Together, we discuss how manufacturing data spaces enable trusted and sovereign data sharing across value chains, why federated trust frameworks are essential for scaling beyond pilot projects, and how companies can move from isolated data initiatives to sustainable, revenue-generating data ecosystems. The conversation highlights the importance of governance, interoperability, and collaboration in turning industrial data into long-term competitive advantage.

Whether you are a manufacturer, startup, technology provider, or ecosystem builder, this episode offers practical insights into how data spaces can unlock innovation, resilience, and new forms of industrial value creation.

Wolfgang Kniejski is a Senior Project Manager at EIT Manufacturing with more than 30 years of international experience in business development, innovation management, and technology transfer. He previously led the Access-to-Market team for Digital Tech at the EIT Digital Accelerator, and brings deep expertise in international market access, business modelling, IP valorisation, and startup and scale-up coaching.

Christoph F. Strnadl, Ph.D., CBPP is CTO at Gaia-X AISBL, where he defines and implements the technical foundations and trust frameworks for digital ecosystems and data spaces. He is a recognised expert in business process management, data monetisation, and data platforms, and a co-author of several Springer publications on digital business and IT governance.

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Drawing from his early career managing Grammy-award-winning artists and rock bands, James shares how the same principles that keep creative teams performing at their best—trust, shared purpose, and psychological safety—are also key to driving innovation in manufacturing. Together, we unpack how AI is transforming creative collaboration, how leaders can balance structure with experimentation, and why the future of manufacturing belongs to organisations that collaborate like great bands. 

James Taylor is an award-winning keynote speaker and internationally recognised expert on creativity, innovation, and artificial intelligence. A former music industry manager who worked with members of the Rolling Stones and other top artists, James now advises global organisations on unlocking the creative potential of their people and embracing AI as a partner in innovation. 

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From Berlin to Vienna, from startup building to building builders: Christian reflects on the power of purpose, what startup DNA can bring to higher education, and why systems thinking, sustainability, tech fluency and curiosity are core skills for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Christian is a serial entrepreneur, mentor and angel investor who is currently CEO & founder of Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences. He previously held leadership roles at startups and scaleups including Parship and N26. 

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Our guest, Magdalena Przelaskowska, joins us straight from the slopes of Skinnovation to talk about the kind of leadership that actually matters: the type that shapes culture, builds trust, drives performance, and enables resilience in a scaling company. 

Together, we reflect on how founders can become better leaders without falling into the trap of performative management or Silicon Valley clichés. Tune in for a crisp and candid conversation on the reality of building great teams—and staying human while doing it. 

Magdalena is a founder, startup mentor, angel investor, co-organiser of the Unicorn Ski Cup, and former Startup Program Manager at Google EMEA.  

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Felix Wassmann is the co-founder and CEO of the Netherlands-based startup RESONIKS, which specialises in acoustic resonance testing solutions for the manufacturing industry. 

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In this conversation, we dive into how rethinking supply chains, product design, and material use can unlock economic value, environmental benefits, and business resilience. With industries facing increasing geopolitical shifts and ESG challenges, is now the right time to embrace circularity? Our guests share real-world examples, key strategies, and a roadmap for transitioning to circular business models—from remanufacturing and regenerative supply chains to the role of smart design and digitalisation. 

Whether you’re in manufacturing, supply chain management, or simply interested in sustainable business, this episode will inspire and equip you with actionable insights. 

 
Sandra Horlings drives Circular Business through innovation. With 30+ years in marketing and innovation, she helps companies create profit to be proud of through consulting, think tanks, and teaching. She’s a Managing Partner at Innoboost. 

 
Christiaan Kraaijenhagen is a Managing Partner at Innoboost, specializing in circular strategies and regenerative business models. With experience spanning strategy, R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain at Royal Philips, he has co-led ventures in health and renewable energy. A co-author on Circular Business Creation, he has also served as interim CEO of Circle Economy. Christiaan holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management Science, has completed executive programs at INSEAD and Stanford, and actively supports sustainability initiatives as a mentor, board member, and ambassador. 

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We discussed how data spaces, much like a passport, enable trusted exchanges across organisations and industries, how the Gaia-X community develops the standard for transparency and reliability in the data economy, why controlling your data is essential in today’s digital world, how Gaia-X collaborates with global hyperscalers while preserving sovereignty, and which new business models are enabled.

Roland Fadrany is the Chief Operation Officer (COO) of the Gaia-X AISBL, where he oversees the implementation of effective policies and processes that promote and operationalise Gaia-X's vision and mission. Roland has spent over 20 years in international management and consulting roles and led comprehensive transformation initiatives. 

