DATA festival
Program Details
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March 26th, 10:00 – 10:30 am
Opening Keynote - Shaping the future together
Carsten and Alex will emphasize the importance of accelerating the implementation of AI use cases and delivering tangible value from data and AI initiatives. They will highlight how building a data-driven culture is essential to empowering teams to embrace insights, and how modernizing your data landscape is the foundation for agility, innovation, and scalability. Turning data into actionable insights and scaling AI solutions across the enterprise will be key themes, as the session focuses on moving beyond pilots to achieve enterprise-wide impact.
The keynote will also explore how integrating machine learning into business processes can transform operations, while emphasizing the critical need for robust data governance and compliance to build trust and accountability.
Dr. Carsten Bange, Founder & CEO | BARC & Alexander Thamm, Founder & CEO | Alexander Thamm GmbH
Carsten is CEO and founder of BARC, an organisation specializing in independent research and advisory as well as events in the data & analytics market. Alex is CEO and founder of Alexander Thamm GmbH, one of the leading providers of data science and artificial intelligence in the German-speaking region.
Togehter they founded the DATA festival in 2017, envisioning an engaging community and innovative event platform around the topics of Data, Analytics & AI.
March 26th, 10:45 – 11:15 am
Harnessing Generative AI: Achievements, Challenges, and Future Directions
This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Generative AI’s journey so far, offering valuable insights and lessons learned. Whether you’re a business leader, technologist, or AI enthusiast, this presentation will equip you with the knowledge to navigate and leverage the evolving world of Generative AI effectively.
Firas Ben Hassan, Deputy Head of Data Science Services and Program Owner of AllianzGPT | Allianz Technology
March 26th, 11:15 – 11:45 am
Productionizing LLMs: How Generative AI Digitalized the Customer Service at Lufthansa
- Make Faster, Informed Decisions: By highlighting key details and extracting vital information, Claim Summarizer reduces review time and allows agents to focus on critical decision-making.
- Enhance Customer Satisfaction: Improved efficiency translates to faster and more accurate claim resolution.
Dr. Keyvan Sadri, Senior Manager in Data Science | Lufthansa
March 26th, 11:45 – 12:15 am
Automating Rule Extraction with Ontology Driven LLMs
As data complexity increases, automating data quality checks becomes critical. This presentation outlines an ontology-driven workflow leveraging LLMs to automate the extraction and management of data quality checks. We extract rules from guiding documents, convert them into triples through in-context learning, generate checks using multiple LLM instances, and validate them in a knowledge graph to ensure consistency. This approach reduces manual effort and enhances overall data governance.
Zornitsa Manolova, Head of Data Quality Management & Data Science | GLEIF
Yener Karaca, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation | GLEIF
March 26th, 12:15 – 12:45 am
Data Cleansing - A Never-ending Story?
“Garbage in, garbage out” is a common saying by Data Scientists. Motivated by Andrew Ng’s research on data quality, we want to share best practices that you can employ towards better data. Focusing on one of the most complex harmonization challenges – customer records – we illustrate how Artificial Intelligence can facilitate the creation of a transparent end-to-end customer view.
Christoph Schatton, Head of AI Engineering Solutions and Portfolio | Merck Life Science KGaA
March 26th, 2:15 – 2:45 pm
Panel: Navigating the Future: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in Emerging Technologies
In this panel discussion, the festival’s headliners will discuss current trends and developments in general and with regard to the opportunities and challenges in their own technology.
March 26th, 2:45 – 3:15 pm
Designing Data Pipelines for AI-Driven Applications
This talk explores best practices for designing data pipelines tailored to AI applications. We’ll examine key architectural considerations, including cloud-native technologies, data mesh principles, and DataOps methodologies. The discussion will cover strategies for handling large-scale, diverse datasets, efficient data ingestion, cleaning, and feature engineering. We’ll also explore how AI can optimize pipeline performance and automate data quality checks. Through real-world case studies, attendees will gain practical insights on implementing robust data pipelines that power cutting-edge AI-driven applications.
