Conference program

September 3-4, 2025 | ECC Berlin

2-day conference program with masterminds from the rail industry

The motto of the conference program is "The future of the rail sector: shaping change together".

Four strategic pillars will be addressed on both days of the conference. The speakers' contributions will shed light on these topics:

Specialists and leadership

Digital railroad

Sustainability and new technologies

Supply chains of the future

Main Stage

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

(All presentations on the main stage will be simultaneously translated into English).

  • 08.00 - 09.00

    Check-in, first meetings and networking at the exhibition

    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
  • 09.00 - 09.20Opening (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    Opening
    Opening, greetings and networking kick-off



    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    Sarah Stark
    Managing Director, German Railway Industry Association
    Sarah Stark
    Managing Director, German Railway Industry Association
  • 09.20 - 09.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Political greeting



  • 09.40 - 10.00Sustainable technologies (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Transforming Mobility: Pioneering the Future of Green Transportation

    Henri Poupart-Lafarge
    CEO, Alstom
    Henri Poupart-Lafarge
    CEO, Alstom
  • 10.00 - 10.20Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Digital and sustainable supply chains: Why we need to achieve them



  • 10.20 - 10.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    The DB Group's technology strategy

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 10.40 - 11.20

    Coffee break with networking in the exhibition

  • 11.20 - 11.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Generative AI in the rail sector: where are we already training systems for the future?



  • 11.40 - 12.30Specialists and leadership (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    The future of work in the rail sector: recruiting and retaining talent as a strategic task

    Nadine Korell
    Director Industrial Sales Central & East Europe and Distribution Business EMEA, SKF GmbH
    Nadine Korell
    Director Industrial Sales Central & East Europe and Distribution Business EMEA, SKF GmbH




  • 12.30 - 12.50Specialists and leadership (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Recruiting skilled workers in the rail sector: best practices and experiences

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 12.50 - 13.50

    Networking lunch in the exhibition

  • 13.50 - 14.30Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Global turbulence, political challenges and a stable (global) supply chain

    Jan Christoph Harder
    President Region West, Å KODA Group
    Jan Christoph Harder
    President Region West, Å KODA Group
    Dr. Arne Gausepohl
    Managing Director, OHB Digital
    Dr. Arne Gausepohl
    Managing Director, OHB Digital




  • 14.30 - 14.50Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Cybersecurity in the rail sector: how do we protect IT and OT?

    Patric Birr
    Head of Business Center Security, Informatik Consulting Systems GmbH
    Patric Birr
    Head of Business Center Security, Informatik Consulting Systems GmbH
  • 14.50 - 15.30Mixed topics (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    COMPANY INSIGHTS
    Expert speeches





    EULYNX-compliant Wayside Object Controllers in Railway Signaling
    Florian Einböck
    Product Manager FAdC® & EULYNX, Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH
    EULYNX-compliant Wayside Object Controllers in Railway Signaling
    Florian Einböck
    Product Manager FAdC® & EULYNX, Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH


  • 15.30 - 15.45

    Railsponsible Award

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 15.45 - 16.15

    Coffee break with networking in the exhibition

  • 16.15 - 18.00

    Executive Workshops & DB Roundtable

  • 18.00 - 18.30

    Champagne reception and networking in the exhibition

  • From 18.30

    Festive evening reception & dinner speech

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG

Thursday - September 04, 2025

(All presentations on the main stage will be simultaneously translated into English).

  • 08.00 - 09.00


    Check-in, first meetings and networking at the exhibition

    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
  • 09.00 - 09.10Opening (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)


    Opening & Recap Day 1

  • 09.10 - 09.30Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Strengthening European and trans-Eurasian corridors in freight transport

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 09.30 - 09.50Specialists and leadership (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Leadership 4.0 and new (digital) leadership roles

  • 09.50 - 10.30Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    Sustainable procurement: why it is needed more than ever

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG


  • 10.30 - 10.50

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Let's empty the warehouses: manufacturing on demand in rail

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 10.50 - 11.40

    Coffee break and networking in the exhibition

  • 11.40 - 12.00

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    The future of mobility: prospects for regional transport

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 12.00 - 12.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    Why rail manufacturers/suppliers need to transform themselves into software-driven companies

    Holger Pütz
    CEO, voestalpine Signaling Sainerholz GmbH
    Holger Pütz
    CEO, voestalpine Signaling Sainerholz GmbH
    Dr. Michael Holzapfel
    Senior Vice President Business Unit Rail - Industrial Europe, Schaeffler
    Dr. Michael Holzapfel
    Senior Vice President Business Unit Rail - Industrial Europe, Schaeffler
  • 12.40 - 13.10Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    The future of rail infrastructure: expansion, modernization and financing

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 13.10 - 14.10


    Lunch and visit to the exhibition

  • 14.10 - 14.50Sustainable technologies (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    On the way to the Europe Act: Connecting 230 major cities to the HSR every hour - what is needed?

