How can Europe secure its strategic sovereignty in energy, raw materials, and defence by 2030?

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Europe is at a critical turning point. Geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and rapid technological change are reshaping the industrial landscape and redefining what it means to be resilient and competitive. Energy security, access to critical raw materials, and defence capabilities are no longer separate issues - together, they form the foundation of Europe’s strategic sovereignty.

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At the INC Community Day, we will explore key questions, such as:

• How can Europe turn geopolitical pressure into industrial opportunity?
• How can Europe reduce strategic dependencies on critical materials and infrastructures?
• What industrial and technological capacities are essential for independency from rising energy cost?

Through focused discussions, networking, and hands-on workshops, we will identify actionable pathways toward a stronger, more independent Europe by 2030.

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Secure your spot now and join us in shaping the future of European sovereignty.

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Agenda for the day

‍09:30 AM
Welcome & Introduction

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‍09:55 AM
Competitive Manufacturing Through Physical AI – Are We Heading Toward a Humanoid Workforce?   |   Dr. Christoph Susen, WZL Aachen

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10:15 – 11:45 AM
Focus Session 1: Transformation paths for building competencies in the defense sector‍

• 10:15 AM – Entering Defence: The challenging path from the civilian sector into the defence industry   |    Stefan Lepers, SCHUMAG Precision
• 10:45 AM – The Power of Polymers: A lever for building new capabilities in the defense sector   |   Myron Graw, INC
• 11:05 AM – Production Capacity Platform: Approaches to efficiently scaling capacity through consolidation and digitalization   |   Patrick Kabasci, INC
• 11:25 AM – Interactive Challenge Session - Defense

11:45 AM
Lunch

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12:45 – 14:25 PM
Focus Session 2: Solutions for decoupling from the energy price explosion through self-sufficiency

• 12:45 PM – From heat pumps to hydrogen: Industry-specific, cost-effective solutions for the path to self-sufficiency   |   Frank Burkard & Daniel Führen, INC
• 13:15 PM – A stable supply despite raw material shortages: Digitalization as a lever for resilient energy systems   |   Kerim Schmitz, Currenta Conneqtive
• 13:35 PM – AI Powerhouse: Development prospects for the largest energy consumer of the future   |   Daniel Führen, INC
• 14:05 PM – Interactive Challenge Session - Energy

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14:25 – 15:45 PM
Focus Session 3: Strategies for solving dependencies in critical materials‍

• 14:25 PM – Strategic Materials: Where we expect them and where they surprise us   |   Ixchen Elias, INC
• 14:55 PM – Circular Electronics: Circularity and urban mining as goals for the electronics sector   |   Emma Gervasi, INC
• 15:25 PM – Interactive Challenge Session - Material

‍15:45 – 16:00 PM
Wrap-Up & Farewell

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‍We are looking forward to an insightful INC Community Day with you in Aachen!

_{Please note: This event will be held in German and will take place exclusively on site in Aachen.}