Shawn Kyzer, Assoc. Director, R&D IT – Data, Analytics & AI, Engineering | AstraZeneca
Shawn is passionate about harnessing the power of data engineering, strategy, and analytics in order to help businesses uncover new opportunities. As an innovative technologist with over 15 years of experience, Shawn removes technology as a barrier and broadens the art of the possible for business and product leaders. His holistic view of technology and emphasis on developing and motivating strong engineering talent, with a focus on delivering outcomes whilst minimising outputs, is one of the characteristics which sets him apart from the crowd.
March 26th, 3:15 – 3:45 pm
Data-Driven Architecture: Navigating Data and AI Transformation
Nailya Uzhakova, Digitalization Manager and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Lübeck | DHL
Nailya Uzhakova, a Digitalization Manager at DHL Group and doctoral candidate at the University of Lübeck’s Institute of Telematics. With more than a decade of experience in Digital, Data and AI Transformations, she has cultivated a robust cross-industry expertise in developing and implementing Data-Driven Transformation strategies. Balancing her academic pursuits with professional background, Nailya strives to provide valuable insights to organizations seeking to embark on similar transformative journeys.
March 26th, 4:15 am – 4:45 pm
From Fake it to Success: BSH Breakthroughs in Data Organization, Data Management, Data Product Strategies
Maria Sergeeva, Product Manager of Data Management Team | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Maria Sergeeva has an academic background in Optical Physics from Bauman Moscow State University in Russia and holds an MSc in Photonics from Hochschule Aalen in Germany. She began her career with three years in R&D before transitioning to a five-year tenure as an SAP Consultant in Germany, specializing in SAP BW, SAP BCS, and Reporting. Since 2024, she has been driving analytics at BSH, including leading the global rollout of Process Mining with Celonis. Following a 2.5-year stint in IT Audit at BSH, she returned to Analytics in 2022 as a Product Manager. Currently, she heads the Global Data Management Group at BSH, focusing on governance, policies, data products, and data reliability to enhance data management and analytics across the organization.
Marek Imialek, Lead Analytics Architect | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
From the world of software applications and backend development, I ventured into engineering and architecting location referencing, cloud, and streaming solutions. Along the way, I honed my skills in tuning distributed systems and leading large-scale operations. As I delved into analytics solutions, I found myself leading as the architect in the analytics department of BSH, co-driving the data strategy for the company. Throughout this journey, I worked with diverse data types, from live animal data and publication metadata to location data, car sensor data, and appliance data, which only served to deepen my passion for data. This passion has become my driving force, always fueled by the incredible people around me.
March 26th, 4:45 am – 5:45 pm
AI Act Panel: wAIt no more: Unpacking the AI Act's Impact on Innovation, Compliance, and the Future of AI
This panel dives into the transformative AI Act, examining its potential to reshape the AI landscape in Europe and beyond. Experts will discuss compliance challenges, innovation opportunities, and strategic adaptations to navigate this evolving regulatory framework. Join us to explore how the AI Act could impact businesses, developers, and the future of responsible AI innovation.
Moderator:
Panel speakers:
Michael Schorpp, Head of Digital Innovation & AI at Boehringer Ingelheim, owns a biotechnology degree and over a decade of experience in CMC. From 2021, he designed and implemented iQNow & iQGPT, the company’s AI-driven Knowledge Management Ecosystem, now serving over 35,000 users from 200 counties and managing 800 million documents. Now being responsible for AI implementation in Global Regulatory Affairs, Michael is an expert in building Trustworthy AI frameworks at enterprise scale in highly regulated environments to automate regulatory processes with Agentic Systems. Michael is recognized as a leading AI expert and a keynote speaker, significantly contributing to the digital and AI landscape in the pharmaceutical industry.
Kai Zenner is Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss (European People’s
Party Group) in the European Parliament. Describing himself as a digital enthusiast, he focuses on AI, privacy and the EU’s digital transition. Currently, he is involved in the political
negotiations on the AI Act, AI liability directive, eprivacy Regulation and GDPR revision. In his individual capacity, he is pushing for reforms within the European Parliament and for bringing back the Better Regulation agenda to EU policymaking.
Mr Zenner graduated in political science (M.Sc. at University of Edinburgh, B.A. at University of Bremen) and in law (State Exam at University of Munster). Before moving to the European Parliament, he worked as research associate at the European office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brussels.
