TUM Connect Meets… Kompetenznetzwerk Mittelstand

5:30 pm
Check-in

6:00 pm
Welcome
by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Helmut Krcmar, Founding Dean (2018‐2022) & Delegate Officer of the President ‐ TUM Campus Heilbronn,
and Dr. Ulrich Spitaler, Head of BVMW District Association City / County Heilbronn

6:15 pm
Keynote speech
by Jörg Ernstberger, Südwestmetall
The shortage of skilled workers ‐ Germany's Achilles heel in global competition
The shortage of skilled workers was already accurately diagnosed decades ago. By 2030, around 5 million more people will retire in Germany than enter the labor market. At the same time, Germany has the luxury of an average working week of 34.7 hours, well below the European average of 37.0 hours. The challenge of labor and skills shortages requires a joint effort by the state, companies, educational institutions, and society. Coordinated strategic planning and cooperative action in the sense of a “Germany Pact,” which is designed for more than one legislative period, are essential for this. The toolbox for repairing the shortage of jobs and skilled workers is full of bursting. However, we should take a file to many areas and not just use sandpaper to deburr the symptoms.

6:45 pm
Workshops:

• Speaker: Wolf‐Michael Gerth, Ingenieursbüro Gerth GmbH
  "New paths and innovations to the digital factory ‐ counteracting the shortage of skilled workers through digitalization and automation."
  Which solutions can be implemented to increase the productivity of the company and, at the same time, sustainably reduce the number of employees?
   
• Speaker: Michael Heidelberger, Dr. Richter Heidelberger GmbH & Co. KG
  "Skills shortage ‐ the challenge of our time."
  What potential does artificial intelligence (AI) offer for the recruitment process of specialists and managers in SMEs, and what strategies are there to attract talent? The shortage of skilled workers in the SME sector is forcing companies to break new ground. Traditional methods are often inefficient and time‐consuming. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play: AI‐based solutions automate active sourcing and find the best talent before they even start looking for a job. Could this mean the end of the traditional recruiting department? This workshop will explore how these technologies are revolutionizing the recruiting process, highlighting limitations and how human recruiters will continue to play a role in the future.
   
• Speaker: Linda Theurer, PEC Consulting
  "Creating synergies between digitalization and humanization ‐ how can it succeed?"
  Where is the humanization in all the digitalization? The more AI and digitalization push forward in SMEs and impress with their qualities, the more people demand empathy, intuition, and individuality. How can a medium‐sized company skillfully reconcile the two and use AI and empathy (MI Human Intelligence) as a synergy? The answer is to develop awareness among the workforce. In her workshop, Linda Theurer will use practical examples to show how this is possible in everyday life.
   
• Speaker: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Helmut Krcmar, Founding Dean (2018‐2022) & Delegate Officer of the President ‐ TUM Campus Heilbronn
  "Potential of AI technologies: useful support for work or even a solution to the shortage of skilled workers"

7:30 pm
Networking