Innovation Forum
Innovation Forum for Automation is an annual two-day conference in Dresden, Germany, organized since 2004 by Automation Network Dresden, where semiconductor industry executives, engineers, and automation suppliers exchange insights on factory-automation technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDresden, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Innovation Forum does
Innovation Forum for Automation is an annual industry conference focused on factory automation in the semiconductor sector. Organized since 2004 by Automation Network Dresden (AND), a consortium of four Germany-based automation specialists - Fabmatics (material handling), Kontron AIS (industrial software and MES), SYSTEMA (equipment integration and digital factory, now part of Accenture), and XENON (assembly and inspection lines) - the forum convenes more than 350 international executives, managers, engineers, and researchers in Dresden over two days. The agenda combines keynote presentations from tier-1 semiconductor buyers (Infineon, GlobalFoundries, Bosch Semiconductor, X-FAB, Nexperia) and suppliers (Applied Materials, Tempress, Inficon), technical breakout sessions hosted by AND member companies, an exhibition floor, and an annual Innovation Award for Automation recognizing one outstanding factory-automation project per year (2026 recipient: Imec for Load & Go).
The event's intellectual positioning spans classical factory automation, equipment integration, digital and physical twins, Industry 5.0, sustainability, and AI in automation; AI-themed content has grown in 2026 with participation from startups such as BoWatt and Flexciton. Legal organization is hosted by SYSTEMA Systementwicklung Dipl.-Inf. Manfred Austen GmbH (now an Accenture entity), with program execution distributed across the four AND members. The forum introduced hybrid participation in 2026, adding roughly 30 remote attendees to the 350 in-person participants.
Commercially, the forum operates as a recurring niche industry event, monetizing attendee registration, tiered sponsorship packages (with Platinum held by Applied Materials in 2026 plus supporting sponsors including Stäubli, Siltronic, and Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen), and exhibition fees. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled on a contact basis through a ticket vendor (pretix). Geographic reach is concentrated in Dresden, Germany, with brand recognition spanning European semiconductor hubs (Belgium - Imec; Netherlands - Nexperia; Austria - Infineon; Germany - Bosch, X-FAB, GlobalFoundries Dresden) and global sponsors (Applied Materials US, Stäubli Switzerland). The 24th edition is scheduled for January 28-29, 2027, reinforcing the forum's position as a stable, recurring platform rather than a venture-backed growth asset.
Innovation Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Innovation Forum
- Legal name
- SYSTEMA Systementwicklung Dipl.-Inf. Manfred Austen GmbH
- Website
- https://innovation-forum-automation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Innovation Forum for Automation is an annual two-day conference in Dresden, Germany, organized since 2004 by Automation Network Dresden, where semiconductor industry executives, engineers, and automation suppliers exchange insights on factory-automation technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Innovation Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Conference / Semiconductor Automation Event
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines) (IMAHAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Innovation Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dresden
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Innovation Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Conference Attendance Fees: Revenue generated from attendees participating in the annual Innovation Forum for Automation conference, which provides access to presentations, breakout sessions, networking events, and exhibitions.
- Sponsorship Packages: Tiered sponsorship opportunities including Platinum sponsorship (Applied Materials), Gold, and other levels, providing brand visibility, exhibition space, and speaking opportunities at the annual forum.
- Exhibition Fees: Revenue from companies renting exhibition space at the Innovation Forum to showcase their automation products and services to industry professionals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Conference attendance |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Innovation Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Innovation Forum for Automation is an annual 2-day conference held in Dresden, Germany, organized by the Automation Network Dresden consortium (Fabmatics, Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA, XENON) since 2004. The forum brings together over 350 international executives, managers, engineers, and researchers to discuss factory automation technology developments, challenges, and solutions in the semiconductor industry. Its offering includes keynote presentations, technical breakout sessions hosted by member companies, exhibition space for solution providers, and an annual Innovation Award for Automation recognizing outstanding factory automation projects.
Product overview
The Innovation Forum for Automation is organized by Automation Network Dresden (AND), a network of German automation companies (Fabmatics, Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA, and XENON). The primary offering is the annual Innovation Forum for Automation conference—a 2-day industry event focused on semiconductor factory automation. The conference features keynote presentations, technical breakout sessions hosted by member companies, exhibition space, and an Innovation Award program. Since 2004, the forum has provided a platform for over 350 international professionals to exchange insights on factory automation technology, challenges, and solutions. The event also offers sponsorship and exhibition packages for industry visibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Innovation Forum for Automation Conference The annual 2-day conference held in Dresden, Germany, organized by Automation Network Dresden, bringing together over 350 international executives, managers, engineers, and researchers to discuss factory automation technology developments, challenges, and solutions in the semiconductor industry. The 24th edition is scheduled for January 28-29, 2027.
- Exhibition & Sponsorship Packages Commercial packages including tiered sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, and other levels) and exhibition space rentals that allow companies to showcase automation products and services to conference attendees. Applied Materials served as Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 edition.
- Innovation Award for Automation Annual award program that recognizes one outstanding project in factory automation each year. The 2026 award was presented to Imec for their Load & Go automation program in the R&D pilot line.
Companies that use Innovation Forum
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Innovation Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Innovation Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Applied MaterialscoreApplied Materials served as Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Innovation Forum for Automation. Representatives presented on Digital Twin as the centerpiece of factory AI transformations, and the company maintains an active presence as a key sponsor of the annual event.