He is member of the OECD.AI Network of Experts and of the AI Governance Alliance from the World Economic Forum. He was also part of the temporary Expert Group that supported the ‘High-Level Advisory Body on AI’ of the United Nations. Zenner was awarded best MEP Assistant in 2023 (“APA who has gone above and beyond in his duties”) and ranked Place #13 in Politico’s Power 40 – class 2023 (“top influencers who are most effectively setting the agenda in politics, public policy and advocacy in Brussels”).
March 26th, 6:00 – 6:30 pm
Reflecting on Two Years of ChatGPT: Have the Expectations Been Fulfilled?
In this talk, we discuss the first two years of ChatGPT, evaluating whether it has met the high expectations set by developers, users, and industry experts. In an era marked by the unprecedented development of conversational AIs, the market is now brimming with copilots and chatbots. But the crucial question is: are they truly delivering value?
We’ll explore ChatGPT’s performance across key sectors such as customer service, production, and content creation, sharing compelling success stories and user experiences. This talk will highlight ChatGPT’s standout capabilities, address its limitations, and identify areas ripe for improvement.
Maria Sukhareva, Senior Key Expert in Artificial Intelligence | Siemens AG
Maria Sukhareva is a Senior Key Expert in AI in Siemens. She has been working in AI for over 15 years. She has overseen dozens of use cases going productive and pioneered the integration of chatGPT in Siemens.
March 26th, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
A critical view on the AI market
In this compelling keynote, we take a step back from the AI buzz to critically evaluate the current state of the market. Is AI truly delivering on its transformative promises, or are we navigating a bubble of inflated expectations and overvalued investments? As the excitement around AI continues to grow, this session provides a sharp and balanced examination of its real impact and the sustainability of its trajectory.
Focusing on Europe’s role in this evolving landscape, we will explore the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. What can Europe do to stand out in a global AI race dominated by tech giants? How can it leverage its strengths—such as regulatory foresight, a commitment to ethical AI, and its rich talent pool—to build a competitive and sustainable AI ecosystem?
This keynote is designed to provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. It will offer a roadmap for European leaders, innovators, and policymakers to move beyond the hype and focus on creating lasting value in the AI age.
Dr. Carsten Bange, Founder & CEO | BARC
Dr. Carsten Bange is considered one of the leading experts on the technology market and the beneficial use of data & analytics, which makes him a sought-after speaker, author and consultant for companies, software vendors and service providers as well as investors.
March 26th, from 7:00 pm
Food, Drinks & Music
DAY 2
March 27th, 09:00 – 09:30 am
Opening Keynote: OTTO
Jens Dorn, BI Lead Product Owner | Otto
Jens is an analytical creative and diplomatic catalyst, scaling insight to build tomorrow today. He thrives on uncovering simple solutions to complex problems and rapidly embraces the new, pushing beyond conventional limits. A results-driven leader, Jens balances long-term focus with timely action, fostering team autonomy through clear expectations. Valuing intercultural sensitivity, he connects people, ideas, and knowledge, seeking visionary minds who challenge boundaries to achieve the extraordinary.
March 27th, 09:45 – 10:15 am
Data Culture at heart of data quality
- Foster a mindset of data ownership and accountability throughout the organization, encouraging employees at all levels to take responsibility for the data they create, use, and work with.
- Make data quality an organizational priority and communicate its importance clearly to all stakeholders, from leaders to front-line workers, emphasizing the positive impact it has on processes and decision-making.
- Invest in data literacy training for all employees so they can understand how to work with data effectively and how data quality affects the organization.
- Encourage collaboration and communication across teams and departments to improve data sharing and cross-functional understanding. This helps to ensure that data is consistently accurate and reliable, regardless of where it is generated or used in the organization.
Naveen Gupta, Global Data Development Manager | IKEA Supply AG
Naveen Gupta is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in data management, governance, and analytics. Throughout their career, he has developed a strong expertise in leveraging data to create value for their organizations. Naveen Gupta has specialized in setting up practices for process mining, as well as applying machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive business insights. He has demonstrated passion for bringing business and data together, helping stakeholders across the organization understand complex data-related topics. With a track record for creating value out of data, Naveen Gupta remains dedicated to ensuring that data remains a key asset for any organization seeking to gain a competitive advantage.
