The School of Business and Economics' new event format is aimed at anyone interested in future issues, economic developments and the associated social contexts. No prior knowledge is required – curiosity is enough!
Save the date: Update on Economics#3 will follow on 2 December 2026.
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#2: Digital. Sustainable. Shapable. Does Germany still have a future?
Does Germany still have a future? This question was the focus of the lecture given by Prof. Dr Nils Foege, Head of the Institute for Innovation, Strategy and Organisation, at the 2nd Update on Economics. In a nutshell, his answer is: Yes – if we want to, and if we shape digitalisation and sustainability together. How this process – also known as the ‘twin transformation’ – can be successfully shaped was a key focus of the subsequent discussion, in which Prof. Dr Nils Foege addressed questions from the audience from a management perspective, whilst the moderator, Prof. Dr Johannes Becker, Vice-Dean for Research and Outreach at the School, answered them from an economic perspective. With the conclusion that ‘The future is not a state of being – it is a decision’, another successful instalment of the ‘Update on Economics’ event series came to a close.
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#1: AI disruption – How artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game in the markets
The opening topic, ‘AI disruption – How artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game in the markets,’ was met with great interest: around 150 attendees filled the Forum Oeconomicum to capacity on 4 November 2025. In their presentations, Prof. Dr. Vitali Gretschko, Chair of Sustainable Market Design, and Claas Westendorf from the management consultancy TWS Partners AG highlighted the profound changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the economy and society. They showed how AI systems are already independently negotiating contracts, acting as autonomous players in markets and shaping the way information is perceived and processed. They then discussed various application examples, practical questions and the responsibility of universities in dealing with AI with the audience and moderator Prof. Dr Johannes Becker, Head of the Institute for Public Finance I and Vice-Dean for Research and Outreach.