The conference dealt in depth with the questions "What will innovations beyond the cloud look like?", "Are digital innovations significantly linked to a cloud model?" and "What demands are we facing - technically, economically, but also politically?".

Nothing stands for the change to a digital world as much as the cloud. 

In the introductory lecture by Dr. Bernd Reifenhäuser, he addressed the question of whether distributed and, if necessary, coherent systems such as blockchains can replace the centralistic cloud concept of today and what innovation potential Industry 4.0 entails beyond the cloud. This covered the central role of new networking concepts as well as quantum computing as the basis for Innovation Beyond The Cloud. This was followed by a brief overview of GIP's R&D activities with a focus on the Quantum Grid as a new distributive energy ecosystem.

Dr. Alexander Ebbes gave an insight into the latest development of the Xyna product family. In addition to motivating the conference exhibits demonstrated in the Xyna Café, his presentation laid out the future of networking in terms of "Thinking Beyond Computing."

During a workshop on "Quantum Grid & BlockChains in the Energy Industry", there was an eager discussion on the current state of research regarding the energy grid of the future. Prof. Dr. Andreas Sumper from CITCEA Barcelona Tech led this workshop and presented a prototype of the Quantum Grid Router.

Dr. Hugo Blaum's presentation focused on Industry 4.0. From an industry perspective, he highlighted the paradigm shift within production by increasing the level of automation and the disruptive effects on supply chains by highly networking the individual building blocks. In addition, he explained the potential for new players who, as digital disruptors, are massively shaking the still existing top position of German industry through digitally orchestrated production concepts.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen W. Falter impressively illuminated how society, in particular the political landscape and democracy, will confront the phenomena of digital transformation and which processes of upheaval are on the horizon.

From the agenda:

• Dr. Bernd Reifenhäuser
  President, GIP Research Institute
  »Beyond The Cloud – Challenges for Service Providers & Digital Innovations«
• Dr. Alexander Ebbes
  CTO GIP AG and CEO GIP Exyr GmbH
  »Die Xyna Produktfamilie als Plattform für digitale Innovation«
• Dr. Hugo Blaum
  Executive Vice President Regional Head DACH&EE, GEA Refrigeration Technologies GmbH | Chairman of the Board VDMA-Fachverband Allgemeine Lufttechnik
  »Industrie 4.0: Ein Blick aus der Praxis in die Zukunft«
• Prof. Dr. Jürgen W. Falter
  University of Mainz, Institute for Political Science
  »Digitalisierung und Auswirkung auf Politik und Gesellschaft«
• Workshop with Prof. Dr. Andreas Sumper
  CITCEA Barcelona Tech
  »Quantum Grid (QGrid) & BlockChains in der Energiewirtschaft«