At the it's OWL Transfer Day held at the Gütersloh district office, medium-sized companies, research institutions and politicians came together to discuss key future issues. How can innovation be achieved in ongoing operations, and what impetus is needed to achieve this?
inIT was represented at the event by Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg.
Practical transfer instead of theoretical concepts
Many companies are under pressure to innovate despite facing resource constraints. This is precisely where Transfer Day comes in, offering concrete ways to implement ideas rather than just abstract visions. Workshops and discussion rounds emphasised the importance of straightforward technologies, practical examples that are easy to understand, and quick entry options for SMEs.
Sharing knowledge, strengthening practice
For Prof. Dr. Volker Lohweg, Transfer Day sends a strong message to the region.
'Networking is key — not just as a technical term, but as an attitude. Innovation arises where people share their knowledge, encourage questions, and develop solutions together. Events such as the it's OWL Transfer Day provide the right framework for this.'
As a member of the inIT executive board and head of the Discrete Systems working group, he is working with colleagues from Campus OWL to introduce new approaches from industrial AI research as part of the AI Academy OWL's “AI for the Future of Industry” initiative – while also taking into account the needs of companies in practice.
Shaping future topics together
Whether AI applications in industry, sustainable product development, or new training formats: the breadth of topics covered during the day showed how closely future issues are interlinked. At the same time, it became clear that innovation can only become part of everyday life when the right conditions, expertise, and practical implementation come together.
Further insights into all sessions, voices, and examples
If you would like to delve deeper into the topic, you can find detailed coverage from it's OWL here: https://its-owl.de/news-events/news/its-owl-transfertag-wie-mittelstaendler-aus-fragen-konkrete-projekte-machen/