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This episode was recorded during the 2024 European Manufacturing Conference, which gathers the manufacturing ecosystem to discuss pressing topics in the field. The European Manufacturing Conference is a co-organisation of EIT Manufacturing, EFFRA, and ManuFuture. 

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You will hear about: 

• The iterative nature of innovation and why it’s often discovered rather than designed 

• How successful organisations respect the process of failure and learning 

• The distinction between incremental and radical innovation—and why both are necessary 

• Why human collaboration is at the heart of every breakthrough 

• How manufacturing companies can implement winning innovation strategies and cultures 

Tune in to learn how to wire your organisation for long-term success by respecting the process of innovation and empowering people to experiment and learn. 

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Renate Hüttl, Partner at Moore SKZ, discusses why startups need strong tax and legal partners early on to succeed. 

Finally, Christoph Trauner, Head of Sales at Habegger Austria, highlights the value of industry events in driving collaboration and growth in manufacturing.

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In this episode on the Art of Making, Hans and Maxim discuss: 

• Why the downturn in VC investment is actually a healthy development 

• Why industrial corporates engage in corporate venture capital 

• Why Industrial Tech is so capital intensive, and why VCs often stay away 

• The advantages and downsides of working with CVCs 

• The four questions startups should ask CVCs during their next fundraising round  

• … and many other exciting topics. 

Hans Maenhout is Investment Director of the Belgium-based venture capital firm Finindus. The firm operates as the corporate venture capital firm of ArcelorMittal, the world’s second largest steel producer, and as the venture capital firm of the Flemish government. 

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Join us for a comprehensive analysis of how radical ideas can reshape the future of manufacturing, and find out:

• what a "moonshot" and "moonshot mindset" are;

• how science fiction fuels inspiration for truly transformational ideas;

• Europe's biggest strengths;

• the crucial role of government as a funding agent for early-stage research and a first customer;

• how to assemble a team capable of pursuing ambitious projects;

• strategies for implementing a moonshot mindset within an organisational culture.

Our guests:

Tamara Carleton, PhD is an international expert in radical innovation. She is the CEO of Innovation Leadership Group, teaches at several top-ranked business schools and technical universities around the world, and is the creator of practical tools that help teams innovate, like the Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation.

William Cockayne, PhD is a techno-optimistic leader with a passion for transforming science fiction into reality. For twenty years, he taught students at Stanford University how teams imagine, invent, and ship the future. He is an expert in converting blue-sky thinking into brass tacks.

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Tune in to learn:

• What VCs can offer their deep tech start-ups in terms of value creation;

• How well-executed business development can have a big impact on the exit multiple;

• The difference between a deep network and a broad network, and how both are compatible;

• The opportunities of start-up-to-start-up ecosystem development.

Dr. Sarah Theinert is Director of Partnerships & Value Creation at UVC Partners, a Germany-based deep tech VC fund with trailblazing start-ups such as Isar Aerospace, Aleph Alpha, Lilium, and Proxima Fusion in their portfolio. UVC is closely connected to UnternehmerTUM, the start-up lab of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) – recently ranked as Europe’s #1 start-up hub by the Financial Times and Statista.

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Teresa, Women TechEU lead, is an engineer by training and brings with her 15 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. Passionately dedicated to empowering women in deep tech and shaping the future of women in industry, Teresa offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for women in manufacturing.

In this enlightening episode, Teresa shares her perspectives on the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. She discusses various EIT Manufacturing initiatives and programmes, such as Supernovas and Women TechEU, for promoting gender equality and empowering women to thrive in traditionally male-dominated industries such as manufacturing.

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Gerd is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts in London and the CEO of The Futures Agency in Zürich, Switzerland. Gerd's five books, including 'Technology vs. Humanity,' have paved the way for thought-provoking discussions on the impact of technology on our lives. Now, he brings his wisdom to the manufacturing realm, exploring the crucial themes of People, Planet, Purpose, and Prosperity.

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Hannes is the Managing Director of EIT Manufacturing East and has nearly 40 years of experience in leadership positions at well-known industrial companies in Austria and abroad. He shared with us his unconventional leadership insights that can't be found in textbooks.

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You will hear from:

• Tamara Carleton, PhD, CEO of the Innovation Leadership Group, on moonshots in manufacturing

• Prof. Robin Teigland of Chalmers University of Technology, on the how and why of educating soft skills

• Fredrik Elieson, Head of Lifelong Learning at Volvo Group, on collaborations to help employees develop

• Hans Maenhout, Investment Director at Finindus, on the importance of CVC and collaborating with start-ups to accelerate innovation

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Daniel Cronin is an entrepreneur, lecturer, moderator, keynote speaker, television presenter and co-host of Austria’s #1 tech podcast, Future Weekly. You may also know him under the honorary title “the Pitch Professor”.

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