After-work event: AI solutions for the future of work

06/23/2026

In what ways can AI make life easier for small and medium-sized enterprises? If you’d like to find out, come along to an after-work event featuring a team challenge at the University on Sanderring on Thursday 25 June.

Gain a concise insight into AI applications for small and medium-sized enterprises, strike up a conversation with researchers at information stands, take part in a team challenge on the topic of automation and win prizes: All this and more is on offer on Thursday 25 June 2026, from 4 pm to 8 pm, at an after-work event (in German language) organised by the Hyko research project at the University of Würzburg.

Hyko stands for ‘Hyperautomation Ecosystem’. Since mid-2023, this project has been providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Main-Franconia region with support for digital transformation, the use of AI and automation.

The project is led by university professors Axel Winkelmann (Business Informatics) and Johannes Hewig (Psychology). Together with SMEs, they and their teams are developing solutions for the future of work as part of Hyko. The European Regional Development Fund is providing €1.4 million in funding for the project.

Schedule for the after-work event, University on Sanderring

16:00–16:15: Arrival & check-in
16:15–16:30: Welcome and introduction to the Hyko project
16:30–16:45: Use case: Optimisation in tradespeople’s logistics
16:45–17:00: Automation / AI and psychological factors

From 5 pm onwards, the poster session, an ‘escape room’ and networking will take place simultaneously. At the posters , researchers will present projects they have undertaken with SMEs in Main-Franconia. They will also explain how to get involved with Hyko.

Under the theme‘Escape Room’, the event offers a practical and playful activity: participants can work in teams at five stations to solve tasks arising at a fictional SME in the course of automation using AI. Prizes will be awarded to the best teams.