Plug and Play Tech Center

Welcome

Welcome Words by Plug and Play

Welcome to Startup Autobahn Expo, a leading platform for mobility tech collaboration. Sascha, a partner at Plug and Play, highlights the nine-year journey of connecting startups, OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers globally. Discover how this ecosystem drives innovation, tackling challenges like battery recycling, circularity, and component lifecycle tracing, and fostering impactful projects that integrate cutting-edge technology into the automotive industry and beyond.

Welcome

Welcome Words by Plug and Play

Join Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play, as he shares insights from his 20-year journey in startup investment and ecosystem building. Discover personal stories of early investments, the evolution of Plug and Play, and the strategic expansion into universities and smart city initiatives. Learn about the crucial role of collaboration between corporations, governments, and academic institutions in accelerating innovation and driving the future of technology, particularly in AI.

Panel

Designing the AI Experiences of the Future

Kaveri Camire, Gürcan Karakas and Saeed Amidi explore the dynamic collaboration between large corporations and nimble startups, particularly within the automotive sector. It highlights the mutual benefits, where corporations provide scalability and market access, while startups bring innovation and agility. The discussion delves into the transformative impact of AI and automation on the workforce, emphasizing AI's potential to boost productivity and create new job opportunities. The speakers advocate for embracing technological advancements and adapting to change to ensure future growth and competitiveness in a globally shifting economic landscape. They also identify crucial future-proof skills such as execution and relationship building.

Welcome

Stage Opening & Agenda of the Day

Welcome to the outdoor "startup stage" at expo2025, hosted by Roberto and Raul from the ventures team at Startup Autobahn Plug and Play. They will be showcasing various startups, including those from Canada, the European Innovation Council, and companies focusing on mobility, enterprise production, and sustainability. The event will also feature the Smart Mobility Accelerator.

Welcome

Stage Opening & Agenda of the Day

Topic Deep Dive

Introduction "Heavy Duty: Resilience at Scale"

Plug and Play is introducing the "heavy duty" sector, emphasizing its critical role as the backbone of the economy. The speaker highlights current challenges such as climate regulations, supply chain disruptions, and a driver shortage, alongside rapid innovation. The discussion focuses on open innovation and venture clienting as key opportunities for corporations to collaborate with startups, transforming challenges into competitive advantages. It also touches on investment trends in logistics startups and the rise of software-defined trucks, autonomous driving, and smart materials.

Moderation

Introduction in Canada Startup Exchange

This is an introduction to five Canadian startups participating in a two-week virtual Global Overseas Accelerated Learning program. They are in Germany to experience the culture and engage in corporate connections and meetings. The startups will present one after another.

Overview

Introduction in European Innovation Council – Corporate Partnership Programs

Agnieszka from the European Innovation Council (EIC) explains that the EIC is a fund created by the European Commission to invest directly in deep-tech startups, providing grants and equity funding. The EIC aims to help European scientific innovations reach the market and connects companies with partners and investors. They are showcasing 10 EIC-funded companies.

Topic Deep Dive

Introduction "Novel AI: Powering Enterprise & Industry"

The presentation chronicles the evolution of AI, from early pattern recognition to the current "novel AI" era, marked by transformer models and the widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) since 2023. It notes that a significant percentage of U.S. businesses now utilize paid AI platforms, with OpenAI being a dominant tool. The speaker highlights AI's increasing integration into daily life, citing its adoption as a national right in the Emirates and its prevalence in technology, finance, and manufacturing industries. The discussion also covers the surge in venture capital funding for AI solutions globally. Looking ahead, the presentation explores key trends such as specialized LLMs, the emergence of AI agents, enhanced AI reasoning, the ongoing debate between open-source and closed-source AI, and the growing integration of AI into the physical world through embedded AI and robotics.

PNP Vertical Pitch, Keynote

From Strategy to Implementation: Best Practices for Running Successful Venture Clienting

Learn about Plug and Play's approach to open innovation and venture clienting, connecting corporations with startups to drive innovation. Discover how they help companies integrate new technologies efficiently and cost-effectively, and why a well-defined strategy, capabilities, and culture are crucial for successful innovation. Explore real-world examples, such as Mercedes-Benz using sustainable materials from startups, and find out about their innovation academy in Silicon Valley.

Fireside Chat, Topic Deep Dive

Introduction to the Collaboration Buckets and the topic of Data for Circular Business Ecosystems by DXC Technology

Gain insights into Plug and Play's "collaboration buckets," which foster innovation by connecting corporations for joint projects. Understand how they define shared goals and facilitate projects from conception to implementation. Hear from Henrik of DXC Technology about their collaboration bucket, which focuses on digital services for circular business ecosystems. Learn why a circular economy, extending beyond simple recycling, is vital for future competitiveness and how it creates superior business models by maximizing product lifecycles through repair, remanufacturing, and re-commerce. Discover the complexities of a circular economy and the necessity of shared digital services to accelerate and streamline the ecosystem.