March 27th, 10:15 am – 10:45 pm
Democratizing data with self service data products
This presentation will cover how organizations can treat data as products to make it easier for downstream teams to access data, either for machine learning / AI algorithms or querying it for a particular purpose. The idea is to apply all the best practices of product management to datasets, to democratize data usage and to see reduction in over-reliance on data engineering, thus giving teams the ability to act on data in real-time, improving agility and responsiveness.
Yogender Chhibber, Senior Product Manager | TWAICE I am a product professional with 15 years of experience in building data & analytics products. I have a proven track record in developing and launching innovative products that deliver exceptional user experiences and drive business growth. Currently, I am working as a senior product manager for data platforms, with TWAICE, which is a leading provider of battery analytics software. Previously, I have worked for organizations such as Tellius, Thoucentric Technologies, EY and Zinnov.
March 27th, 10:45 – 11:15 am
Value Driven Approaches to Data Quality
- Data quality isn’t a binary concept of good or bad: how we consider data users and purpose in assessing data quality.
- Not all data is equally valuable or important: how we identify opportunities and align data quality approaches with business impact Shifting focus from ‘perfect data’ to ‘good-enough’ data: employing strategic communication and agile principles for shifting mindsets.
Amy Bulman
March 27th, 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Generative AI @ Scale for Enterprises
Join me for an exclusive session on how Merck successfully rolled out and scaled GenAI to over 35,000 employees, empowering both business users and citizen developers. I’ll share our proven strategy, key technological insights, and critical lessons learned from this journey.
This session is a must-attend if you want to:
- Learn a practical approach to adopting and scaling GenAI in large enterprises.
- Gain insights into real-world implementation and the challenges we overcame.
- Discover best practices that can be applied to your own AI transformation.
Whether you’re a GenAI enthusiast, business strategist, or technology innovator, this session will provide valuable takeaways to drive GenAI adoption and success in your organization
Dr. Harsha Gurulingappa, Global Head of AI & ML Practice | Merck Group
With a career spanning over 15 years, I am a seasoned professional with extensive experience in research and industry related to applying Natural Language Processing (NLP) and the constituents of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Healthcare and Life Science domains. As the current Head of AI & Machine Learning Practice at Merck, my responsibilities encompass leading the strategy, implementation, and evolution of technological capabilities, empowering business functions to drive impact by harnessing technologies and best practices around AI/ML/NLP. My experience and groundedness in this field positions me to drive transformative innovation and spearhead data-driven decision-making initiatives.
March 27th, 12:15 – 12:45 pm
Agentic AI: The Road to Fully Autonomous Organizations
The autonomous organisation represents the next frontier in business transformation, moving beyond advanced analytics, piecemeal AI, and single-function automation. We are on the precipice of true organizational “self-driving” capabilities which will redefine business models and economies. While many enterprises still struggle with basic AI implementations, leading organisations are poised to introduce intelligent systems that can sense, decide, perform, interact, and adapt across entire business functions at digital speed.
Drawing parallels with the evolution of autonomous driving, Douglas will define the seven levels of agentic AI—from early-stage chatbots to full business self-awareness and execution—and share new technology providers and business executives can prepare for this imminent inevitability.
Douglas Laney | Data, Analytics & AI Strategy Advisor | BARC Research & Advisory Fellow
Douglas Laney is a renowned thought leader and advisor on data, analytics, and AI strategy. He is a best-selling author, as well as a featured speaker and business school professor. Laney has been recognised repeatedly as a top-50 global expert on data-related topics and is a three-time Gartner annual thought leadership award recipient. He originated the discipline of infonomics – recognising and treating data as an actual economic asset. Laney continues to focus on helping organisations and their leadership innovate with and optimise the value of their data assets.
