Gaining a better understanding of what matters tomorrow

Which technology will prevail? How are customer preferences, supply chains, or business models changing? And what is more than just a short-term trend? Companies today have to make decisions whose consequences often only become apparent years later. Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, face a challenge here: they often lack the time and staff required for systematic market monitoring and long-term analysis.

This is where strategic foresight comes in. It does not predict what is to come, but rather examines various possible developments. This makes it possible to assess which changes could be relevant to one’s own business and what consequences might result.

The Bavarian Foresight Institute at THI is investigating how this approach can be applied to small and medium-sized enterprises. The focus is on ‘Open Foresight’: the aim is to pool and adapt the knowledge and methods of foresight in such a way that even small and medium-sized enterprises can utilise them at a reasonable cost.

At Digital Tuesday on 22 September 2026, from 11.30 am to 12.15 pm, academia will meet business practice. Professor Stefanie Wrobel from the Bavarian Foresight Institute at THI will discuss key future-oriented issues facing SMEs with Sebastian Schenk, Managing Director of MAWA GmbH in Pfaffenhofen. The discussion will also cover how to deal with uncertainty and the role that foresight can play. Dr Gerhard Schönhofer will moderate the discussion. There will be an opportunity for discussion afterwards.

Digital Tuesday is a joint series of events organised by THI’s “Mensch in Bewegung” and IFG Ingolstadt AöR. It addresses current topics from the worlds of science, business and society and brings together experts from research and practice for discussion.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is available at https://eveeno.com/265084046.