enter the future
standpoints and
ideas in dialog
Digitalization, climate change, rapid shifts in values in the world of work – industry and society in general are facing huge challenges. In this context, it would be too short-sighted for companies to limit themselves to developing technical innovations and adapting production processes. They must also do their part to constructively shape the associated fundamental transformation of society. How can people be motivated to be sufficiently agile and open, so that they really do drive profound change and see it as an opportunity? How do beliefs and patterns of orientation need to change? What interactions need to be considered? How can the fundamental transformation of society succeed?
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With the “enter the future” event series, which was launched by WITTENSTEIN SE in November 2020 and is now being continued by the Wittenstein Foundation, we want to enter into a fruitful dialog with society on how we can safeguard our resources for future generations. Innovation and progress are the key factors for us to achieve this goal. As a rule, two speakers talk about one topic from different perspectives – that is the basic formal idea behind “enter the future”. This is followed by a discussion with the audience. The speakers are high-profile individuals from business, science and society. The talks are based on scientific principles, but are kept understandable for the audience interested in the topic. Every contribution, every thought is important. We therefore cordially invite you to enrich the discourse with your ideas.
sixth event:
finding our way in a
multipolar world –
key concepts on the
spiritual situation of the time
The sixth “enter the future” event took place on April 27, 2023.
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Is it really true that everything around us is becoming more and more complex? Or could it be that complexity is actually the great constant over time, and that it is simply a matter of new challenges regularly taking priority over others? Yet who ultimately decides on these priorities? Politicians? Society? And if so, which society? What do we do, or not do, in order to retain or regain the necessary guidance? Or is this guidance something we never in fact had in the first place and will never be able to have in the future either? It’s a complex subject.
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Watch the whole recording of the fourth event here (only German).
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Topic:
Finding our way in a multipolar world – Key concepts on the spiritual situation of the time
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Speaker:
Professor Peter Sloterdijk
German philosopher, cultural scientist and author. He taught philosophy and aesthetics at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe until 2017.
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Facilitated by:
Benedikt Hofmann, Editor-in-Chief MM MaschinenMarkt
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fifth event:
biological transformation – what is it good for?
and what have mushrooms got to do with it?
The fifth event took place on October 13, 2022.
“Biologization” and “biological transformation” mean nothing less than the increasing integration of principles of nature in modern economic sectors as well as the development of products or solutions with the help of the life sciences. This creates new opportunities and potential for solving the central and essential challenges facing humanity – for example climate protection, nutrition, health, the use of scarce resources or circular economies. “Business as usual” is not an option here but our duty to future generations. New approaches are called for. The keynotes will cover a whole range of challenges and possible responses and highlight specific, selected areas for application.
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Watch the whole recording of the fourth event here (only German).
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Topic:
Biological transformation – what is it good for? And what have mushrooms got to do with it?
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Speakers:
Professor Vera Meyer, Head of the Chair of Molecular and Applied Microbiology at Technische Universität Berlin,
Professor Thomas Bauernhansl, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA) in Stuttgart
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Facilitated by:
Benedikt Hofmann, Editor-in-Chief MM MaschinenMarkt
third event:
climate protection – the difference between well
meant and well done
The third event in the series took place on November 11, 2021.
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Climate change is the central specter of our time. Some people deny that it even exists at all while others fear that the end of the world is nigh. The truth lies somewhere between these two extremes, as do the options for us to engage the challenge meaningfully. Whereas the first presentation will be dedicated to the technologically innovative aspects, the second will highlight the economic and political dimensions.
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Watch the whole recording of the third event here (only German).
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Topic:
Climate protection - the difference between well menat and well done
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Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founder and former Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK),
Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Sinn, former President of the ifo Institute for Economic Research
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Facilitated by:
Benedikt Hofmann, Editor-in-Chief, MM Maschinenmarkt