March 27th, 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm
Agentic AI in Action
This use case presentation for agentic AI showcases how autonomous AI systems can proactively solve problems, make decisions, and execute tasks independently across industries like healthcare, finance, or logistics
Sarah Lewandowski Global Technology & Innovation Lead & Co-Lead genAI catalyst team | Bayer
As Global Head of Innovation & Technology at Bayer, I identify and asses emerging technologies to future proof our business. In addition I ensure the strategic fit and value creation for Bayer and create transparency on status and potential of technologies.
March 27th, 3:15 am – 4:15 pm
Panel: Agentic AI Panel
Moderators:
Carsten is CEO and founder of BARC, an organisation specializing in independent research and advisory as well as events in the data & analytics market.
Alex is CEO and founder of Alexander Thamm GmbH, one of the leading providers of data science and artificial intelligence in the German-speaking region.
Panel speakers:
As Global Head of Innovation & Technology at Bayer, I identify and asses emerging technologies to future proof our business. In addition I ensure the strategic fit and value creation for Bayer and create transparency on status and potential of technologies.
March 27th, 4:15 – 4:20 pm
Closing
Carsten and Alex will look back on some exciting past two days fully packed with Best Practices, Technologies, Workshops and a lot of Discussions and Exchange at this years DATA festival #Munich.
Dr. Carsten Bange, Founder & CEO | BARC
Alexander Thamm, Founder & CEO | Alexander Thamm GmbH
Carsten is CEO and founder of BARC, an organisation specializing in independent research and advisory as well as events in the data & analytics market. Alex is CEO and founder of Alexander Thamm GmbH, one of the leading providers of data science and artificial intelligence in the German-speaking region.
Togehter they founded the DATA festival in 2017, envisioning an engaging community and innovative event platform around the topics of Data, Analytics & AI.
festival.stage
festival.stage
The festival.stage highlights cutting-edge data and AI technologies from our sponsors, featuring practical success examples. Sponsors bring their customers to demonstrate how these innovations optimize daily operations and drive profitability. It’s a dynamic platform for exploring the latest advancements, networking, and discovering impactful solutions in data and AI.
More Information on this Agenda coming soon! – Stay tuned
tech.stage
AI4Good
In an era defined by technological advancements, the “AI for Good” track at this years DATA festival aims to spotlight the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in addressing societal challenges. This track will showcase innovative applications of AI that contribute to positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes. From healthcare and education to sustainability and humanitarian efforts, different speakers will delve into their real-world examples of how AI technologies are being leveraged to create meaningful change. Attendees can expect insightful discussions on ethical considerations, responsible AI practices, and collaborative approaches to ensure that AI becomes a force for good. Join us on the tech.stage to explore the boundless possibilities of AI for fostering a better, more inclusive future.
March 26th, 10:45 am – 11:15 pm
Harnessing AI for a Better World: An Introduction to AI4Good and How Enterprises Can Help Drive Positive Change
Join us as we kick off the AI4Good track, a journey through the transformative potential of AI in addressing humanity’s most urgent challenges. In this introductory talk, Dr. Paul Springer will demystify the concept of “AI4Good” and will introduce subsequent talks which will illuminate its profound impact, from tackling environmental crises to enhancing mental health support. Discover how artificial intelligence is being wielded as a force for good—enabling sustainable practices, bridging accessibility gaps, and empowering people worldwide and in Germany in particular. Finally, Dr. Springer will share actionable insights on how enterprises can contribute to and collaborate with the AI4Good movement, unlocking a new path to social responsibility that benefits both society and business. This talk is for those ready to explore how AI can be a powerful ally in building a brighter, more inclusive future. Don’t miss this chance to see how you, too, can drive positive change through the power of AI.
Dr. Paul Springer, Co-Founder & Managing Director | Mi4People
Dr. Paul Springer is a theoretical physicist who turned AI4Good advocate, with a deep-rooted passion for harnessing technology to make a meaningful impact. After a career in management and IT consulting within the financial sector, Dr. Springer pivoted to pursue his commitment to AI for public good. He co-founded MI4People gGmbH, a groundbreaking nonprofit where he serves as Managing Director. At MI4People, Dr. Springer leads a community of dedicated AI-experts who innovates open-source, free AI solutions to tackle some of the world’s toughest humanitarian, social and environmental challenges. As a speaker, Dr. Springer is known for his engaging insights into how AI can transform society, empowering others to join the AI4Good movement and drive change.
