On 1 July 2026, the Smart Textiles Platform Austria participated in the Bodenseegespräche VI in Hard, Austria. Organized by GMAR, the event focused on the theme “The Renaissance of Manufacturing – Autonomous, Humanoid, Productive” and brought together around 160 participants from Central Europe, including companies, researchers, technology developers, system integrators, and industrial users. The event was specifically designed as a networking platform for robotics and automation across the D-A-CH region.
The conference addressed current developments in artificial intelligence, autonomous production systems, humanoid robotics, automation, and sensor technologies. A central topic was the transition from conventional automated production lines towards intelligent and increasingly autonomous manufacturing systems, as well as the potential role of humanoid robots in bridging the gap between manual processes and full automation. The keynote by Associate Prof. Astrid Weiss from TU Wien focused on human-robot collaboration and the role of social robots in the future workplace. Further sessions addressed Physical AI, industrial applications of humanoid robots, AI, robotics and sensor technology, as well as automation solutions specifically relevant to SMEs.
For the Smart Textiles Platform Austria, participation provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with companies, developers, researchers, and industrial users and to explore the interfaces between smart textiles, sensor technologies, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Particular attention was given to identifying potential cooperation partners and new technological approaches that could be relevant for future smart textile applications and production processes. The event also included structured B2B networking to facilitate new cross-border collaborations within the D-A-CH region.
Participation in the Bodenseegespräche VI directly supported the objectives of the ATIMA project by strengthening cross-sectoral networking and knowledge transfer between advanced materials, smart textiles, robotics, automation, and digital manufacturing. Connecting the Smart Textiles Platform with stakeholders outside the traditional textile sector is particularly relevant for identifying new technology combinations and application opportunities.
