about the future of work and the transformative power of both automation and autonomous systems.
Agenda
The conference will take place on 19th November, with a day of informative sessions, engaging discussions and valuable networking opportunities. After the conference we will be hosting a series of workshops centered around the ZEISS Catalyst Program. Invitations to these workshops will be sent separately.
Please note that this agenda might be subject to change.
ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT
November 19th 2025 | Agenda
12:00 - 13:00 |
Registration & welcome lunch |
---|---|
13:00 - 13:10 |
Welcome & introduction to the conference |
13:10 - 13:20 |
Viewing back on 5 Years of the Innovation Hub |
13:20 - 14:00 |
Keynote - the Future of Computing |
14:00 - 14:30 |
The Future of Robotics in AgTech |
14:30 - 15:00 |
Coffee break |
15:00 - 15:30 |
Physical AI for the Next Wave of Industrial Digitalization and Robotics |
15:30 - 16:00 |
The Future of Life Science Automation |
16:00 - 16:30 |
How will Automation transform the Way we work |
16:30 - 17:15 |
Panel Discussion: Automation - Curse or Blessing? |
17:30 - 18:30 |
Tour through the ZEISS Innovation Hub |
17:30 - 20:00 |
Dinner & Networking |
Speaker

Dr. Timo Kistner
EMEA Industry Lead for Manufacturing and Industrial at NVIDIATimo is the EMEA Industry Lead for Manufacturing and Industrial at NVIDIA based in Munich. In this role, Timo drives NVIDIA’s business with companies in this sector, including, e.g., semiconductor, industrial automation and aerospace. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Timo was leading Manufacturing Solutions at Google Cloud in EMEA. Before that, Timo was a Partner at Siemens Management Consulting in Munich and Beijing with a focus on discrete and process manufacturing. Timo holds a doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from the University of Karlsruhe.

Erik Pekkeriet
Programme Manager for Vision + Robotics at Wageningen University and ResearchErik is Programme Manager Vision + Robot at Wageningen University and Research. He started is career as Mechanical Engineer at a Philips production plant and moved from there via a horti-tech branch organization to Wageningen. As programme manager he manages the Vision + Robotics project portfolio with a team op 60 researchers at the applied side of V+R solutions in B2B and Public Private Partnerships. Next to his daily word he is also: chair of the topicgroup on Agricultural Robotics at EU Robotics; Chair of topicgroup Greenhouse Horticultuire at the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Techniek in de Landbouw (Dutch Society of Technology in Agriculture), network coordinator at the European agROBOfood network and project leader of the Dutch NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood program.

Matthias Peissner
Director and head of the Human-Technology Interaction research area at Fraunhofer IAODirector and head of research area Human-Technology Interaction at Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. His interdisciplinary teams work on solutions that enable efficient interaction between people and intelligent technology. His work focuses on adaptive systems, future work environments and the design of positive user experiences. He coordinates the AI Innovation Center "Learning Systems and Cognitive Robotics", the applied branch of the Cyber Valley ecosystem to transfer machine learning technologies into commercial use. For the human-oriented design of future work with AI, he is involved in Germany’s "Plattform Lernende Systeme" and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI).
Location & Direction
How to get to ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT
Register now
Please note that there are limited seats available, therefore your registration is binding after you have received a confirmation.
FAQs
-
The conference will start at 1pm on 19th of November, including keynote speakers and reception, followed by informative sessions, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities. On November 20, we will be hosting a series of workshops centered around the ZEISS Catalyst Program. Invitations to these workshops will be sent separately.
-
You are warmly invited to register for our conference at the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT on November 19th. If there are available spots, we are looking forward to getting to know you!
-
The conference will be held in English.
-
No, the event is free of charge. However, please note that participation requires prior registration.
-
Depending on how close to the event location you would like to stay, we can recommend the following hotels:
-
In case you are staying in Karlsruhe city, we recommend taking public transport which includes tram and bus to the stop "KIT-Campus Nord Südtor". Alternative options are the KIT shuttle or a taxi.