March 26th, 11:15 – 11:45 am
Ocean Eyes: Harnessing AI to Combat Plastic Pollution
Every year, an alarming amount of plastic enters our oceans, posing severe threats to marine life, the environment, and global economies. While some organizations successfully collect waste along rivers, the vast open ocean remains largely untouched. Our project leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence to analyze satellite images and accurately detect plastic waste accumulations. Through a free online tool, we provide an interactive map updated every 2-5 days, enabling NGOs, NPOs, and companies to target cleanup efforts more effectively. Additionally, we are exploring applications such as determining optimal locations for recycling facilities in collaboration with “Free the Sea.” Together, we aim to restore our oceans—data-driven and accessible to all.
Dr. Denis Dalić, Technical Project Manager | Mi4People
Dr. Denis Dalić is a passionate researcher, data scientist and AI expert with a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics. His education and experience have given him expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, complemented by a foundation in software and hardware solutions. This combination enables him to drive innovative problem solving in healthcare. As the technical project manager, he brings his expertise to MI4People’s projects, managing all current and future projects to scale their impact and drive meaningful change.
March 26th, 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
AI for People, Planet, and Prosperity: Driving Sustainability Innovation
Discover how AI is transforming the path to sustainability in this engaging presentation! Explore the groundbreaking work of the AI Competence Center for Environment and Sustainability (DFKI4Planet) and its role in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dive into innovative AI projects across industries, including cutting-edge technologies from DFKI’s Marine Perception Department. You’ll see how AI drives solutions for a healthier planet and a brighter future!
Dr. Frederic Stahl | DFKI4Planet Initiative
Frederic received the Dipl.-Ing. (FH) degree in bioinformatics from the University of Applied Sciences, Weihenstephan, Germany, in 2006, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the University of Portsmouth, U.K., in 2010. From 2010 to 2012, he was a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Portsmouth. In 2012, he worked as a Lecturer in the Department of Design Engineering and Computing at Bournemouth University, U.K. From 2012 to 2019, he served as a Lecturer and Associate Professor at the University of Reading, U.K. In 2019, he joined the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI GmbH) as a Senior Researcher and became the Scientific Director of the DFKI Research Department Marine Perception in 2023. Since 2023, he has also been the Head of the AI Competence Center for Environment and Sustainability (DFKI4Planet). He has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed conferences, journals, and book chapters and has been working in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence for nearly twenty years.
March 26th, 12:15 – 12:45 pm
RAG for an Easy-to-Understand Language
RentenNavi is a messenger-first AI application designed to address pension-related topics for retirees. One of the key challenges in capturing the interest of this target group lies in the application’s ability to provide simple, straightforward answers to questions that are not clearly defined—within a field often associated with complex and technical explanations. A central question for our startup team is: How can a RAG-based application be designed to deliver answers in plain, easy-to-understand language?
Woldemar Metzler, Co-Founder | RentenNavi
Woldemar is a serial entrepreneur with a particular focus on socially responsible concepts. During his studies in business administration, entrepreneurship, and analytical philosophy, he developed a passion for creating innovative applications and building businesses. At the startup “RentenNavi”, Woldemar combines his knowledge in application development, language models, and data utilization to simplify the transition for soon-to-be retirees into a new chapter of life.March 26th, 2:15 am – 2:45 pm
Tackling Ghost Gear with the Power Trio: Sonar Technology, AI, and Citizen Science
Combining advanced sonar tech, AI-driven ghost gear detection, and citizen science, GhostNetZero.AI transforms the fight against marine debris. By reusing hydrographic data and prioritizing sensitive ecosystems, we can locate and remove lost fishing gear more effectively. This community-driven approach protects marine life, enhances ocean conservation, and scales global impact. Together, we’re making waters safer and cleaner with cutting-edge innovation and collective action supported by Microsoft AI for Good & Accenture..
Gabriele Dederer, Projectmanager Ghostgear International | WWF
Gabriele, a biologist and scientific diver, leads Ghostgear International at WWF Germany. Passionate about marine conservation, she specializes in using side-scan sonar to tackle ghost fishing gear issues.
