On 12 March 2026, Hof University of Applied Sciences will host the next IT Forum Upper Franconia – one of the most important regional flagship events on digitalization, IT innovations and future technologies. Organized by the Institute for Information Systems (iisys) at Hof University of Applied Sciences together with strong partners from business and science, the forum is aimed at decision-makers, companies, research institutions and anyone interested in digital transformation.
Under the guiding theme of “Digital sovereignty – data and IT under control?”, current developments, challenges and solutions relating to cloud dependencies, AI infrastructures, data strategies and modern corporate IT will be highlighted.
Keynotes 2026
The keynotes offer an exciting range of perspectives on technology, digitalization and social transformation. State Secretary Dr. Silke Launert, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, will kick things off. Afterwards, award-winning science journalist Eva Wolfangel will talk about “The invisible monopolies behind AI and the cloud – why we need to rethink digital sovereignty” and shed light on the risks and challenges of the digital world. Prof. Dr. Gunter Dueck, mathematician, bestselling author and former Chief Technology Officer at IBM Germany, will conclude the event with his lecture “”Humanoids, take over!” – How robots are becoming our fellow humans and what opportunities this offers our economy”, in which he will give impulses for the use of digitalization and artificial intelligence for the future of Germany.
IT-Forum Oberfranken 2026; Image: Federal Government of Germany;
Program highlights
The full program of the IT Forum Upper Franconia includes keynotes, interactive breaks, startup pitches and four parallel theme rooms on current future fields:
- Open source as the foundation of digital sovereignty
- Sovereign cloud solutions
- AI and robotics
- Data strategies for companies
The IT Forum Upper Franconia is not just a specialist conference, but also a showcase for IT providers, IT service providers and universities in Upper Franconia. You will have the opportunity to get to know innovative solutions for the IT challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Prof. Dr. René Peinl, organizer
Further information and the complete program can be found at
IT Forum Upper Franconia