- GlobalFoundriescoreGlobalFoundries hosted the evening social event at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion for Innovation Forum 2026 attendees. VP Matthias Bonkaß presented on strategic automation in Europe's largest foundry, and the company actively participates in forum programming.
- StäubliminorSponsor of the Innovation Forum for Automation 2026, providing support for the annual conference.
- SiltronicminorSponsor of the Innovation Forum for Automation 2026, contributing to the conference support.
- Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen (WFS)minorSaxon business development agency (Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen) sponsored the Innovation Forum for Automation 2026, supporting regional technology events.
- Automation Network Dresden (AND)coreAutomation Network Dresden is the organizing body of the Innovation Forum for Automation, comprising member companies Fabmatics, Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA, and XENON. Each member company hosts breakout sessions and contributes to forum programming.
- SYSTEMA (Part of Accenture)coreSYSTEMA is part of Accenture and serves as the authorized company representative for the Innovation Forum for Automation (listed in imprint). The company organizes the forum and hosts breakout sessions on topics like smart maintenance for digital future.
- FabmaticscoreMember of Automation Network Dresden and organizer of the Innovation Forum for Automation. Hosts breakout sessions on topics including automated reticle logistics.
- Kontron AIScoreMember of Automation Network Dresden and organizer of the Innovation Forum for Automation. Hosts breakout sessions on equipment integration requirements and benefits.
- XENON AutomationcoreMember of Automation Network Dresden and organizer of the Innovation Forum for Automation. Hosts breakout sessions on AI in automation from a practical perspective.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Innovation Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- VISION (Machine Vision Trade Fair): Stuttgart-based world-leading trade fair for machine vision and inspection — overlapping significantly with the automated optical inspection, quality control, and visual inspection automation content presented at Innovation Forum.
- productronica: Munich-based biennial trade fair for electronics production, including SMT, test, and production automation for semiconductor and PCB manufacturing — partial overlap with Innovation Forum's semiconductor production automation theme.
- SEMI Smart Manufacturing Initiative: SEMI's industry-wide initiative to develop automation maturity frameworks and smart manufacturing standards for semiconductor fabs — overlapping with Innovation Forum's content on automation integration, MES, and AI-driven factory automation.
Direct peers
- SPS (Smart Production Solutions): Annual industrial automation trade fair (Nuremberg) covering automation systems, MES, drive technology, and software — closely comparable in targeting factory-automation professionals and solution providers, and a major competitor for European automation sponsors.
- SEMICON (SEMI): SEMI's flagship global semiconductor manufacturing trade shows/conferences (SEMICON Europa, West, etc.) are the dominant industry events serving the same semiconductor manufacturing and adjacent factory-automation audience, directly competing for sponsor mindshare and attendee time.
- automatica: Munich-based leading international trade fair for robotics, assembly/intralogistics, and industrial automation, directly competing for sponsors and attendees in the same European automation ecosystem.
Regional players
- FABTECH: Largest North American metal forming, fabrication, and welding event — thematically adjacent in industrial automation/assembly-line content but serves North America and a different manufacturing vertical than Innovation Forum.
- The Manufacturing Technology (IMTS): America's largest manufacturing technology trade show (biennial, Chicago) covering automation and digital factory; comparable content but North American geographic focus versus Innovation Forum's European/Dresden base.
Broad incumbents
- electronica: Munich-based biennial international trade fair for electronic components, systems, and applications — adjacent to Innovation Forum's semiconductor manufacturing audience but oriented upstream toward components rather than factory automation.
- Hannover Messe: The world's leading industrial technology trade fair with broad coverage including automation, robotics, and digital factory; overlaps with Innovation Forum in factory-automation themes but operates at vastly larger scale across many industries.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Innovation Forum social profiles
Digital presenceInnovation Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Innovation Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Innovation Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Innovation Forum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Innovation Forum
What does Innovation Forum do?
The Innovation Forum for Automation is an annual 2-day conference held in Dresden, Germany, organized by the Automation Network Dresden consortium (Fabmatics, Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA, XENON) since 2004. The forum brings together over 350 international executives, managers, engineers, and researchers to discuss factory automation technology developments, challenges, and solutions in the semiconductor industry. Its offering includes keynote presentations, technical breakout sessions hosted by member companies, exhibition space for solution providers, and an annual Innovation Award for Automation recognizing outstanding factory automation projects.
Is Innovation Forum a public or private company?
Innovation Forum is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Innovation Forum founded?
Innovation Forum was founded in 2004. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Innovation Forum based?
Innovation Forum is headquartered in Dresden, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Innovation Forum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Conference Attendance Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship Packages and exhibition Fees.
Who are Innovation Forum's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are VISION (Machine Vision Trade Fair), productronica and SEMI Smart Manufacturing Initiative. Direct peers are SPS (Smart Production Solutions), SEMICON (SEMI) and automatica. Regional players are FABTECH and The Manufacturing Technology (IMTS). Broad incumbents are electronica and Hannover Messe.
Does Innovation Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Innovation Forum.
What industry is Innovation Forum in?
Innovation Forum's product category is Industry Conference / Semiconductor Automation Event. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAHAL, Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAJ, Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.