Next Level Media 2026: FDTech Brings Autonomous Driving to the Main Stage
How can a region reinvent itself and take people, ideas, and opportunities to the next level? At "Next Level Media 2026" in Chemnitz, FDTech together with CADA contributed a highlight everyone was talking about: an autonomous ride in the Pix RoboBus. Here's our recap of a day full of inspiration and regional momentum.
Eastern Germany's largest media company, the CVD Mediengruppe, led by CEO Dr. Daniel Daum, hosted "Next Level Media 2026" at the Chemnitz KRAFTVERKEHR – Event- und Kongresskultur venue to take people, ideas, and opportunities to the next level.
The day kicked off with a presentation by Falke CEO Martin Winkler. He gave an impressive account of the changes needed to keep a long-established brand competitive. With deep insights into day-to-day operations, he showed the audience how a struggling business model was brought back on track for success - against all odds and amid accompanying crises - in collaboration with the owner family and the team.
Various keynotes and masterclasses explored topics including social media, legal certainty, content creation, campaigns, motivation, recruiting, and data strategies.
The highlight of the day was an autonomous ride in the Pix RoboBus, organized by companies from the CADA – Chemnitz Automated Driving Alliance. Karsten Schulze, CEO of FDTech GmbH, gave an introduction before passengers boarded the autonomous shuttle.
Daniel Daum hosted the event live from the bus, with the broadcast transmitted directly to the main stage for the guests, where it was hosted by Franziska Schenk and Alexander Kovalenko, CEO of staff-eye GmbH. Riders on the RoboBus included attorney Martina Flade, Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter, and Mayor of Chemnitz Sven Schulze.
In the subsequent fishbowl discussion, moderated by Torsten Kleditzsch and Jan-Dirk Franke, Ronald Gerschewski (CEO of WELP Group), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Dix, and Dirk Panter, Saxony's Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Energy, discussed the question: "Industrial decline or pioneering location - what does Saxony's future look like?"
After this day full of inspiration and insights into regional developments, the participants agreed that Saxony has the courage and strength to transform itself. With joint effort and a dose of pragmatism, we will regain our former strength.
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