Where Saxony shapes the future.
Innovation doesn’t happen alone.
New technologies need companies to put them to use. Good ideas need partners and capital. And growth requires connections across borders.
#IK27 brings together innovative companies, startups, researchers, and investors in Leipzig. As the closing day of the EBAN Congress 2027, it connects Saxony’s innovative strength with European innovation and investment networks.
Discover new solutions, learn from real-world examples, and make connections for collaborations, financing, and international markets.
What to Expect.
More Than Just a Conference.
-
Inspiration for Your Business
Keynotes, panel discussions, and workshops provide real-world examples and fresh perspectives on innovation, transformation, and growth. -
Connections Across Borders
Meet companies, startups, researchers, and investors from Saxony, Germany, and international partner networks. -
Hands-On Innovation
Discover technologies, prototypes, and new business models, and engage in conversation with the teams behind them. -
Opportunities for concrete collaborations
Take advantage of curated matchmaking sessions to meet potential partners for development, application, and financing. -
Startups and Technology Transfer in the Spotlight
The ceremony for the Saxon State Awards for Startup and Technology Transfer serves as the festive conclusion.
People on Stage
Perspectives That Move Us Forward.
Insights from business, research, and startups meet perspectives from European innovation and investment networks. The focus: new technologies, successful collaboration, and the next steps for growth and transformation.
Here are some of the speakers at #IK26:
Michael Kretschmer
Prime Minister of Saxony
Christiane Bach-Kaienburg
Managing Director | TransferAllianz
Richard Fankhänel
CEO | SpeechMind
Dr. Thomas Ramge
Podcast Host | SPRIN-D
Philipp Amthor
Parliamentary State Secretary
Florian Arndt
Managing Director | Sons of Motion Pictures
Dr. Tanja Jovanovic
Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer | Bayern Innovativ
Dr. Ronald Bernstein
Managing Director | BERGI-PLAST
Dirk Panter
Saxon Minister of State | SMWA
Markus H. Michalow
Managing Director | Bürgschaftsbank Sachsen
Pierre Beer
CEO | GETT.GERMANY
Annahita Esmailzadeh
Tech Leader & Bestselling Author
Kärt Klein
Project LeadEstonian PE and VC Association
Marko Popovic
Senior Project Manager | Creative Industry Košice
Alina Bassi
Principal | Ananda Ventures
Giulia Nunes Loewe
Chapter Lead Munich | Young Founders Network
Sebastian Scheel
State Secretary and Head of Office | SMWA
Rainer Birkenbach
CEO | Brainlab
Thomas Speck
CIO | TRUMPF
Katharina Zieße Suari
Board Member | Young Founders Network
Partners & Investments
Making it possible together.
#IK27 connects innovative companies, research institutions, and investors from Saxony with European networks. Companies, institutions, and network partners can help shape the event and create opportunities for new connections and collaborations.
A Look Back at the #IK
In recent years, the Saxon Innovation Conference has evolved from a specialized gathering into one of the largest innovation hubs in Saxony. Every year, more stakeholders from the startup scene, business, academia, and the investment community come together to jointly shape the next steps for innovation in the Free State of Saxony.
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
Frequently asked questions
When and where will #IK27 take place?
What does participation cost?
How is #IK27 related to the EBAN Congress?
In which languages will the conference be held?
Will there be an event app?
How is accessibility supported?
Contact
Do you have questions about the Innovation Conference, the program, or ways to get involved? Feel free to contact our team directly.
General questions about the Innovation Conference
For organizational matters, program information, or general inquiries about the Innovation Conference.
innovationskonferenz@futuresax.de