What makes the Innovation Forum so special?

The Innovation Forum for Automation is a two‑day, English‑language conference focused on automation topics in the semiconductor industry. Since 2004, it has been organized by the Automation Network Dresden – an alliance of the Dresden‑based companies Kontron AIS, SYSTEMA, XENON Automation, and Fabmatics.

The goal: to bring together decision‑makers and automation specialists who are looking for innovative technologies, use cases, and best‑practice examples for their manufacturing processes. The combination of keynote presentations, breakout sessions, an exhibition area, and ample networking opportunities makes the event a valuable platform for this community.

Technical Highlights of 2026

This year’s program once again featured top‑tier insights from research institutes and semiconductor manufacturers around the world. Experts from Applied Materials, Infineon, Nexperia, Fraunhofer, GlobalFoundries, Imec, and X‑FAB discussed current trends such as:

  • Artificial Intelligence & Industry 5.0 – new potential for automation and process optimization
  • Sustainability in electronics manufacturing – proactive strategies aligned with the EU Green Deal
  • Brownfield automation – pragmatic approaches to modernizing existing fabs
  • Autonomous self‑optimization – how flexible, learning systems are reshaping electronics production

These topics clearly reflect what matters most to our customers: efficiency, digital continuity, and long‑term production resilience.

Fabmatics Breakout Session: Reticle Logistics Automation in the Spotlight

Once again, we contributed one of the four breakout sessions – and saw strong interest. Under the title
“Automated Reticle Logistics – From Concept to Implementation”, we joined forces with industry experts to showcase how modern reticle logistics can be designed and implemented today.

The session included:

  • Infineon: Requirements for fully integrated, automated reticle logistics
  • Fabmatics: Technical solutions based on simulation, digital twins, and our product family around the HERO Scout and Linear Reticle Stocker
  • Inficon: Best practices in reticle scheduling

The discussions highlighted the growing need for end‑to‑end digital reticle processes in modern fabs – and how effectively our solutions already address this demand.

Fabmatics on Site – with HERO Scout as the Crowd Favorite

On the networking floor, we showcased several systems – with our mobile robot HERO Scoutt drawing special attention. Over both days, it navigated the exhibition space and became a clear crowd favorite.
The HERO Scout also shone on the main stage, where Infineon demonstrated how it is used in their production environment.

Evening Event at the Rudolf‑Harbig Stadion

A particularly memorable moment was the evening event on January 29 at the iconic Rudolf‑Harbig Stadium, home to soccer club Dynamo Dresden.

With a newly renovated VIP lounge, guided stadium tours including access to the Dynamo Dresden locker rooms, and plenty of space for personal conversations, the setting created a special atmosphere. A highlight of the evening: well-known stadium announcer Peter Hauskeller, who spent the entire night engaging with attendees, answering questions, and signing autographs.

Innovation Award 2026 for imec

Another highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Innovation Award 2026 to Imec.

The award recognizes the exceptional technological vision and innovative strength of the renowned Belgian research institute – a driving force whose developments often set benchmarks for entire industries.

Looking Ahead to 2027

After two intensive days, countless discussions, and many inspiring moments, we are already looking forward to next year’s event: the 24th Innovation Forum for Automation, taking place from January 28–29, 2027.

We are proud to help shape this inspiring event as part of the Automation Network Dresden – and to continue advancing the future of fab automation together with our partners.