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG




  • 14.50 - 14.55


    Take-aways and farewell

Innovation Stage

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

  • 13.50 - 14.10Digital railroad (🇩🇪)

    LECTURE
    Steel in the rail industry: How to optimize the CO2 footprint of a core raw material in the industry?

    Han Sterk
    Product Area Manager Rail, Lankhorst Engineered Products
    Han Sterk
    Product Area Manager Rail, Lankhorst Engineered Products
  • 14.10 - 14.30

    LECTURE
    IT platforms, microcomputing and clouds: what does the rail industry need for better operations?

  • 14.30 - 15.40Mixed topics (🇩🇪)

    COMPANY INSIGHTS
    Expert speeches

    14.30 - 14.40
    COMPANY INSIGHTS 1
    Renate Bay
    Managing Director, ASC GmbH
    14.30 - 14.40
    COMPANY INSIGHTS 1
    Renate Bay
    Managing Director, ASC GmbH
    14.40 - 14.50
    The digital mapping of the track with centrak
    Nadja Jungwirth
    Managing Director, voestalpine Rail Technology GmbH
    14.40 - 14.50
    The digital mapping of the track with centrak
    Nadja Jungwirth
    Managing Director, voestalpine Rail Technology GmbH
    14.50 - 15.00
    COMPANY INSIGHTS 3

    14.50 - 15.00
    COMPANY INSIGHTS 3

    15.00 - 15.10
    Climate readiness for rail companies - a robust and resilient mode of transport under tougher climatic conditions
    Christian Albrecht
    Partner, Valantic
    15.00 - 15.10
    Climate readiness for rail companies - a robust and resilient mode of transport under tougher climatic conditions
    Christian Albrecht
    Partner, Valantic
    15.10 - 15.20
    DATA ANALYTICS in railroad operations - practical application examples for sustainably increasing energy efficiency and predicting future damage at an early stage
    Rupert Lange-Brandenburg
    Head of Business Line Digital Products and Services, CDO, DB Systemtechnik GmbH
    15.10 - 15.20
    DATA ANALYTICS in railroad operations - practical application examples for sustainably increasing energy efficiency and predicting future damage at an early stage
    Rupert Lange-Brandenburg
    Head of Business Line Digital Products and Services, CDO, DB Systemtechnik GmbH
  • 15.40 - 16.15

    Coffee break and networking in the exhibition

  • 16.15 - 17.00Digital railroad (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Automatic Train Operation (ATO): on the way to GoA Level 4

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG


    Florian Kittelmann
    Autonomous Mobility Director, Alstom
    Florian Kittelmann
    Autonomous Mobility Director, Alstom

Thursday - September 04, 2025

  • 11.35 - 12.15Digital railroad (🇩🇪)

    TECH INSIGHTS
    Start-up pitches


    DB MindBox

    DB MindBox
  • 12.15 - 13.00Sustainable technologies (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Electricity - battery - hydrogen - hybrid: energy options for alternative forms of propulsion in rail transportation

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 13.00 - 14.10

    Lunch and visit to the exhibition

Workshops

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

  • 16.15 - 18.00The digital railroad - Room 15 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    DB Procurement Round Table: Sustainable, digital and innovative procurement

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 16.15 - 18.00The digital railroad - Room 6 and 7 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 1:
    Betterasset availability through new technologies and efficient maintenance

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
  • 16.15 - 18.00Professionals and leadership - Room 9 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 2
    Leadership in the digital, agile age - When am I a good leader?

    N.N.
    DB Systemtechnik
    N.N.
    DB Systemtechnik
  • 16.15 - 18.00Sustainable technologies - Room 10 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 3
    CO2 reduction outside of rail transport: strategies and best practices



  • 16.15 - 18.00The digital railroad - Room 11 (parallel session) (🇬🇧)

    Executive Workshop 4
    Artificial intelligence in rail operations: applications, potentials and hurdles

    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    N.N.
    Deutsche Bahn AG