Monday 18 May, 2026
Eindhoven, Netherlands – This June, industry leaders, innovators, and technology enthusiasts gathered at the Brainport Digital Factory for the latest Connected Manufacturing and Production Q2 In-Person Forum, co-hosted with KPN. The two-day event, from Tuesday, 3 June to Wednesday, 4 June, provided a unique opportunity to explore the cutting-edge of smart manufacturing, powered by mobile networks.
Held in the high-tech heart of the Netherlands, the forum offered participants a rare, hands-on look at a fully operational mobile network-enabled manufacturing field lab. It wasn’t just about watching—it was about experiencing innovation in action.
Why Eindhoven Matters
It was especially meaningful to be physically in Eindhoven, a leading European hub for technology and design. Home to industry giants like Philips, NXP, and ASML, alongside a fast-growing community of startups and scale-ups, the region—known as Brainport Eindhoven—is globally recognised for its innovation, high R&D activity, and one of the highest patent application rates in Europe.
Attendees had the opportunity to see new technologies being developed up close, and to meet and engage with the people and organisations behind them—adding a valuable layer of context to the demos and discussions.
A Front-Row Seat to the Future of Industry
Across the two-day event, participants:
- Explored live demonstrations of technologies like private 5G, indoor localisation, and networked factory systems.
- Enjoyed a tour of the Brainport Digital Factory Lab—witnessing a mobile-enabled smart factory in action.
- Made in-person connections over a relaxed and engaging networking dinner.
A Stellar Line-Up of Speakers
Our heartfelt thanks to the incredible lineup of speakers who shared their knowledge and insights:
- Jacob Groote, EVP Innovations & Partnerships, KPN
- Paul Cobben, Portfolio Lead, KPN
- Annemieke Kips, TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research)
- Kapil Mittal, Global Head Digital Airspace, Ericsson
- Patrick Jestin, Strategic Product Manager, Aduna
- Karin Raj, CTO, Nokia
- Rob Hoeben, Senior Director of Strategy, NXP
Next-Level Demonstrations
We were proud to feature several live demos that brought theory into tangible reality:
- Low code software by Benno Beuting, CEO, Cordis Suite
- Private 5G Core by David O’Byrne, VP Business Development, Druid Software
- Indoor Localisation by Erik Pouwen, Director, Ubudu
Each showcase offered actionable insights into how these technologies are transforming manufacturing and industrial operations.
The Power of Being There
For many, the biggest takeaway was the power of in-person engagement:
- Sharing best practices and practical experience
- Learning directly from experts and peers
- Discovering real-world opportunities to accelerate innovation
Join us for the next Forum Meeting in September
Couldn’t make it? You missed more than a conference—you missed the chance to connect, collaborate, and catch a glimpse of the future being built right now.
Don’t worry though, you can join us on the 10-11 September for our next Q3 Forum Meeting in London at the GSMA Head Office. Interested? Register your interest now.
Watch the highlights
Live demonstrations from our partners
The convergence of private 5G, real-time localisation, and low-code automation is redefining what’s possible in modern manufacturing—enabling a seamless digital transformation that bridges legacy systems with next-generation capabilities.
Together, these solutions create a unified, adaptive factory ecosystem where everything just works—securely, intelligently, and at scale. Manufacturers gain not only operational efficiency and agility, but also a future-ready foundation for innovation.