Mareen Lee Projectmanager Digital Products – GhostNetZero.ai | WWF
Mareen is a product manager passionate about innovation, AI for good, and community building. With expertise in team leadership and user-focused design, she creates impactful, tech-driven solutions.
March 26th, 2:45 – 3:15 pm
AI Support for Social Counseling
In times of personal crises, many people are seeking online advice from professional counselors.
At the Technische Hochschule Nuremberg, researchers explore how AI can support psychosocial counseling. Projects include innovative solutions like a chatbot simulating psychosocial issues for training, advanced tools for information extraction and visualization to support counselors, and communication aids for individuals with disabilities. The presentation gives an overview of ongoing projects and key insights.
Jens Albrecht, Professor for Databases & Big Data | TH Nuremberg
Jens Albrecht is a full-time professor in the Department of Computer Science at TH Nürnberg and member of its Center for Artificial Intelligence. Following the completion of his PhD and over a decade of experience in the data industry, he returned to academia in 2012. His current teaching and research focus is on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Conversational AI. Together with colleagues from the Social Sciences, he is exploring the potential of these technologies in various interdisciplinary projects.
#Career.stage & area
Discover how leading companies are revolutionizing industries with pioneering advancements in data and AI. Gain exclusive insights into their innovative projects and advanced methodologies. Connect directly with key representatives in HR and the Data & AI Departments of our Career Sponsors through private chats, exploring their work, asking questions, and uncovering potential career opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to learn, network, and be inspired!
March 26th, 4:15 – 4:45 pm
Solving the Puzzle: Leveraging Machine Learning for Effective Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is an established and important methodological tool widely used in manufacturing to determine the causes of repeating machine breakdowns, defects or to improve overall efficiency. Traditionally, specialists may use quality management tools like 5-Why and Ishikawa diagrams or statistical methods to systematically identify and address the underlying causes.
With increasing digitalization, more and more data are being collected providing a good basis for systematic data driven analysis. However, it is difficult and time-consuming to extract valuable insights from this data. Today’s established methods today are reaching their limits dealing with the sheer amount of data and the complex, non-linear interrelationships of modern manufacturing processes and process chains.
To navigate these complexities, the integration of Explainable AI (XAI) and causal discovery techniques offers promising avenues for enhancing RCA. XAI provides transparency in machine learning models, enabling practitioners to gain impulses from inspecting how a model uses the data. Meanwhile, causal discovery focuses on distinguishing between mere statistical associations and genuine causal relationships, allowing for the identification of causal paths. This talk will provide an overview of these methodologies, discussing their application in root cause analysis, as well as the challenges and opportunities they present in improving decision-making processes.
Bernhard de Graaff, Product Owner | #Career @ Carl Zeiss AG
Bernhard de Graaff is a Product Owner at the ZDP AI Accelerator, who started his journey with ZEISS as a Data Scientist. Before joining Zeiss, he worked as a manufacturing engineer and process chain expert at Robert Bosch GmbH developing new innovative manufacturing processes and optimizing production chains and later as a software engineer & data scientist dedicated to the development of machine learning based applications in the field of Noise Vibration Harshness engineering.
March 26th, 4:45 – 5:45 pm
Tech Deep Talk
In this session, you’ll gain hands-on insights into practical tech solutions, exploring the code behind impactful use cases. Get ready to dive into detailed examples and sharpen your technical expertise!
Pyramid with Opitz
March 26th, 6:00 – 6:30 pm
HUK
#Career @ HUK
Join this exclusive session with our Career Sponsor, HUK Coburg! Explore exciting career opportunities and learn how their team leverages state-of-the-art data and AI technologies to foster innovation. Gain exclusive insights into their latest projects and experience what it’s like to be part of a dynamic, tech-focused organization.
Newcomer on stage
In this dynamic age defined by the rapid advancement of AI, startups have emerged as essential players in the technological landscape. It is therefore paramount for us to provide a platform where these innovators can shine. Enter the cutting-edge realm of the tech.stage, where groundbreaking ideas and advancements take center stage.
