5-HT Innovators Club
Discover Future Labs & Smart Production
Curated event with limited capacity
Where AI meets Automation & Robotics in Labs & Production
Connecting the Innovators Shaping the Future
Expect Exclusive Insights. Meaningful Connections. Out-of-the-Box Impulses. The 5-HT Innovators Club 2026 brings together selected innovators, industry leaders, researchers, startups and technology experts to discuss the latest AI-driven transformative developments in lab and production. As the annual flagship gathering of 5-HT welcoming also the Rhine-Neckar Lab Automation Community, the event offers an exclusive platform for high-level exchange, collaboration and inspiration within one of Europe's most dynamic innovation ecosystems. This is not a mass conference – it is a curated innovation community.
Please see here for the recap of last year's event.
Inspiring Keynotes & Expert Talks
Gain valuable insights from leading experts in industry, academia and startups on the latest trends shaping AI-driven automation in labs and production.
Interactive Workshops
Explore practical challenges, implementation strategies and future opportunities in collaborative workshop sessions designed for hands-on exchange and real-world relevance.
Startup & Technology Showcases
Experience cutting-edge startup solutions, emerging technologies and new approaches transforming automation, digitalization and AI-supported processes.
Top-Level Networking
Connect with decision-makers, scientists, technology providers and innovation leaders from across the industry.
Exclusive Community Experience
Benefit from the unique atmosphere of an invite-only event that enables trusted conversations, meaningful interactions and high-quality peer exchange.
Pre-Event Dinner & Networking Atmosphere
Build new relationships and deepen existing connections during the exclusive Pre-Event Dinner and dedicated networking sessions throughout the event.
Agenda
Exploring AI's Impact on the Next Generation Lab & Production.
Wednesday, 4. November 2026
Pre-Event Dinner & Get-Together
Dinner & informal get-together in a relaxed atmosphere at the ATLANTIC Hotel Heidelberg's restaurant. For the evening celebration, we invite you to 15 High on the top floor of the hotel to enjoy exquisite cuisine and unique drinks, and to end the day with a breathtaking sunset over the city.
Room: 15 High, ATLANTIC Hotel Heidelberg
Thursday, 5. November 2026
Registration & Coffee
Room: Foyer Ball Room
Opening 5-HT
Agenda & Housekeeping
Room: Ball Room
Keynote: The Scale Code – How Digital Business Models Grow
(and what China does differently)
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft (University of Münster)
Room: Ball Room
| Ball Room Smart Lab Automation | Room 1 Agentic Applications | Room 2 Equipment & Workflows | Room 3 Data & Integration as a foundation for AI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30–10:55 |
Turning Data into Value: How hte supports the global chemical and energy industry in sustainable developments and operation efficiency Stephan Schunk (hte) |
From Digitalization to Impact: How AI, Automation & Robotics transform the future Lab Stefan Scheuermann (Fraunhofer IPA) |
From Stand-Alone Centrifugation to Integrated Laboratory Workflows Daniel Adam (Herolab) |
Lab as a Code: From SiLA Standard to Real-World Impact at Roche Patrick Courtney (TEC-Connection), Robert Zechlin (UniteLabs), Tom Kissling |
| 11:00–11:25 |
Laboratory Automation in a GLP-regulated Environment Mario Richter (AbbVie) |
Beyond Automation: the Age of Agentic Labs Heinrich Nikonow (AWS) |
Lab Automation in Practice: Using LADS to Integrate AI into Smart Production Janina Bolling (SPECTARIS) & Maximilian Wiens (Wiens Synefex GmbH) |
Achieving Lab Digitization at Scale through Reusable Patterns Burkhard Schäfer (Splashlake) |
| 11:30–11:55 |
