ERFURT_It is the most important annual showcase of Thuringia's innovative strength: the ChampionsMEET, which the Thuringian Ministry of Economics and the LEG will host this year on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The venue is the Eiermannbau in Apolda, and as with the three previous editions, everything revolves around the marketing campaign “Hidden Champions – Thuringian World Market and Technology Leaders“, within the framework of which the Ministry and the LEG have awarded over 100 high-performing Thuringian SMEs since 2023 that have achieved market or technology leadership in their market segments. This year's ChampionsMEET will also provide current information about the campaign as well as an honor for the three newest “Hidden Champions“ with the participation of Minister of Economics Colette Boos-John, State Secretary for Economic Affairs Mario Suckert, and LEG Managing Director Andreas Krey. The three award winners are PACETEQ GmbH (Leinefelde-Worbis), optiX fab GmbH (Jena), and Bikar AEROSPACE GmbH Korbußen). More than 100 leading companies are expected at the event, which significantly shape the image of Thuringia as a location for excellence, precision, and innovative strength.
In addition to the awards for the latest hidden champions, the flagship event of the innovation campaign offers further highlights: The Free State of Thuringia will be named “Innovation Location of the Year”, not least against the backdrop of the campaign and the associated innovation potential; the award will be presented by Michael Oelmann, Chairman of the “Innovator of the Year” panel. The official ceremony will follow in November in Berlin, but the handover in Apolda is already a strong signal for the state's successful location policy. The keynote speech by Dr. Daniel Stelter will also provide valuable impetus for the companies present. The renowned macroeconomist, strategic advisor, and publicist is considered one of the most influential economists in Germany. In numerous widely acclaimed non-fiction books, he has published critical analyses of economic and financial policy. Following his lecture, he will be available for a discussion round, as the lively exchange among participants is a key focus of the event.
Further information at:
https://www.hidden-champions-thuringia.de/thueringer-championsmeet
