November 5, 2025 | Dompalais, Erfurt
AGKW 2026 Annual Event November 11, 2026 | 09:30-15:30 | Dompalais Erfurt
Economic Development 2030: Opportunities in Rural Areas.
How can Thuringia's municipalities and regions actively shape their future and sustainably secure their competitiveness? The AGKW Annual Conference 2026 focuses on the potential of rural areas and shows how municipal economic development can successfully accompany this transformation.
The focus is on the participants' joint exchange on current challenges and future topics such as securing skilled workers, area development, transformation, regional cooperation, and new value creation models. Successful practical examples of business development are, as has proven effective, part of the program and provide impetus for all event guests, with personal professional exchange on top.
A key component is the joint dialogue: at moderated topic tables, participants discuss specific questions of municipal business development, share experiences, and develop recommendations for action for the future.
Look forward to an annual reunion with good conversations, a relaxed atmosphere, and always new impulses for the economic development of tomorrow.
Prof. Dr. Henning Vöpel Keynote Speaker
Prof. Dr. Henning Vöpel has been Director of the Centre for European Policy with offices in Berlin, Freiburg, Paris, and Rome since 2021, as well as Chairman of the Foundation for Ordnungspolitik. He also teaches as Professor of Economics at the BSP Business and Law School. Previously, Vöpel was Director and Managing Director of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI) from 2014 to 2021. After his studies and doctorate, Vöpel founded the consulting firm EconView before joining HWWI, where he headed the research areas of Business Cycles and World Economy. He participated several times in the so-called Joint Economic Forecast of the German government and in the International Visitors Leadership Program of the US State Department. Vöpel serves on various international and national advisory boards. His research focuses include general economic policy, geopolitics and globalization, as well as digitalization and transformation.
AGKW 2026 Program
| from 9:30 AM | Arrival & Registration |
| 10:00 AM | Welcome Herbert Stütz | Economic Development LEG Thüringen |
| 10:15 AM | Funding opportunities in the field of economic development Dr. Sabine Awe | Economic Development TMWLLR |
| 10:30 a.m | Keynote: Future Impulse Prof. Dr. Henning Vöpel | cep Institute |
| 11:35 a.m | Practice Insights & Exchange |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch & Networking |
| 1:00 PM | Future Forum: Market of Ideas - 4 Topic Tables, 4 Questions Moderation: Anna Elisabeth Rinke | Economic Development LEG Thüringen |
| 2:30 PM | Results & Perspectives Anna Elisabeth Rinke | Economic Development LEG Thüringen |
| 2:45 PM | Coffee & Networking |
| 3:30 PM | End of the event |
Directions
By public transport
The Dompalais is a 2-minute walk from the tram stop “Theater”. From the main train station, you can reach it with line 2 (P+R-Platz Messe). Alternatively, there is the stop “Domplatz Nord”. It is 5 minutes away and is served by lines 3 (Europaplatz) and 6 (Rieth).
to the timetable information of the Erfurt transport company
By car
The Dompalais is located on the edge of the historic old town between the cathedral and the New Theater. In Erfurt, follow the signs for “Zentrum” and “Parkhaus Domplatz” or the “Theater” parking garage.
to route planning in Google Maps
Parking options
Parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the Dompalais Erfurt are provided by the parking garages “Domplatz“ and “Theater“. The Dompalais is located in a paid parking zone. If you find a parking space on the street, you must purchase a parking ticket.
That was the AGKW 2025 annual event
Survey on the term digitalization
Survey on the term digitalization
Megatrend Generative AI - the potential of ChatGPT & Co. in economic development, Prof. Dr. Christian Stummeyer
Megatrend Generative AI - the potential of ChatGPT & Co. in economic development, Prof. Dr. Christian Stummeyer
Digitally successful, ThEx Thuringia, Industry 4.0, We shape the digital transformation, Roberto Schmidt, Digital Agency Thuringia
Digitally successful, ThEx Thuringia, Industry 4.0, We shape the digital transformation, Roberto Schmidt, Digital Agency Thuringia
Thematic workshop, understanding of roles and tasks of economic development agencies, What are our actual goals / tasks?
Thematic workshop, understanding of roles and tasks of economic development agencies, What are our actual goals / tasks?
| from 9:30 AM | Arrival & Registration |
| 10:00 | Joint Opening Herbert Stütz | Head of Economic Development Department Thuringian State Development Company mbH Dr. Sabine Awe | Head of Economic Development Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Areas |
| 10:35 | KEYNOTE: Megatrend Generative AI – the potential of ChatGPT & Co. in economic development Prof. Dr. Christian Stummeyer | Business Informatics and Digital Commerce Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt |
| 11:35 | Innovation approach | Practical example: Smart City Thuringia |
| 11:50 a.m | Innovation Approach | Practical Example: Innovation Spaces and Labs |
| 12:00 PM | Dine & Connect With dialogue and information stations |
| 1:10 PM | Introduction to the schedule of the parallel workshops Anna Elisabeth Rinke Thuringian State Development Company mbH |
| 1:15 p.m | Thematic workshop: Understanding of roles and tasks of economic development agencies What are our goals and tasks actually? Workshop leader: Marcus Bals | Head of Economic Development, Sömmerda District |
| 2:00 PM | Thematic workshop: Digitalization versus analog reality. What is necessary, what is possible? Workshop leader: TBD. |
| 2:45 PM | Final review & outlook Anna Elisabeth Rinke Thuringian State Development Company mbH |
| 3:00 p.m | Conclusion & Exchange Drinks & pastries |
| 4:00 PM | End of the event |
Prof. Dr. Christian Stummeyer
Prof. Dr. Christian Stummeyer is one of the leading German experts in digitalization and artificial intelligence and is certified as CSP (Certified Speaking Professional). With practical impulses and strategic foresight, he elevates the topic of digitalization to a concrete, applicable level for Thuringia's economic development and inspires with forward-looking ideas. Informative, practical, and understandable with a touch of humor, he motivates his audience to seize the opportunities of AI technology.
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