AI & Data-driven Simulation Forum
15 July 2026 | Neckarsulm (Bechtle PLM Deutschland GmbH)
How is Artificial Intelligence transforming the way we develop, test, and validate products? And how can we move from promising pilot projects to robust, user-ready solutions in industrial practice?
The AI & Data-Driven Simulation Forum brings together leading experts from industry and research to address these questions. The focus is on the next evolution of engineering: the intelligent integration of simulation, data, and AI into seamless, learning-driven development processes. While traditional engineering approaches are often sequential and iterative, data-driven methods enable a fundamental shift: Designs are no longer just validated - they are continuously optimized, automatically generated, and data-backed.
The combination of physics-based simulation and AI opens entirely new possibilities: from drastically accelerating complex analysis and using surrogate models to continuous optimization in “Closed-Loop Engineering.”
Yet despite this huge potential, many companies struggle with limited tool interoperability, poor AI integration into established workflows, missing standards, and low trust in AI results - leaving impressive proofs of concept stranded outside everyday engineering.
This is exactly where the forum comes in.
Together, we explore how innovative approaches can be transformed into scalable, robust, and user-friendly environments that integrate seamlessly into real development organizations. The forum addresses the full spectrum of development challenges for on-road and off-road vehicles - spanning automotive, transportation, agriculture, construction equipment, special-purpose vehicles, and mobile robotics. Topics range from CAE-driven development to virtual validation and certification workflows for automated and software-defined vehicles and mobile machineries.
Cooperative Event of
Countdown
AGENDA
15 July 2026
8:15 AM CEST
Registration & Coffee
Arrival of participants, networking, and visit to the Communication & Experience Area
8:45 AM
Welcome & Introduction
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Slusallek |
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Remlinger | Automotive Solution Center for Simulation e.V.
9:00 AM
Keynote
tba
STREAM A1
9:45 AM | PLATIN SPONSOR
Agentic Commerce in B2B - How AI at
Bechtle Is Moving from Use Case to Everyday Practice
Mark F. Siller | Bechtle PLM Deutschland GmbH
10:05 AM | GOLD SPONSOR
AI Empowered Engineering: Virtual Companions
Daniel Vallicotti | Dassault Systèmes
STREAM B1
9:45 AM | GOLD SPONSOR
GeomAI: Fast & Efficient AI-Generated and Optimized Designs for High-Performance Thermal Management
N.N. | ANSYS part of Synopsys
10:05 AM
AI-based Software Development and Application for Vehicle Thermal Management and HVAC Control
Daniel Braun | AVL Deutschland GmbH
10:25 AM
Matchmaking Break
Coffee and Visit to the Communication & Experience Area
STREAM A2
11:10 AM |
GOLD SPONSOR
Governed by Physics, Driven by Data: Accelerating Virtual Validation with SciML and AI Agents
Dr. Michael Hoffmann | JuliaHub
11:30 AM
AI Prediction of Forming-induced Material Changes for Crash Simulation
Sarah Zenne, Dr. Joachim Sprave, Markus Feucht | Mercedes-Benz AG
11:50 AM
AI-Enhanced CAE for Accelerated Structural Assessment
Christian Kurzböck | Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH
12:10 PM
Linking Semantic Knowledge with Large Language Models: Towards an AI which understands CAE
Dr.-Ing. Dirk Rensink | Segula Technologies
STREAM B2
11:10 AM
Closing the Sim2real Gap for End2end ADAS/AD Training by Combining Controllable Simulation with Video Transfer AI Models
Florian Albert, Victor Peneff | AVES Reality GmbH
11:30 AM
From ODD Boundaries to Regulation-Ready Scenarios: AI-Driven Simulation for Continuous Automated Driving Validation
Stephen Lernout | Deontic
11:50 AM
ENVITED-X: From Bilateral Contracts to a First Agentic Simulation Data Space
Felix Hoops | ASCS e.V.
