EURODIS awards prizes in Porto
Jun 24, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Groundbreaking for logistics platform in Lorraine
Jun 24, 2026 at 2:04 PM
The „Future Congress Logistics – 44th Dortmund Discussions“ will take place on September 8 and 9 and is aimed at professionals in the logistics industry as well as interested parties from related fields. Under the motto „Secure Logistics for Uncertain Times,“ the challenges arising from global crises and the need for resilient supply chains will be addressed. In light of geopolitical tensions, fluctuating markets, and digital transformation, logistics plays a central role. The industry must be able to respond quickly to disruptions and function reliably even in the face of supply shortages. The congress provides a platform for the exchange of new ideas, current research findings, and successful practical examples.
Strategic Questions in Focus
The congress is organized by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and the Digital Hub Logistics. The first day of the congress will focus on the strategic questions of the industry. Following the opening by Prof. Uwe Clausen, the institute director at Fraunhofer IML, Dr. Heiko Herold from the Institute for Security Policy at the University of Kiel will deliver a keynote on „Uncertain Times – Impact of Events, Drivers for Logistics.“ This will be followed by discussions on the future of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Prof. Alice Kirchheim and Prof. Michael Henke, both institute directors at Fraunhofer IML, will provide insights on these topics. Dr. Kerstin Höfle from Körber Supply Chain will speak on „The Future of AI & Robotics – What Can We Expect with Certainty.“ The morning of the first day will conclude with a panel discussion featuring Markus Bangen (Duisburger Hafen AG), Andre Kranke (DACHSER SE), and Petra Schlör (SSI SCHÄFER), focusing on „Security through Innovation.“
In the afternoon, another panel discussion will take place, where Theresa Gröninger (cellumation GmbH/Bremische Bürgerschaft), Michael Quaden (FIEGE Logistik Stiftung & Co. KG), and Sascha Hähnke (REMONDIS Sustainable Service GmbH) will discuss „New Markets for Logistics.“ The Digital Logistics Award 2026 will also be presented during the congress, recognizing innovative start-ups for the ninth time that are setting new impulses for logistics, supply chain management, and industrial value creation with digital solutions.
Research and Practical Application Examples
The second day of the congress will focus on specific research topics and practical application examples. Several parallel half-day sessions will address different questions. Central themes will include Space Logistics, Construction Logistics, Defence, the EU Packaging Regulation PPWR, AI-based robotics, decarbonization, and reliable IT. The formats will range from expert presentations to discussion rounds and workshops, enabling intensive exchange between science and industry.
A special focus will be on the topic block „Reliable IT in a Connected World.“ For the first time, the participant meeting of the warehouse logistics community will be integrated into the Future Congress. This event will take place all day: in the morning as a closed members‘ event and in the afternoon open to all congress visitors.