Autonomous Lab Moonshot: Vision to the start of reality Dr. Eric Sletten (CTC gGmbH) |
Beyond Monitoring: How Agentic AI turns Lab Data into Action Luise Kaven (aChEntic) |
Stop Automating Tasks. Start Orchestrating Decisions. How autonomous enterprises connect AI, data and business processes into continuous execution. Ralf Lehmann (SAP) |
From Documentation to Insights: Unlocking 70+ Years of R&D Knowledge through AI Jochen Meier (Südzucker) |
10:30–10:55
-
Ball Room · Smart Lab Automation
Turning Data into Value: How hte supports the global chemical and energy industry in sustainable developments and operation efficiency
Stephan Schunk (hte)
-
Room 1 · Agentic Applications
From Digitalization to Impact: How AI, Automation & Robotics transform the future Lab
Stefan Scheuermann (Fraunhofer IPA)
-
Room 2 · Equipment & Workflows
From Stand-Alone Centrifugation to Integrated Laboratory Workflows
Daniel Adam (Herolab)
-
Room 3 · Data & Integration as a foundation for AI
Lab as a Code: From SiLA Standard to Real-World Impact at Roche
Patrick Courtney (TEC-Connection), Robert Zechlin (UniteLabs), Tom Kissling
11:00–11:25
-
Ball Room · Smart Lab Automation
Laboratory Automation in a GLP-regulated Environment
Mario Richter (AbbVie)
-
Room 1 · Agentic Applications
Beyond Automation: the Age of Agentic Labs
Heinrich Nikonow (AWS)
-
Room 2 · Equipment & Workflows
Lab Automation in Practice: Using LADS to Integrate AI into Smart Production
Janina Bolling (SPECTARIS) & Maximilian Wiens (Wiens Synefex GmbH)
-
Room 3 · Data & Integration as a foundation for AI
Achieving Lab Digitization at Scale through Reusable Patterns
Burkhard Schäfer (Splashlake)
11:30–11:55
-
Ball Room · Smart Lab Automation
Autonomous Lab Moonshot: Vision to the start of reality
Dr. Eric Sletten (CTC gGmbH)
-
Room 1 · Agentic Applications
Beyond Monitoring: How Agentic AI turns Lab Data into Action
Luise Kaven (aChEntic)
-
Room 2 · Equipment & Workflows
Stop Automating Tasks. Start Orchestrating Decisions.
How autonomous enterprises connect AI, data and business processes into continuous execution.
Ralf Lehmann (SAP)
-
Room 3 · Data & Integration as a foundation for AI
From Documentation to Insights: Unlocking 70+ Years of R&D Knowledge through AI
Jochen Meier (Südzucker)
Lunch & Networking
| Ball Room Interactive Workshops | Room 1 Expert Talks | Room 2 Expert Talks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00–13:25 |
13:00–13:55 Future of Lab Automation Stefan Scheuermann & Richard Rösch (Fraunhofer IPA) |
From Excel to AI: Your Journey towards Laboratory Data Excellence Dr. Till Dettmering (adesso) |
AI Value Comes from Transformation, not Technology Marcus Pospiech (BASF) |
| 13:30–13:55 |
Orchestrating Autonomous Labs: Integrating Robotics, Data & AI Julian Schülein (BASF) |
Funding Advisory Services Alexander Böser / Matthias Rocca (Pfif) |
|
| 14:00–14:25 |
14:00–14:55 Making Knowledge AI-Ready: Why Data Quality Matters Mathias Otto (Empolis Information Management) |
AI Agents & Knowledge Graphs in a Fair Automated Lab Nick Garabedian (Datin) |
Data from routine lab diagnostics will drive the next generation of discoveries Manasi Aichmüller-Ratnaparkhe (Paicon) |
| 14:30–14:55 |
Sovereign Industrial AI in Action: Tangible Ecosystem Co-Innovation for Smart & Adaptive Production Mirko Paul (Smart Systems Hub) |
13:00–13:25
-
Ball Room · Interactive Workshops
13:00–13:55
Future of Lab Automation
Stefan Scheuermann & Richard Rösch (Fraunhofer IPA)
-
Room 1 · Expert Talks
From Excel to AI: Your Journey towards Laboratory Data Excellence
Dr. Till Dettmering (adesso)
-
Room 2 · Expert Talks
AI Value Comes from Transformation, not Technology
Marcus Pospiech (BASF)
13:30–13:55
-
Room 1 · Expert Talks
Orchestrating Autonomous Labs: Integrating Robotics, Data & AI
Julian Schülein (BASF)
-
Room 2 · Expert Talks
Funding Advisory Services
