On 16 April, the Simul⁺ meets futureSAX Innovationsforum brought together innovators, researchers, and decision-makers in Chemnitz under the theme “Smarte Städte und Regionen” (Smart Cities and Regions). Organised jointly by the simul⁺ InnovationHub of the Saxon State Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development and futureSAX, the innovation platform of the Free State of Saxony, the forum served as a meeting point for actors from business, science, public administration, and regional networks. The event focused on the question of how intelligent solutions can drive sustainable urban and regional development: from smart energy and infrastructure to connected buildings and low-emission mobility concepts.
About the event
The Innovations forum “Smarte Städte und Regionen” is part of an ongoing dialogue on how Saxony municipalities can shape their transformation through technology and collaboration. The programme brought together pitches and exhibitions from organisations developing smart solutions that put citizen benefit at the centre, across areas such as intelligent infrastructure management, digital building services, and sustainable mobility.
The event created space for substantive exchange between stakeholders who rarely share a single room: researchers presenting early-stage findings, companies showcasing applied solutions, and public administrators responsible for turning innovation into policy and practice.
A collaboration hub
Together with EKI-Saxony, we were present at a joint booth, where we had the opportunity to present KSI and share insights from our latest research. Throughout the day, we engaged in wide-ranging conversations with representatives from science, industry, and public administration, discussions that reflected both the complexity and the urgency of building smarter, more resilient cities and regions.
The exchange confirmed the strong relevance of the current work and opened up promising avenues for future collaborations. We leave Chemnitz with valuable impulses and a clear motivation to continue these conversations in the months ahead.