On 28 January 2026, the 12th Innovation Forum on the topic of process automation took place at HTWK Leipzig.
Impetus for safe and intelligent systems
Automation is regarded as a key driver of efficiency and innovation. But how can this potential be utilised in practice? This question was the focus of the 12th Innovation Forum of Cluster IT Mitteldeutschland e.V., which took place on 28 January 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering at HTWK Leipzig. The event highlighted the role of the area.L initiative as an important platform for dialogue between regional industry and academic research.
Under the title "Impulses for safe and intelligent systems", players from business and science met - from Leipzig and Halle to Plauen and Dresden. The focus was less on theoretical visions of the future and more on the concrete networking of those involved. The co-operation showed its added value: the IT Central Germany cluster bundled the interests of the companies, while the HTWK with area.L as host opened up the space for specialist input. The aim was to break down silos and identify common points of contact for future projects.
The whole picture: Where computer science meets electrical engineering
A key aspect of the exchange was broadening the perspective. In the public debate, automation is often heavily dominated by software topics and computer science. The forum utilised the expertise of the Faculty of Engineering to complete the picture: The interfaces to hardware and electrical engineering are crucial for functioning systems.
The discussions made it clear that successful networking requires both worlds: Intelligent algorithms on the one hand and physical sensors, actuators and robust technology on the other. It was precisely at this interface that the event offered the opportunity to make contacts in order to combine software expertise with electrical engineering know-how.
Impulses as a basis for dialogue
Specialist impulses from science and practice provided the framework for the content. The focus was on two contributions that exemplified the wide range of topics:
Scientific perspective: Prof Dr Jörn Hoffmann (HTWK Leipzig) shed light on the challenges of networking - from the communication of individual components to the overall system - in his presentation "IT security and robotics".
Practical perspective: GISA GmbH presented "Automating SAP processes with RunMyJobs" to show how automation solutions can optimise processes in day-to-day business.
The lecture programme was rounded off with a look at data rooms and digital models (Johannes Braun, HTWK Leipzig). The main purpose of these impulses was to stimulate dialogue between the participants and find common ground for collaboration.
Dialogue instead of frontal teaching
In the afternoon, the participants exchanged ideas in an agile format. Instead of listening passively, they contributed their own questions in order to find partners to work with. The topics of this event included the joint development of criteria for AI readiness, an exchange on standards such as OPC UA in mechanical engineering and a discussion on safety aspects such as jamming in the robotics environment.
Conclusion: Dynamics through encounters
The 12th Innovation Forum was characterised by an open atmosphere and an honest exchange of knowledge. It became clear that the geographical and technical proximity between the IT cluster of Central Germany and the HTWK initiative area.L creates a valuable basis. It is not the technology alone, but the networking of the people behind it - from IT to electrical engineering - that is the key to effectively pooling regional expertise in automation.