Alexander Böser / Matthias Rocca (Pfif)
14:00–14:25
-
Ball Room · Interactive Workshops
14:00–14:55
Making Knowledge AI-Ready: Why Data Quality Matters
Mathias Otto (Empolis Information Management)
-
Room 1 · Expert Talks
AI Agents & Knowledge Graphs in a Fair Automated Lab
Nick Garabedian (Datin)
-
Room 2 · Expert Talks
Data from routine lab diagnostics will drive the next generation of discoveries
Manasi Aichmüller-Ratnaparkhe (Paicon)
14:30–14:55
-
Room 1 · Expert Talks
Sovereign Industrial AI in Action: Tangible Ecosystem Co-Innovation for Smart & Adaptive Production
Mirko Paul (Smart Systems Hub)
Coffee & Networking
Panel Discussion
More will be announced
Room: Ball Room
Closing
Our Partners
Cooperation with leading experts and organizations.
Do you want to contribute as partner?
Contact us!Exhibitors & Startups
Discover cutting-edge startups and technology providers shaping the future of AI-supported lab automation, digitalization, research and production.
Would you like to become an exhibitor, or apply to be a speaker or startup?
Contact us!Secure your spot
Join the Innovators Shaping the Future. Be part of the exclusive community.
The event takes place at ATLANTIC Hotel Heidelberg, Europaplatz 1, 69115 Heidelberg.
Please register with your business mail address. We have arranged special rates for our guests at the ATLANTIC Hotel Heidelberg. With 310 elegant rooms, the hotel offers ideal accommodations and features its own underground parking garage. It is located right next to Heidelberg Central Station.
This is a curated event with limited capacity. Your place is only reserved after you receive an explicit confirmation from 5-HT Chemistry & Health.
Note on image and sound recordings
We would like to inform you that you may be filmed and/or photographed at the event and that Digital Hub Rhein-Neckar GmbH and other participants in the livestream may be able to make video and audio recordings of you for documentary purposes during the event. By participating in the event, you declare your consent to the Digital Hub and its representatives that such image and sound recordings may be made of you.
Who Should Attend?
The event is designed for selected experts and decision-makers from the following fields.
Chemistry & Pharma
For professionals driving innovation, efficiency and digital transformation across chemical, pharmaceutical and industrial environments.
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
For experts shaping the future of biotech, healthcare and life science research and production through advanced technologies and data-driven approaches.
AI, Data & Informatics
For specialists working on artificial intelligence, data science, connected infrastructures and intelligent information systems.
Automation, Robotics & Digital R&D
For innovators developing autonomous workflows, smart lab technologies and next-generation research environments.
Research & Academia
For scientists, universities and research organizations exploring cutting-edge technologies and collaborative innovation opportunities.
Startups & Innovation Ecosystem
For startups, scaleups and innovation leaders bringing disruptive solutions and fresh ideas to the future lab & production ecosystem.
Voices from the Community
"It's rare to see such a well-curated mix of lab tech users, solution providers and relevant start-ups coming together in such a productive atmosphere."
Simon Bungers
WALDNER
"The discussions were incredibly fruitful, and I returned with a wealth of inspiring ideas that can greatly benefit our teams and projects."
Cornelia Hoß
Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
"I left buzzing with ideas; it's been a while since I felt this inspired! A bold call: let's share our code. Open-source keeps tools alive, useful, and cross-industry – even if the original team moves on."
Marco Tibaldi
Amsterdam Chemistry Network