Neurons & Neckar 2025
Where AI Minds Meet in Heidelberg

Neurons & Neckar 2025: Where AI Minds Meet in Heidelberg

Heidelberg’s AI community came together for a sold-out event that blended cutting-edge research, real-world applications, and plenty of energy.
More than 150 participants gathered on October 16 at the Business Development Center Heidelberg for the first Neurons & Neckar Conference, hosted by Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V., Technologiepark Heidelberg, and KI-Garage. The conference connected researchers, startups, and companies exploring the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) across industries.

From Research to Real-World Impact

The day featured an impressive lineup of lightning talks and keynotes that showcased how AI is being applied in health, science, and business. Speakers shared their latest insights on trustworthy AI, neuromorphic computing, agentic AI, and data-driven medical innovation.

Among the speakers were:

Alexander C. S. Hendorf (Pioneers Hub) – Overfitted Promises, Underestimated Futures: AI in Coding Research
Kiril Gashteovski (NEC Laboratories Europe) – Trust Through Transparency: Explaining GenAI
Rustam Bekmamedov (Black Forest AI) – The Orchestra Inside the Machine
Johannes Schemmel (Heidelberg University) – BrainScaleS: Brain-Inspired Neuromorphic Processors
Dr. Christian Aichmüller (PAICON) – How AI Is Reshaping Oncology
Thorsten Heilig (paretos) – AI Agents: From Inbox Management to Supply Chains
Prof. Dr. Swati Chandna (SRH University) – Agentic AI in Environmental Research
Sven Wanner (Artificial Pixels) – Industry-Ready Image Generation with Generative AI

From the first coffee to the final after-work networking, conversations stayed focused, insightful, and grounded — as Thomas Prexl from Technologiepark Heidelberg put it:

“No buzzword bingo — just real machine learning shared by people who know what they’re talking about.”

AI, Collaboration, and a Shared Vision

For the KI-Garage team, represented by Cansu Çak and Laura Kaltenmaier, Neurons & Neckar was more than just an event — it was a showcase of how Baden-Württemberg’s AI ecosystem thrives through collaboration.

As a partner in innovation, KI-Garage helps bridge research, talent, and entrepreneurship across the region. The event reflected exactly that spirit: a shared mission to activate, connect, and assist the next generation of innovators.

Building Heidelberg’s AI Future

Heidelberg continues to establish itself as one of Germany’s key innovation hubs for AI and data-driven technologies. With strong research institutions, a dynamic startup community, and initiatives like Neurons & Neckar, the region proves how collaboration accelerates real progress.

We’re proud to have supported this event and to see so many bright minds from the community come together to push the boundaries of AI.
Here’s to more ideas, more dialogue — and more Neurons & Neckar in the future.

📍 Organized by Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V., supported by Technologiepark Heidelberg, KI-Garage, Universität Heidelberg, and ecosystem partners.