TechRiders Summit 2025 | TechRiders | 2 July 2025 | Euronova Campus, An d. Hasenkaule 22, 50354 Hürth, Germany

This Summit brings together IT decision-makers, technology pioneers, and thought leaders to discuss the strategic challenges of the digital future. All presentations and discussions will be held in German.

• Strategy meets innovation:
AI, cybersecurity, cost optimization and digital sovereignty – what course must companies set today?

• Platform for exchange and inspiration:
AI-supported keynotes, panels and networking with leading minds from business, science and politics – for clear impulses for the digital agenda.

• Technologies that create freedom of action:
At the Expo and on stage, established providers and startups present their future-proof solutions for a sovereign and resilient IT future .

That’s why you shouldn’t miss this Summit.

Inspiring lectures:
• Thought leaders and IT experts show how companies can make their IT infrastructure fit for the future through innovation, security and efficiency.

Exchange at eye level:
• Meet decision-makers and experts – and talk to them about the challenges, solutions and opportunities of the digital future.

Controversial panels:
• Strategic topics meet strong opinions: In our panels, experts discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital future openly, critically and on an equal footing.

Expo:
• Technology providers, start-ups and consultancies present their latest solutions in the areas of cloud, security, blockchain and infrastructure management.

Topic Clusters:

Shaping the future: Gaining a lead with technology
• Innovative technologies are the key to new business models and sustainable success. How companies are securing their competitiveness through AI, blockchain, quantum computing, and more.

Focus: Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Autonomous Systems, Quantum Computing, Metaverse, Continuous Integration & Deployment.

Digital resilience and sovereignty for critical business processes
• How companies set up their IT to withstand cyber risks, meet legal requirements and function reliably even in times of crisis.

Focus areas: IT security, data protection, compliance, governance, business continuity, KRITIS/NIS2.

Increase efficiency. Gain resources. Ensure success.
• Achieve greater performance with modern IT strategies: How automation, cloud, and DevOps help streamline processes and create competitive advantages.

Focus areas: Cloud technologies, containerization, automation, IT cost efficiency, DevOps, managed services.

Who is this Summit for?

CIOs and IT managers:
• Managers who are responsible for the strategic direction and the development of efficient IT structures.

Compliance Manager:
• Specialists who ensure that sensitive data is protected and legal requirements are reliably met.

CISOs and IT security experts:
• Those responsible for implementing secure IT infrastructures and protecting against cyber threats – with the aim of strengthening the company’s digital resilience.

CDOs, innovation managers and developers:
• Managers and specialists who are significantly involved in the implementation of new technologies and digital innovations.

2025 Speakers

Prof. Wolfgang Prinz
Deputy Director of the Institute

Inna Claus
Chief Detective Inspector

Dr. Oliver Mauss
Former CEO, netgo, plusserver, 1&1/Ionos

Dr. rer. nat. Hans Walter Borries
Deputy Chairman of the Board, BSKI

Gregor Schumacher
CEO

Ingo Mommertz
VP Omnichannel IT, Deichmann

Yves Sandfort
CEO, comdivision consulting GmbH

Prof. Dr. Dieter Frey
Partner, FREY Attorneys at Law

Oliver Germer
CEO, GCT / Innovator / Management Consultant

Kai Kölsch
CEO, Seedbox.ai

Florian Hansemann
CEO, HanseSecure

Jörg Deusinger
CEO, DEBIT

Dr. Nils Kaufmann
Partner, ATLAS IoT LAB GmbH

Michael Frenzel
Digital Project Manager, WFG Rhein-Erft

Dominik Tomek
CEO

Dr. Jens Eckhardt
Specialist Lawyer for IT Law, Data Protection Auditor (TÜV), Compliance Officer (TÜV), IT Compliance Manager (TÜV)

