Under the motto “Innovations That Change the World,” the SKZ Plastics Center’s Networking Week was successfully held at the end of June 2026. Despite tropical temperatures, around 600 guests accepted the invitation to Würzburg and took the opportunity to exchange ideas on current developments, trends, and future topics in the plastics industry at this well-established event. In a professional yet relaxed atmosphere, the event provided an ideal platform for expert dialogue, new ideas, and valuable networking opportunities.

A full house despite the tropical heat: More than 600 guests attended the SKZ Network Week in Würzburg. (Photo: Luca Hoffmannbeck, SKZ)

The plastics industry gathering was all about innovation and professional exchange

The popular industry gathering, which is divided into the SKZ Innovation Day (June 23), the SKZ Networking Day (June 24), and the SKZ Technology Day (June 25), took place once again this year at the Model Factory, the Quality Training Center (TZQ), and various SKZ technical facilities in Würzburg-Lengfeld.

A diverse program awaited the numerous visitors: While Innovation Day was dedicated to the topic of the “circular economy,” Networking Day was held under the motto “Plastics Connect.” Finally, Technology Day centered on the core processes of plastics processing. Participants were not only able to marvel at live demonstrations on the machines but also had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive insight into the SKZ’s technical facilities. The events were rounded out by an accompanying trade exhibition and a group barbecue.

In his opening remarks at the Networking Day, SKZ CEO Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian emphasized the importance of innovation for Germany as a business location. “It’s not innovation that’s risky—it’s the lack of it,” said Bastian. He stressed that Germany certainly does not lack good ideas, but rather the implementation of them. “Germany is good at inventing, but not at implementing,” Bastian continued.

Innovation as an Economic Lever
This is primarily a structural problem. Bastian therefore also appealed to policymakers: There is an urgent need for reliable political framework conditions and less bureaucracy. After all, innovations are a “real economic lever,” accounting for 12.6 percent of Germany’s total revenue—927.2 billion euros. “We need funding for technology transfer, clear, implementation-oriented roadmaps, close collaboration between politics, business, and academia, as well as better framework conditions with less bureaucracy and more investment.” After all, innovation is not a “cost factor, but a success factor.”

The Importance of Strengthening Technology Transfer
Currently, Germany is stagnating in 11th place in international comparisons, while China has moved up from 29th to 10th place over the past 15 years. “Germany invents the future—others profit from it,” Bastian warned. Despite all this, Bastian also struck an optimistic note: Strengthening technology transfer could yield significant benefits with little effort—for example, through transfer networks such as the Zuse Community, which focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises and of which Bastian is president. After all, one thing is clear: “Innovation rarely arises in isolation, but almost always within a network.”

Dominik Uhl Receives the SKZ Young Talent Award
As every year, a highlight of the Network Day was the presentation of the SKZ Young Talent Award. This year, Dominik Uhl was delighted to receive the award, which comes with a prize of 2,000 euros. The jury for the SKZ Young Talent Award—comprising the SKZ Advisory Board, this year’s sponsor SIMONA AG, and representatives from the SKZ—recognized the 24-year-old’s work, titled “Development of Bio-Based Thermosetting Molding Compounds Based on Unsaturated Polyester Resins,” as groundbreaking for the industry.

Strong Response Despite Extreme Temperatures
“We’re delighted by the large number of guests, the great atmosphere, and above all, everyone’s resilience in the face of extreme temperatures,” said Andreas Bachmann, Head of Networking & Events at SKZ. “Personal interaction, new ideas, and strong networks are more important than ever, especially in challenging times.” The consistently positive feedback from participants once again underscores the importance of this event series as a fixture on the plastics industry’s calendar. Next year, the SKZ will once again use Network Week to create platforms that specifically promote innovation, knowledge transfer, networking, and cooperation. The dates have already been set—June 22–24, 2027.