Event Highlight: Accelerating Automotive Advances in AI, Cybersecurity, and Big Data
On June 27, 2024, Senior International Programs Manager Alannah Crandall and International Programs Intern Tessa Reiter of Global Ties San Francisco attended the Silicon Valley event, “Accelerating Automotive Advances in AI, Cybersecurity, and Big Data: A German–U.S. Lens,” at SAP in Palo Alto. Hosted by global market entry company Trade Horizons, the event brought together leaders and innovators from the artificial intelligence (AI) and automotive industries to explore the latest advancements and foster transatlantic collaboration.
With emcee Richard Biggs of Trade Horizons at the helm, the event commenced with Kay Werner, Executive Director of Product Marketing at SAP America’s Global Automotive Industry Business Unit, introducing SAP’s newest advances in Business AI — including Joule, a generative AI copilot designed to streamline SAP business applications.
In a subsequent fireside chat, Transatlantic AI eXchange Founder Thomas Neubert and Faith Blakemore from CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security reflected on challenges and opportunities in AI and tech research and development.
- Neubert highlighted the Transatlantic AI eXchange — a platform that allows innovators to connect and advance AI technology across the transatlantic ecosystem — and its podcast, “AI Unplugged Without Borders,” aimed at expanding networks across businesses, investors, and research institutions.
- Bridging the innovation gap between academic research and industry application, Blakemore noted the challenge of retaining AI PhDs in academia versus industry roles, and detailed ongoing developments in research, transfer, and innovation at CISPA.
Shifting to broader industry perspectives, Matthias Hohensee, Silicon Valley Bureau Chief at WirtschaftsWoche, moderated a panel discussion on “Collaborations and Innovations in AI, Cybersecurity, and Big Data.”
The panelists — Dr. Yvonne Lutsch, Investment Principal at Bosch Ventures; Karl Roman, Vice President of Product Strategy and Business Development at Phantom AI; Stephan Baral, Head of Corporate Development at Joby; and Thomas Neubert of the Transatlantic AI eXchange — explored how regulatory approaches impact startup growth and development in Germany and the United States.
Two key takeaways emerged from this discussion:
- Silicon Valley’s strategy of rapid growth without immediate regulatory constraints aids in its competitive edge, in contrast with Germany’s more cautious approach that prioritizes stringent legislative oversight.
- The tech ecosystem in Silicon Valley exhibits a culture of openness and notable willingness to actively support and collaborate with others, creating a dynamic environment ripe for innovation.
Putting theory into practice, the spotlight turned to a pitch session for the featured Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) trade mission of five German tech and automotive companies — e-mobilio (Sebastian Gierulski); CISPA (Faith Blakemore); LUIS Technology (Sören Heß); Asoftnet (Felix Räumschüssel); and ISEGRIM X (Alexander Fuerst) — to present their latest innovations.
Closing the event with lively networking allowed attendees to forge new connections and deepen their understanding of the showcased companies. Global Ties San Francisco, a division of World Trade Center Northern California, was honored to engage with these outstanding industry leaders and innovators shaping the future of the tech and automotive sectors.