Dr. Hans-Joachim Popp
Principal Consultant, BwConsulting GmbH

Guido Breunung
CEO & Pioneer for AI and Avatars

Luisa Schaugg
CEO & Co-Founder

Frank Heim
CEO

Markus Letzner
Managing Director, Ströer SSP GmbH

Jürgen Sturm
CIO, ZF on Catena-X

Thomas Strottner
VP, Edgeless Systems

Ulrich Ahle
CEO, GAIA-X

Max Schrems
Chairman & Data Protection Activist

Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker
IT Security Advisor to the German Federal Government & EU Commission | Director, CCI

Ernst Stöckl-Pukall
Head, “Digitalization & Industry 4.0” Department, BMWK

Dr. rer. nat. Michael Förtsch
CEO, Q.ANT GmbH

Guido Massfeller
Head of Sovereignty EMEA North, Google

Georgina Neitzel
Innovation Lab Groups, ERGO

Dr. Gerd Niehage
CIO & CTO, Formerly at Swisscom & ZF

Timo Wandhöfer
CISO, Klöckner & Co

Hans Pezold
Managing Director, Uniper IT GmbH

Dr. Christian Temath
Managing Director, KI.NRW

Andreas Weiss
Managing Director, eco – Association of the Internet Industry

Ron Kneffel
Chairman of the Board, CISO Alliance e.V.

Valentina Kerst
Senior Partner Manager & Co-Author

Jörg Bienert
President, KI Federal Association

Lisa Nöth
Head of Partner Alliances

Harald Joos
Cloud Officer, German Federal Pension Insurance

Florian Breger
Head of Public Sector Business Unit, IBM

Knut Jessen
CIO, Private Bank Berenberg (Hamburg)

Robin Hermann
Management, STACKIT

Michael Schuster
8ra & Head of Cross Projects, SAP Business Technology Platform

Richard Clasen
Head of E-Business & Digital Ecosystem, WÜRTH

Dr. Swantje Westpfahl
Director, Institute for Security and Safety

Dr. Daniel Stadler
Managing Director, EIN Quantum NRW

Matthias Reidans
Senior Project Manager, Quantum Innovation, Rosenberger

Dr. Raphael Zimmer
Head of Department “Security in Artificial Intelligence,” BSI

Unitree G1
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Christian Mihr
Managing Director Human Rights Impact, Amnesty International Deutschland e.V.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Frauke Rostalski
Member, German Ethics Council & Chair, University of Cologne

Johannes Meyer
Senior Market Development Manager (Cloud), noris network

Volker Kaufmann
Board Member, VIRZ – Association of Innovative Data Centers

Dr. Philipp Rösler
Board Advisor, GCORE

Rudolf Dück
CIO, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Malte Volkwein
Head of Digital Healthcare, Fraunhofer IPA

Felicia Vollkammer
Psychologist | Positive Psychology and Resilience

Mathias Nöbauer
CEO, Exoscale and A1 Digital Director Cloud

Hermann Huber
CISO, Hubert Burda Media

Constanze Bürger
Elected Member of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) Council, ICANN

Jörg Teichfischer
Key Account Manager, LAN-COM-East

Dr. Sebastian Gajek
CTO, enclaive

René Claus
Channel Territory Manager, Enginsight

Daniel Kottlarz
Managing Director, MYBOTSHOP

Thomas Bendig
Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization (BMDS)

Thomas Haida
Customer Happiness Officer, Microsoft

Mikolaj Radlinski (Mike)
Developer Relations Engineer, SOLANA

Manuel Beelen
Head of Security Operations, G DATA CyberDefense

Prof. Dr. Feiyu Xu
AI Pioneer | SAP, Lenovo, Airbus, ZF, ChainIQ

Sebastian Ritz
Gen AI Senior Advisor, WIIT

Davide Capozzi
Innovation Director, WIIT

Claudio Paefgen
Senior Account Manager, PCG

Michael Wolff
Enterprise Strategy Expert, PCG

Fabian Rittmeier
CEO, beansandbytes