President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner; Dr. Karsten Wildberger – Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation; DFB Managing Director, Andreas Rettig; Andrew Parsons (President of the International Paralympic Committee); Dr. Sebastian C. Schulte (Chairman of DEUTZ AG); Dr. Steffen Merkel (DFL Managing Director), Dr. Rob Smith (CEO of the KION Group AG); Michal Spiller (Managing Director, Lindt & Sprüngli GmbH); Fabian Kienbaum (Managing Partner of Kienbaum AG); Frank Blase (igus GmbH CEO); as well as Professor Dr. Malte Brettel from the RWTH Aachen – and many more. The list of speakers and visitors for the chiotec Congress (July 2nd, 2025) reads like the Who’s Who of the sport, business and sociopolitical scene. The aim of the congress is to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable and efficient future together with representatives from the fields of sport, business, politics, research and investors. The event is organised by the Real Reactions Company, the RWTH Aachen and the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS.

The CHIO Aachen has always stood for top international sport and is at the same time a meeting place for exchange and encounters. A high-profile congress has been conducted during this famous sports event since 2018 – initially entitled #neuland, from 2025 onwards under the new name, chiotec. The event sees itself as a platform for everyone, who would like to actively co-shape the future. chiotec creates room for discussion and dialogue at the highest level and brings sports together with deep tech, entrepreneurship and innovation to set the course for a sustainable and efficient development. In the scope of an exciting pitch battle, start-ups are given the opportunity to present their ideas and compete against each other endeavouring to win prize-money to the total value of 1 million Euros. The focus lies on knowledge transfer, inspiration for new discussions and the networking of the participants. “With chiotec we are striving to decisively push the vision of a sustainable future forward,” emphasised Michael Mronz, General Manager of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH.

Already on July 1^st, before the CHIO Aachen officially commences with a spectacular Opening Ceremony and many celebrities stride over the famous red carpet of the equestrian sport scene for the traditional “Media Night”, an impulse lecture by the President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner, held at the traditional showgrounds of the Aachen Soers, will form the first highlight of the chiotec Congress. Hence, the speakers and guests will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the CHIO Aachen and engage in an exchange in a first-class environment. Accredited journalists will also have the chance to attend the impulse lecture. The Nicolaus August Otto Award of DEUTZ AG – a distinction for decisive concepts for the future, novel technologies and trailblazing research into the future – will be conferred immediately after the impulse lecture.

The chiotec Congress centres on forward-Iooking themes like Artificial Intelligence, digitalisation and sustainable financing models in the area of sport. Furthermore, the social significance of sport is examined, particularly with regards to social integration and cohesion. “Sport is an important social pillar of society. It bears great social potential and at the same time bears far-reaching economic responsibility,” commented Michael Mronz. Philip Erbers, Board Member at the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, who is also responsible for Digitalisation and Innovations, is eagerly looking forward to the congress: “We are expecting a top-level interdisciplinary exchange on the major future themes of sport and society. I am convinced we will experience exciting approaches for all areas.“

Tickets for the congress are available at www.chiotec.com with immediate effect. Accredited journalists of the CHIO Aachen 2025 can also take part in the congress and a shuttle service will bring them to the event location.