Business leaders, technology experts, and policymakers gathered in Frankfurt to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of AI-driven industry in Germany and across Europe.
On June 25, LeverX hosted A New Era: How Europe's Industry Will Succeed with AI Applications in Frankfurt, bringing together business leaders, technology experts, policymakers, and industry professionals to discuss one of the defining questions facing organizations today: how to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven economy.
Held in one of Europe's leading financial and technology hubs, the event provided a platform for exchanging perspectives on innovation, digital transformation, industrial competitiveness, and the practical realities of AI adoption across business and society.
Throughout the evening, speakers and participants explored several key themes:
The program began with a series of keynote presentations that explored AI from business, industry, and public policy perspectives.
The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. Victor Lozinski, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at LeverX, who reflected on the rapid pace of technological change and its impact on business transformation. Drawing on LeverX's experience supporting digital transformation initiatives across industries, he emphasized that organizations are increasingly focused not on what AI might achieve in the future, but on where it can make a meaningful difference today.
As Dr. Lozinski noted, "The changes we are experiencing are nothing new. What is new is the speed of these changes. That creates enormous opportunities, but also uncertainty." His keynote highlighted that long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively organizations translate AI into practical business value.
In her opening remarks, Juliane Nagel, CEO of FORIMPACT GmbH, emphasized that artificial intelligence has become a strategic question for Europe's future.
"When we speak about AI, we are no longer talking about a future trend. We are talking about competitiveness, industrial sovereignty, and ultimately about where value creation will happen tomorrow in Germany and sustained for decades to come.," she said.
Juliane Nagel also highlighted Europe's unique strengths in the global AI landscape, noting that the continent's industrial expertise, engineering excellence, and established value chains provide a strong foundation for the next generation of AI-powered innovation.
The program continued with a keynote by Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Hessian Minister for Digitalization and Innovation, who emphasized Germany's commitment to strengthening digital innovation, fostering collaboration between government and industry, and creating the conditions for responsible AI adoption across the economy.
Following the keynote presentations, attendees moved on to a fireside chat moderated by Dr. Hauke Hansen, an Attorney and Partner at FPS Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. The discussion focused on the legal and regulatory implications of AI, the importance of responsible AI governance, and the evolving compliance landscape. Ferdinand Gehringer, Lead Defense & Security Director at FTI Consulting, shared his perspective on AI through the lens of resilience, security, and long-term strategic planning. Meanwhile, Christian Herold of Springer Nature discussed how AI is transforming knowledge work and highlighted the importance of employee adoption and change management.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Tamara Braun, Managing Partner at LeverX. The discussion brought together Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus and experts from enterprise software, manufacturing, energy, publishing, and consulting to share practical perspectives on enterprise AI adoption.
Anja Schneider, SVP and Head of Customer Engagement & Adoption MEE at SAP SE, discussed how organizations are scaling AI adoption by combining cloud technologies with trusted business data. Georg Rollmann, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at Siemens Energy, shared insights into integrating AI into complex industrial environments. Thomas Meinel, Senior Vice President and Head of Indirect Procurement at Evonik, reflected on the practical application of AI in procurement and enterprise operations, while Dr. Andreas Schwarzer, Vice President Digital Strategy, Governance & PMO at FUCHS SE, emphasized the importance of governance and organizational readiness for successful AI adoption.
Although the speakers represented different industries and disciplines, a common message emerged throughout the discussions: Successful AI adoption depends on much more than technology. High-quality data, trusted governance, scalable infrastructure, and people prepared to embrace change are equally important for turning AI into measurable business value.
Summarizing the evening, Juliane Nagel emphasized the importance of cooperation in turning AI ambitions into real-world outcomes.
"One thing became very clear this evening: Meaningful progress depends on collaboration," she concluded.
As the discussions throughout the evening demonstrated, Europe's competitiveness in the AI era will depend not only on technological innovation but also on collaboration across business, government, academia, and society. Organizations that combine innovation with execution and invest in people, data, and trusted AI foundations will be best positioned to succeed in the years ahead.