Topic Deep Dive

Introduction "Software-Defined Vehicles: Intelligence on Wheels"

Roberto discusses the shift towards software-defined vehicles, highlighting the move from single ECUs to zone-based architectures and ultimately, "vehicle as a platform" concepts. He explains how over-the-air updates, continuous software development, and increased collaboration between automotive, smart home, and smart city industries are driving innovation. The presentation emphasizes that hardware and software are becoming decoupled, opening new possibilities for functionality and user experience. Roberto also mentions Plug and Play Tech Center's role in fostering these collaborations.

Panel

Circular Economy in the Automotive Industry

Delve into a collaborative project focused on increasing the use of recycled materials in vehicles, aiming for a car-to-car circularity vision. Discover the challenges and advantages of this ambitious goal, including the need for resilient European supply chains and environmental benefits. Hear from experts from AGC, Porsche, Motherson and Novelis on their roles and visions within this initiative, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, high-quality recycled materials, and "design to recycle" principles for plastics and aluminum. Learn how industrial-scale recycling solutions and a shift in mindset are crucial to achieving a more circular automotive industry.

PNP Vertical Pitch

PNP Nordics: Innovate, Engage, Invest

Discover Plug and Play Nordics, an innovation platform with offices in Hamburg, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. Learn how they connect corporations and the public sector with startups across various industries, including supply chain, advanced manufacturing, energy, real estate, and sustainable mobility. Explore practical examples of their collaborations with companies like Volvo Cars, KONE, Grundfos, and Amazon, as well as their work with governments to foster innovation and support startups. Find out about their investment in autonomous trucking company Einride and their insightful trend reports on advanced manufacturing.

Topic Deep Dive

Introduction "Robotics & AI: The Efficiency Engine"

Dive into the future of robotics and AI, exploring their role as an "efficiency engine." This deep dive, presented by Plug and Play and featuring Philip from the Institute of Applied AI, uncovers market drivers, patterns, and predictions for the next big advancements in robotics and AI. The discussion draws on quantitative analysis and collaborations with companies like Porsche and Siemens Energy.

Trend Report

Trend Report by Plug and Play

Uncover the latest trends and future predictions in robotics and AI. Presented by Plug and Play and Philip from the Institute of Applied AI, this session provides a deep dive into market drivers and advancements, drawing on quantitative analysis and collaborations with industry leaders.

PNP Vertical Pitch

Bavaria as center of Transformation: A Bridge between Local innovation and Global Reach

Explore the vibrant innovation ecosystem of Bavaria, a leading tech hub in Europe. Learn about Plug and Play Munich's role in accelerating over 230 startups and investing in 70 since 2018. Discover their focus on core industries like insurance, brand and retail, and healthcare, with case studies highlighting successful corporate-startup collaborations. Hear about their expansion into sports tech and upcoming events, including an esports branding event with Red Bull Gaming Garden and a cybersecurity discussion with Airbus Defense and Space.

PNP Vertical Pitch

Bringing Innovation to Life with Venture Building and Intrapreneurship

Discover the power of venture building and intrapreneurship in creating meaningful products and driving growth. Learn how companies like Apple have successfully built ecosystems around their initial value propositions, generating significant revenue from services like Apple Pay and Apple Care, even when these services fall outside their core capabilities. Explore how Plug and Play helps partners monetize existing assets, identify customer needs, and co-create new ventures with startups, as demonstrated by examples from the logistics and fragrance industries. Consider how you can leverage your intellectual property, data, and relationships to build new ecosystems and additional services.

Topic Deep Dive

Introduction "Sustainability by Design: Decarbonising the Industrial Core"

Explore "Sustainability by Design" and the effort to decarbonize the industrial core. A venture analyst from Plug and Play discusses the increasing regulatory pressure for sustainable materials and solutions, the need for more automated systems and digital twins, and the potential of climate mitigation technologies like carbon capture and green hydrogen. The segment also highlights the resurgence of nuclear energy with small modular reactors and emphasizes the crucial role of innovation, startup collaborations, and investment in climate tech to achieve a sustainable future by 2030.

PNP Vertical Pitch

Connected Skies: Cross-Border Collaboration as a Catalyst for Aviation Innovation

Explore Plug and Play Austria's unique aviation hub, connecting airports, airlines, and OEMs like Airbus to drive innovation. Learn why collaboration is essential in the aviation industry due to inherent interdependencies and a traditional focus on security over rapid innovation. Discover the "hair-burning problems" facing global aviation, including labor shortages, increased traffic, and climate change, and how these challenges necessitate a collaborative approach. Hear about the crucial role of network effects, data sharing, and risk sharing in fostering an open culture and accelerating solutions in areas like robotics, hyper-personalization, maintenance, and baggage handling.

Moderation

Outdoor Stage Closing