Connecting industrial resources between China and Europe, digital transformation empowers innovation in manufacturing.
The global automotive landscape is undergoing rapid shifts. When conducting cross-border operations, companies from China and abroad face multiple challenges stemming from divergent development rhythms, alignment of quality standards and cross-regional organisational coordination. How to reconcile proven overseas industrial quality benchmarks with the fast iteration requirements of local markets has become a key priority for the transformation and upgrade of automotive manufacturers and related SMEs. Digital tools and organisational model innovation create viable pathways to facilitate China-Europe industrial collaboration and mutual benefit.
Amid opportunities and disparities across Chinese and European markets, how can companies balance German quality standards and China’s fast-paced development to build an efficient cross-regional collaboration framework? Hongqiao International Science and Technology Week 2026 will focus on integrated development of manufacturing sectors in China and Europe. Drawing on AutoForm’s practical experience, the session explores how digitalisation and organisational transformation help automakers and SMEs build bridges between Chinese and European industries and unlock new cross-border partnership opportunities.
Hongqiao International Science and Technology Week 2026 will run from November 20 to 22, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). As one of its six thematic stages, the Smart Industry Stage brings together industry practitioners in smart manufacturing, industrial digitalisation and AI. Keynote speeches and panel discussions will explore cutting-edge technology adoption and industrial innovation trends.
The agenda covers smart manufacturing, industrial digital transformation, AI application and industrial-chain collaboration, building a platform for communication and cooperation among enterprises, technology vendors and industry partners.
At this forum, Christoph Weber, General Manager of AutoForm China, will deliver his keynote presentation. Drawing on his in-depth experience spanning the Chinese and European automotive sectors, he will share how automotive OEMs and SMEs can achieve an effective combination of German quality standards and China’s fast development pace via digitalisation and organisational transformation. Leveraging resources from the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and German accelerator platforms, he will also discuss ways to build communication bridges between China and Europe, offering new ideas for cross-border market expansion and industrial synergy for Chinese and international companies.
Keynote Three Pillars of Digital Excellence for Speed and Global Scalability
Digital excellence enables established companies to move faster and allows new entrants to scale manufacturing operations globally. Based on first-hand success stories, this presentation outlines how to build the three pillars of digital excellence:
- Synchronisation between digital twins and physical assets
- Integration of the end-to-end toolchain
- AI augmentation to accelerate human workflows
Speech Date: November 20, 2026 Stage: Smart Industry
Speaker Bio
Christoph Weber AutoForm General Manager, China
Christoph Weber, General Manager of AutoForm China, supports automakers and SMEs to combine German quality standards and China speed through digitalisation and organisational transformation.
As Automotive Lead at the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and Advisor for the German Accelerator, he builds bridges between China and Europe.
He is a keynote speaker, author and contributor to leading publications including Harvard Business Review, Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.
