Exciting keynote speeches by the project partners were followed by a key note on the economic outlook for Germany as a business location (Prof. Dr Achim Truger) and a panel discussion with trade union and company representatives. While Ralf Meyer (Bochum Perspektive GmbH) sees transformation as part of everyday life, Tobias Nadjib (CARIAD SE) describes transformation as something uncomfortable that questions stability and can only be handled by the workforce as a team. Tekin Nasikkol (General Works Council thyssenkrupp Steel Europa AG, Group Works Council thyssenkrupp AG) followed up with a very current view from his company: He is experiencing a strong identification of the workforce with the company's products as well as a strong desire to accompany an ‘enkelfähige’ transformation, but this spirit of optimism - just like the social partnership - is coming under increasing pressure due to the current situation.

The student research projects on interest representation in the industrial transformation were then presented and discussed. Prof. Manfred Wannöffel (Center of cooperation RUB/IGM) and Michael Müller (IG Metall Ruhrgebiet Mitte) gave a keynote speech on cooperation in industrial transformation, tracing the story of the transformation from the Opel plant to Mark 51°7. According to Michael Müller, the most important thing in this process is to get the knowledge out of people's heads. This was followed by a further exchange with trade union and company representatives, including Dr Jörg Weingarten (DGB NRW), Dr Marc Schietinger (IG Metall NRW, Agentur T NRW) and Dr Urs Peter Ruf (TBS NRW e.V.) on the podium. They reported on the (inter-)company support and guidance provided by their institutions in current transformation debates.