March 26th, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Rethinking Data Accessibility: The Data Mesh journey of Kuehne+Nagel
In today’s world, where data agility and scalability are indispensable, fast and reliable access to high-quality data is crucial to meet the dynamic demands of modern businesses. This session introduces the Kuehne+Nagel New IT Ecosystem (KNITE), a cutting-edge platform that replaces legacy integration systems and supports the KN Digital Twin through the implementation of a Data Mesh. Additionally, the session will highlight a pivotal and practical example from Kuehne+Nagel’s application landscape: the Shipment Store.
Dr. Maik Wurdel, Product Group Lead Data Platform + Stores | Kuehne+Nagel
Maik and his teams strive to make Data actionable at Kuehne+Nagel. To do so, he is responsible for the implementation of the Data Platform and several high-quality, value-adding Data Products. He is still a Software Engineer at heart and eager to bring the worlds of Software Engineering and Data management together. He studied Computer Science and holds a Ph.D. in Software Engineering.
Dr. Niels Hackius, IT Product Lead | Kuehne+Nagel
Niels is the IT Product Lead for the Shipment Stores Data Product at Kuehne + Nagel. He holds an engineering degree and a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Hamburg, where he specialized in the adoption of blockchain applications in supply chain management. Outside of work, he enjoys computer games, walks on the beach, and looking at dog pictures. He is passionate about technology and is always eager to explore innovations in IT and AI combined with practical applications.
DAY 2
Tech Deep Dives
In this session, you’ll gain hands-on insights into practical tech solutions, exploring the code behind impactful use cases. Get ready to dive into detailed examples and sharpen your technical expertise!
March 27th, 9:45 – 10:45 am
Solving data residency problems with Airflow and AWS ECS Anywhere
Ivica Kolenkaš, Data platform lead | bestseller.com
Ivica is a cloud engineer mixed with a software developer, passionate about Python and infrastructure-as-code. A problem solver with a firm belief that not every problem is a tech problem.
March 27th, 10:45 – 11:15 am
Henkel
#Career @ Henkel
Join this exclusive session with our Career Sponsor, Henkel! Explore exciting career opportunities and learn how their team leverages state-of-the-art data and AI technologies to foster innovation. Gain exclusive insights into their latest projects and experience what it’s like to be part of a dynamic, tech-focused organization.
March 27th, 11:45 am – 1:15 am
Level-Up Your GenAI Application Development
Elliot Kovanda, Data Scientist | Commerzbank AG
After completing an MSc in Operational Research with Data Science at Edinburgh University, Elliot Kovanda joined Commerzbank in 2021. He has since led Commerzbank’s first LLM Innovation Initiative and is currently a Data Scientist in Commerzbank’s GenAI Division. Elliot is also a member of the bank’s AI Strategy Team. Previously, Elliot represented the Big Data and Advanced Analytics Key Area in the bank’s Millennial Board, advising the CRO and Executives on cultural and strategic matters.
March 27th, 2:45 – 3:45 pm
Using AI for Legal Form Detection - Leveraging the LEI Data
Our presentation introduces LENU, an open-source AI tool developed by GLEIF and Sociovestix Labs, that assigns standardized Entity Legal Form (ELF) codes to entities based solely on their names and jurisdictions. Trained using the freely available Legal Entity Identifer (LEI) data and Hugging Face base models, LENU leverages transformer technology. We will showcase the development process, from concept to implementation, and highlight the benefits of standardized data for organizations globally.
Dominik Jany, Senior Data Scientist | GLEIF
Dominik is a Senior Data Scientist at the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF). His focus is on ensuring the highest possible data quality in the Global LEI System. In this role, he helps establish best practices based on the latest developments in data standardization and data science. Before joining GLEIF, he gained experience in business development and forensic technology solutions. He holds a master’s degree in Computational Sciences from Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.
Zornitsa Manolova, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation | GLEIF
Since April 2018, Zornitsa leads a team of Data Scientists at GLEIF, where she improved the organization’s data quality and governance. Before GLEIF, she managed international forensic data analytics projects at PwC Forensics, focusing on complex name-matching challenges and financial investigations, gaining expertise in large-scale, cross-border data issues. She holds a German Diploma in Computer Science with a focus on Machine Learning from Philipps University in Marburg.
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