In just over 20 years, the Steinbeis “Electronics in automotive engineering” Symposium has established itself as a key event for professional exchange between leading experts in automotive development, production, and service. Launched in 1988 as a practice-oriented forum for sharing expertise, Steinbeis invites to the symposium for the third time from 27-29 April 2010 in Stuttgart’s Haus der Wirtschaft (House of Commerce). This year, the symposium will focus on electrics, electronics, and the switchover to electric vehicles.
The upcoming symposium will highlight the role of electrical, electronic and mechatronic systems as key factors for adding value to innovative automobiles. The automotive world remains in flux and there are many different roads ahead. Electrically powered vehicles are one of the most promising, and today they represent an extremely significant field for research and development. The European automotive industry is driven primarily by developments in the USA and East Asia. Electrically powered vehicles which store energy in an onboard battery will be available in niche markets within the next two years. And vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells should hit the market by 2015. Despite these developments, many assume that even by 2030, petrol and diesel-powered automobiles will remain widely used – people will fill up their cars just as they do now.
The first of the symposium’s three days will focus on current technologies and the future of automotive electronics. The main event will be a guest lecture by Member of the German parliament Prof. e. h. Dr. Hermann Scheer, entitled “The next electronic revolution”. Day two of the symposium is dedicated to the complex role of electrical and electronic systems in the development of electrically powered automobiles, with an emphasis on high voltage components and architectures. In the evening, representatives from politics, business and science will take part in a panel discussion chaired by Markus Schöttle, editor of the trade journal ATZ. The debate will address electric automobile topics from a variety of angles. On the final day of the symposium, speakers will approach the issue of electric automobiles from the perspective of vehicle requirements and infrastructure. In the afternoon, the symposium will come to a close with excursions to automotive suppliers. A trade exhibition will accompany the symposium on all three days.
The symposium program committee includes a number of leading industry experts, who have selected an engaging variety selection of speakers and topics to keep visitors on their toes. Dr. Dirk Walliser of the firm MB-technology is responsible for the symposium agenda. Media partners are the trade journals ATZ, ATZelektronik and MTZ, all published by GWV Fachverlage, part of the Springer Automotive group. Visitors unable to attend all three days of the event can also register for individual days. Students and university staff receive a special discount. The guest lecture and panel discussion is open to all-comers.
Anja Reinhardt
Steinbeis Foundation (Stuttgart)
anja.reinhardt@stw.de