English
中文
This webinar will provide you with actionable insights on what is fundamentally changing in China's industrial landscape and how your organization can adapt its strategy to thrive.
China's role in the global economy has fundamentally shifted. It is no longer just a cost-driven manufacturing base—it has evolved into one of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems, defined by unmatched speed, scale, and execution power.
For German industrial companies, this presents a critical structural decision: Will you continue to treat China primarily as a production location, or will you build genuine local innovation capabilities to secure your competitiveness—both in China and globally?
We invite you to join our upcoming webinar, where we will explore why local R&D and engineering presence in China is becoming a strategic imperative and how leading companies are already repositioning themselves to stay ahead.
INNOVATION MADE IN CHINA-LEARNING TRIP
The trip is tailored for German-speaking, manufacturing high-tech companies that are active in China or planning to engage in the Chinese market. The aim is to provide an understanding of the German-Chinese innovation and manufacturing landscape.
This is particularly relevant for companies implementing or planning a "Develop & Made in China for China" strategy, as well as those seeking to understand how this approach can succeed and why it is increasingly crucial for maintaining competitiveness—both in China and, in the medium term, internationally.
Agenda
21
00
-
21
10
China’s shift from an extended workbench to global innovation hub
Prof. Dr. Gisela Lanza21
10
-
21
20
Why local innovation in China is becoming a atrategic imperative
Rainer Burkhardt21
20
-
21
30
Building Competitive Engineering and R&D Structures in China
Dr. Lucas Bretz21
30
-
21
40
Innovation Made in China: Program Overview
Dr. Daniel Frerichs21
40
-
22
00
China’s shift from an extended workbench to global innovation hub
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Gisela Lanza
wbk Institute of Production Science of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Member of the Institute Management at the wbk Institute of Production Science of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and founder of GAMI.
Why local innovation in China is becoming a atrategic imperative
Speakers
Rainer Burkhardt
Managing Director of Burkhardt & PartnerBuilding Competitive Engineering and R&D Structures in China
Speakers
Dr. Lucas Bretz
General Manager at Global Advanced Manufacturing Institute (GAMI)Dr. Lucas Bretz leads GAMI as a General Manager since 2021. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), he developed and applied new approaches to quality assurance as a research associate at the Institute of Production Science (KIT/wbk). He has conducted over 30 industry consulting projects in the areas of factory digitalization, production optimization, and quality management, collaborating with internationally renowned companies. His work has provided him with fruitful international experiences in Germany, China, Canada, and Nicaragua. For his PhD thesis, he focused on function-oriented quality assurance of hybrid fiber-reinforced polymers using artificial intelligence and digital twins. Dr. Bretz offers new perspectives with his broad experience from international industry projects combined with the latest industrial research approaches from Germany.
Innovation Made in China: Program Overview
Speakers
Dr. Daniel Frerichs
AsiapilotsEntrepreneur and manager with 15 years of experience in international cultural contexts (Asia-Europe-Africa), including ten years in leadership positions in Chinese and European companies in Shanghai. He holds a doctorate in communication science and studied management, political science, and economics at the University of Bamberg. In 2020, he founded the first European Economic Development Office of the Huangpu District (Guangzhou) in Germany and developed it into a well-known representation of the entire Greater Bay Area. He is an author, popular podcast guest, and expert, particularly on the innovation ecosystem of the Greater Bay Area.
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Gisela Lanza
wbk Institute of Production Science of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
More Information
Prof. Dr. Gisela
Lanza
wbk Institute of Production Science of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Member of the Institute Management at the wbk Institute of Production Science of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and founder of GAMI.
Dr. Lucas
Bretz
General Manager at Global Advanced Manufacturing Institute (GAMI)
Dr. Lucas Bretz leads GAMI as a General Manager since 2021. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), he developed and applied new approaches to quality assurance as a research associate at the Institute of Production Science (KIT/wbk). He has conducted over 30 industry consulting projects in the areas of factory digitalization, production optimization, and quality management, collaborating with internationally renowned companies. His work has provided him with fruitful international experiences in Germany, China, Canada, and Nicaragua. For his PhD thesis, he focused on function-oriented quality assurance of hybrid fiber-reinforced polymers using artificial intelligence and digital twins. Dr. Bretz offers new perspectives with his broad experience from international industry projects combined with the latest industrial research approaches from Germany.
Dr. Daniel
Frerichs
Asiapilots
Entrepreneur and manager with 15 years of experience in international cultural contexts (Asia-Europe-Africa), including ten years in leadership positions in Chinese and European companies in Shanghai. He holds a doctorate in communication science and studied management, political science, and economics at the University of Bamberg. In 2020, he founded the first European Economic Development Office of the Huangpu District (Guangzhou) in Germany and developed it into a well-known representation of the entire Greater Bay Area. He is an author, popular podcast guest, and expert, particularly on the innovation ecosystem of the Greater Bay Area.
Rainer
Burkhardt
Managing Director of Burkhardt & Partner
Matthias Li
Acad. Employee at Karlsruhe Institute Of Technology
Leads and organizes this delegation trip to China as an academic. Employee of the wbk Institute of Production Science (KIT).
