The Saxon Innovation Conference 2025
The entire Saxon innovation ecosystem united in one place for one day.
The Saxon Innovation Conference 2025 showed how Saxony is mastering the challenges of the future as a science and deep tech location.
With impulses on topics such as technology and capital transfer, artificial intelligence, leadership communication and EdTech, the conference offered practical approaches to make companies fit for the future.
Inspiring keynotes, exciting trends and concrete solutions for sustainable transformation. Cross-regional networking, targeted matches and a look at the goals for 2030 made the conference a platform for all those who shape innovation - in Saxony and beyond.
These were the highlights at #IK25:
The speakers 2025
We brought key players to Dresden for the Innovation Conference 2025.
Former speakers
Carsten Schneider, Member of the Bundestag
Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany
Larissa Zeichhardt
CEO
LAT Group
Dr. Julian De Grahl
CEO
spread.net
Vanessa Cann
Co-founder
nyonic
Dr. Christian Bogatu
Investment Advisor
SPRIND - Federal Agency for Leap Innovations
Katja Ruhnke
Managing Director
CK Venture Capital
Svenja Lassen
Managing Director Germany
Gateway Ventures
Markus H. Michalow
Managing Director
Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen / Bürgschaftsbank Sachsen
Michael Kretschmer
Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony
Martin Dulig
Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport (from 2014 to 2024)
Tijen Onaran
Entrepreneur & investor
Maria Piechnick
Co-Founder
wandelbots
Prof. Dr. Günther Hasinger
Manager
German Center for Astrophysics
Matthias Helfrich
BA of the year 2021
Daniel Bock
Co-Founder & CEO
Morpheus Space
Gesche Weger
Co-Founder & CEO
pack:wise
André Lang
CEO
Norafin
Ben Erler
Co-Lead
Young Founders Network
Our stages 2025
Mainstage
Inspiration, innovation, future. There were fresh impulses and concrete approaches to make your company fit for tomorrow!
Award - Mainstage
The highlight of the Saxon Innovation Conference! Here, the best ideas and most outstanding achievements were honored with the Saxon State Awards for Founding, Transfer and Innovation.
Deep Talk Stage
The stage for perspectives and growth: The focus here was on the trends and challenges of our time - from women in tech to financing and growth strategies to personal mentoring.
Community Stage
The visionaries' stage: The focus here was on pitches and discussions that shed light on innovative approaches and best practices. From forward-looking start-up support and successful research exploitation to cross-industry collaborations.
Satellite Stage
Knowledge, exchange, impact. Here, our partners presented practical master classes and initiatives: Start2Group's kick-start program provided impetus for international success, and SINN - The Future Platform for Social Innovation in Saxony showcased offerings for socially innovative players.
The Saxon State Prizes for Foundations, Transfer and Innovation 2025
The Saxon State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection awards prizes to the best Saxon start-up concepts, transfer processes and innovative companies.
As part of #IK25, the participants will present their innovations in the futureSAX showcase. Take the opportunity to get to know the start-ups, projects and companies.
The awarding of the Saxon State Prizes is the highlight of the Saxon Innovation Conference.
Opinions on the #IK
I am so happy to be a guest at the Saxon Innovation Conference, because this is where it really comes alive. So much comes together here: Start-ups, SMEs, science and you can really feel how much energy is in the air here.
Larissa Zeichhardt, CEO, LAT Group
I think it's great how much is happening here in Saxony. I think there is hardly a conference here in Saxony that brings all the players together so strongly
Vanessa Cann, founder, nyonic
There's always something to do, always something to see. Everything is represented. I think it's really cool here.
Ben Erler, Co-Lead, Young Founders Network
So much entrepreneurial spirit, so much sparkling energy. It also gives me a lot of motivation and inspiration. Great stories and know-how.
Sylvia Michalk, Founder, Lanakila
The inspiring thing about today's event is that it brings together a lot of very different players in a very low-threshold way. You meet a lot of people you wouldn't have expected and suddenly new contacts are made, you see people you know and people you don't know. It's simply a great starting point.
Prof. Birgit Beckmann, Research Group Leader, TU Dresden
It's easy to see what's going on in Saxony when it comes to innovation and start-ups.
Lutz Maicher, Professor for Digitalized Business Processes and Models, HTWK Leipzig | Strategist, samarbeid
This was the Saxon
Innovation Conference 2024.
On June 19, 2024, the motto at Dresden Airport was: Clear the stage for #InnovationmadeinSaxony!
