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BIR Industry Bridge

Where Business Meets Academia in Practice!

A curated launch event at the Business Informatics Research (BIR) Conference 2026 in Olten, Switzerland.

Why this event?

Across industries, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation have moved beyond experimentation. Yet many organizations still struggle to translate research insights into real, sustainable business impact.

The BIR Industry Bridge – Launch Edition brings together industry leaders and academic experts to close this gap. This invitation-only pilot event focuses on real-world adoption, lessons learned, and decision-making at scale.

This launch edition is intentionally curated to create meaningful exchange, honest discussion, and practical value.

What to expect

  • Real business perspectives on AI and Hybrid Intelligence adoption
  • Concrete use cases from private and public organizations
  • Short, focused perspectives from current research, translated into business implications
  • Open and honest discussion on what worked, what didn’t, and why
  • A high-quality audience of practitioners, decision-makers, and researchers

This is a practice-driven forum for people who shape digital transformation in real organizations.

Program at glance (13:00 – 16:00)

  • Welcome & Framing – Why the Industry Bridge exists
  • Keynote 1 – AI adoption in organizations
  • Research Insight Summary – What current Business Informatics research means for industry
  • Industry Talks – A concrete implementation story with measurable impact
  • Break & Networking
  • Industry Talks – From pilot to production: lessons learned
  • Panel Discussion – What we underestimated about AI adoption
  • Closing & Outlook – Key takeaways and next steps
  • Apéro & Networking

The program is designed for interaction, reflection, and direct exchange.

Who should attend?

This event is designed for:

  • Executives and senior leaders
  • Heads of Digital, IT, Data, or Innovation
  • Business and AI architects
  • Public sector decision-makers
  • Applied researchers interested in real-world impact

If you are responsible for turning AI into value, this event is for you.

Launch edition

The Industry Bridge is a pilot format within BIR 2026. Our goal is to build a strong foundation for a long-term exchange between research and practice—grounded in trust, relevance, and outcomes.

Your participation helps shape the future of this format.

Join us

Be part of the BIR Industry Bridge – Launch Edition and help connect research with real-world transformation.

Industry meets academia. Practice meets research. Insight meets impact.

How to attend?

Secure your place now by selecting the “Industry Track pass”.

Link to registrations: https://www.bir2026.fhnw.ch/registration/

Seats are limited and the early bird fees are valid until September 11, 2026.

How to present?

We invite forward-thinking companies to share their expertise and experiences at our dedicated Industry Track. This is a unique opportunity to showcase how your organization is harnessing Hybrid Intelligence, AI solutions, and smart technologies to solve business challenges, improve operations, and create competitive advantage. Whether you have implemented innovative automation strategies, transformed customer experiences through intelligent systems, or developed new approaches to human-AI collaboration, we want to hear your story. 

Presenting at the Industry Track of BIR 2026 offers valuable exposure to an international audience of academics, industry peers, and emerging talent — positioning your company as a thought leader in the Business Informatics space. 

We welcome submissions on topics such as AI-driven business transformation, intelligent process optimization, practical applications of data analytics, smart systems in action, and navigating the ethical dimensions of technology adoption. 

To participate, please submit a brief abstract (300–500 words) describing your project or initiative, key business outcomes, and the speaker’s role within your organization. Send your submission via EasyChair by June 30, 2026. All abstracts will be reviewed by industry experts, and authors will be notified of the outcome. If accepted, the presenter is expected to register for the conference to secure their speaking slot. More information on the registration will be provided after the decision. Join us in Olten, Switzerland, and share your success with the global business community!

Presentation Guidelines

We invite 30-minute presentations showcasing concrete applications of AI in various domains. Presentations typically involve collaborations between SMEs and academia, industry experiences, or innovative results from academic, NGO, non-profit, and public institutions.

What to Include in Your Abstract

  • Title: Clear and descriptive presentation title
  • Authors: Name(s) of presenter(s) and affiliation(s)
  • Motivation/Use Case: The business problem or opportunity being addressed
  • Methodology: AI techniques, tools, and approaches used
  • Results: Concrete outcomes, metrics, or achievements
  • Conclusions/Future Work: Key takeaways and next steps

Maximum length: 2000 characters (approximately 300-350 words)

Suitable Topics

  • AI implementation case studies in SMEs
  • Industry-academia collaboration success stories
  • AI solutions for specific industrial challenges
  • Innovative applications in healthcare, manufacturing, or services
  • Lessons learned from AI adoption journeys
  • Tools and frameworks for practical AI deployment

Evaluation Criteria

  • Practical relevance and applicability of the presented use-case to other organisations
  • Innovation and originality of the approach
  • Quality and measurability of results

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