12:10 PM
tba
tba
12:30 PM
Matchmaking Break
Lunch and Visit to the Communication & Experience Area
STREAM A3
1:30 PM
Toward Sovereign, Hybrid Platforms for HPC, AI, and Simulation Workloads
Frank Kraemer | IBM Deutschland GmbH
1:50 PM
When GPUs Become Geopolitics: AI, Simulation, and European IT Sovereignty
Dr. Marcus Camen | science + computing AG
2:10 PM
Fishbowl-Discussion - European Simulation & AI Souvereignity
Christopher Sieb | science + computing AG
Carlo van Driesten | BMW AG
Frank Kraemer | IBM Deutschland GmbH
STREAM B3
1:30 PM
How Machine Learning Can Support Multidisciplinary Optimization in Lightweight Vehicle Structure Development
Dr. André Backes | TECOSIM GmbH
1:50 PM
Transform Engineering with the Power of AI in Simulation
Roman Reuschke | Altair Engineering GmbH (a Siemens Company)
2:10 PM
Simulation Data Management as the Backbone for AI-Assisted CAE Workflows
Marko Thiele | SCALE GmbH
2:30 PM
Soon Every Second Engineer Will be an AI Agent: Where Can You Harness Their Real Added Value?
Tobias Wigand| Synera GmbH
2:50 PM
Matchmaking Break
Coffee and Visit to the Communication & Experience Area
STREAM A4
3:20 PM
The Cybernetic Enterprise 2026 - Harmonizing Agentic AI, Digital Sovereignty, and Closed-Loop Mobility
Yao Schultz-Zheng | E-Mobility Sharing Economy Services
3:40 PM
Interactive Presentation
From Prompting to Purpose - Shaping the Paradigm Shift of AI-Integration in a Humane, Effective and Responsible Way.
Lutz Morich | SYSTEM IMPULSE
STREAM B4
3:20 PM
Testing (with) AI: Moving Towards More Robust AI
Fiete Lüer | Gofore GmbH
3:40 PM
Accelerating Virtual Development: An Agentic AI Workflow for Automotive Test Specification
Tobias Domke - ITK Engineering GmbH
4:00 PM
High Precision Time Series Regression for Automotive Powertrain Development & More
Dr. Michael Grill | FKFS
4:30 PM
Closing Keynote
tba
5:10 PM
Final Remarks
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Slusallek | German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Remlinger | Automotive Solution Center for Simulation e.V.
5:15 PM
End
PRE-EVENTS
The AI & Data-driven Simulation Forum is accompanied on the pre-day, July 14, by the
AI & Data-driven Simulation Summit
for decision-makers and the
18th ASCS Annual General Assembly.
IMPRESSIONS
of the AI & Data-driven Simulation Forum 2024, Böblingen
SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS
Platin Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Exhibitors
Strategic Event Partner
Who Should Attend
This B2B forum is aimed at professionals driving the transformation of engineering through AI, data, and simulation across the automotive and mobility sectors - and is equally open to other industries facing similar challenges.
It is ideal for decision-makers, R&D leaders, engineers, and researchers who want to move beyond pilot projects and implement scalable, user-ready AI solutions in real development environments.
Open to both ASCS members and non-members, the forum welcomes those working in simulation, AI, high-performance computing, and data-driven development.
LOCATION
Bechtle PLM Deutschland GmbH
Bechtle Platz 1
74172 Neckarsulm
Germany
© Bechtle PLM Deutschland GmbH
Showcase Your Technology
at AI & Data-driven Simulation Summit + Forum 2026
Would you like to present your cutting-edge technology to our audience of decision makers, technical experts, researchers and connect with potential partners and clients? Our exhibition area on 14 + 15 July offers the ideal platform to showcase your solutions, products, or services to an engaged and forward-thinking crowd.
Whether you’re working on groundbreaking simulation software, advanced AI technologies or intelligent services in the field of mobility simulation, we’re excited to feature your innovation at our event. This is your opportunity to highlight your contributions to the future of mobility.
It’s simple to get involved:
Contact us to discuss the possibilities for securing your exhibition stand. Together, we’ll create a space that puts your technology in the spotlight and fosters collaboration with industry leaders and researchers.
Reach out to us now to join the exhibition!
We look forward to hearing from you and showcasing the future of mobility simulation together.
