"Sustainability without innovation requires compromise, whilst sustainability with innovation leads to growth and competitiveness. Innovations enable the Mittelstand enterprises to use resources more efficiently, implement energy- and cost-saving processes, produce more durable, repairable products, and develop new services and business models – and thus enhance their competitiveness," reported Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Friederike Welter (IfM Bonn/University of Siegen) in early July in her keynote at the SDFS Impulsforum 2026 in Kreuztal-Buschhütten.
Representatives from industry, academia and politics gathered at the Buschhütten campus under the motto “Sustainability. Competitiveness. Key technologies for tomorrow’s production” to discuss the future viability of production technology in Germany.
