Follow-Up Report

QI-Digital Forum 2025: Innovations for a sustainable quality infrastructure in the digital age Berlin, 10 October 2025

Berlin, 10.10.2025  

Under the motto "Bits, bytes and QI - creating trust. Enable innovation. Secure prosperity." QI-Digital hosted the fourth QI-Digital Forum on 8 and 9 October - this time on the premises of PTB Berlin. The hybrid event brought together international thought leaders, technical experts, political decision-makers and stakeholders from business, science and administration to discuss and drive forward the digital transformation of quality infrastructure.

The connections between an agile, digital and integrative quality infrastructure and values such as social well-being, a sustainable economy and innovative strength in the age of artificial intelligence and digitalisation were discussed. The open, international platform deliberately focusses on networking, cooperation and the practical transfer of digital solutions in order to establish long-term trust in safety, health, sustainability and technical excellence.

Day 1 - International exchange and high-level impulses

The English-language first day of the conference focussed on international exchange. After the opening by the President of the host PTB, Prof. Dr Cornelia Denz, and welcoming speeches by State Secretary Gitta Connemann (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) and Head of Division Robert Heinrich (Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation), the focus turned to fundamental questions: What does quality mean in the digital world? How can trust in digital and AI-based systems be ensured through standardised standards, digital testing methods and international cooperation?

Keynote speeches, various panel discussions with experts from different industries and innovation drivers as well as specialist presentations that illustrated the links between digitalisation and quality standards provided impetus. Live demonstrators from the QI Digital institutions were also on display: A hands-on QI Digital. Networking, informal dialogue and an evening get-together also strengthened new alliances for resilient quality assurance worldwide. The highlight of the first day was the evening keynote speech by Annette von Wedel on "Trust in AI: Participatory, human-centric and diversity-sensitive AI" and the subsequent panel moderated by PTB President Prof. Dr Cornelia Denz with Annette von Wedel, Dr Fabiano Assi, METAS (National Metrology Institute of Switzerland), Dr Joachim Bühler, TÜV Association, and Dr Dorothea Knopf, PTB.  
 

Day 2 - Practical solutions, inspiration from the D-A-CH region

The second day of the conference (in German) was dedicated to practical applications, the participation of relevant stakeholders and cross-industry dialogue. Relevant impulses and best practices were presented in compact form:

• An interactive stakeholder dialogue in a World Café format offered participants the opportunity to contribute their perspectives on the digital future of QI and concretise solutions.
• The focus on challenges and innovations in the field of market surveillance and testing and calibration laboratories emphasised the importance of digitally supported quality assurance in the day-to-day work of authorities and laboratories.
• A tri-national exchange in short presentations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland highlighted regional similarities and differences in the digitalisation of quality infrastructure and provided impetus for a coordinated strategy in the D-A-CH region.

Participants were also treated to a practice-orientated exchange on digital processes, new tools and current regulatory developments. The AI-driven transformation in the QI sector opened up perspectives for sustainable safety, efficiency and quality across industry boundaries.

Conclusion: impetus for a future-proof quality infrastructure

The QI Digital Forum 2025 impressively demonstrated how digital quality infrastructure can make a concrete contribution to solving current challenges - from AI-based testing and digital calibration processes to international standardisation. The ideas and practical examples presented emphasised the benefits of digital QI solutions for greater efficiency, safety and sustainability in business and society.

QI-Digital sees itself as an open networking platform for all those who want to actively shape the future of quality - whether in laboratories, companies, authorities or start-ups. Participation in the forum was free of charge, both on site in Berlin and online via livestream.

This press release is suitable for immediate publication and may be freely used and passed on to the media, trade journals and newsletters.

Quality Infrastructure Digital (QI-Digital) is a joint initiative of key players in the German quality infrastructure: BAM, DAkkS, DIN, DKE and PTB. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). Together with partners from industry, it develops practical solutions for a modern, agile and digital quality infrastructure. The aim is to digitalise established quality assurance structures and processes and to demonstrate the potential of how modern and digital QI can support the green transformation. In doing so, it is helping to secure the long-term competitiveness of the German economy.