On February 5, 2026, the next Safe Intelligence Day will take place at Fraunhofer IKS. The focus of the showcases, presentations, and discussions will be generative AI in automation. Three aspects play an essential role: generative AI in the safety engineering process, as a basis for troubleshooting assistance in production, and applied to code generation in manufacturing.
January 7, 2026
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Striking a balance between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and safety, as well as successfully integrating new computing techniques across domains and into safety-critical environments: This is the goal of the applied research conducted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems in Munich. This requires consideration of existing regulations and standards, including the EU AI Act, the EU Machinery Directive, and the international standard IEC 61508. The connection between these regulatory frameworks on one hand and practical approaches in industry on the other is precisely the added value that Fraunhofer IKS delivers. The use of generative AI, for example, is a highly topical issue that brings this connection to the center of the research work.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense that generative AI in automation is
the main focus of Safe Intelligence Day 2026. We'll be exploring this
from three different perspectives.
Developing safety-critical systems is a highly complex task where safety engineers could significantly benefit from automated support. However, it is particularly challenging to deploy innovative support techniques in environments where strict safety requirements apply. To solve this problem, Fraunhofer IKS is researching the use of generative AI to automate important aspects of the safety engineering workflow. The idea is to adapt generative AI so that it helps with specific safety engineering challenges such as hazard identification while simultaneously adapting to the target application domain. With this innovative method, safety standards and regulations can be considered, thereby reducing overall development effort and costs.
In manufacturing, downtime or product quality problems slow down production, leading to significant financial losses. However, resolving these problems is challenging because the troubleshooting process requires workers to retrieve information from multiple sources to find and fix the underlying cause. Fraunhofer IKS proposes a solution to this problem consisting of an LLM-based (Large Language Model) assistant that can streamline the troubleshooting process in production. To bring this approach to manufacturing, barriers such as lack of user trust and missing reliability quantification must be overcome. Additionally, existing troubleshooting information must be effectively utilized and integrated into interactions with end users. This solution is part of the broader vision of a modular toolbox for flexible and resilient production.
Manufacturing companies are moving toward using automation in as many processes as possible. This includes generating code for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which would significantly reduce development effort and lead to cost savings. To enable this, Fraunhofer IKS, together with industry partners, is tackling the challenge of generating code that captures requirements, is verified, and functions reliably in simulation and real implementation. This involves balancing efficiency gains and quality assurance through a multi-stage code generation process, e.g., incorporating both static and dynamic analysis during validation. The goal is ultimately not only to use LLMs for creating control applications, but also to develop suitable methods that enable their complete integration into manufacturing companies' workflows.
Safe Intelligence Day creates an environment where industry partners can exchange ideas, discuss current challenges, and network with other colleagues. To this end, Fraunhofer IKS has designed the program to provide ample networking opportunities both during the day and in the evening. Additionally, it is possible for partners interested in deeper bilateral discussions with Fraunhofer IKS to arrange (via the registration form) individual meetings with institute researchers, either on the morning of the event itself or the following morning.
On February 5, 2026, Fraunhofer IKS will host its next Safe Intelligence Day. The event is aimed at industry partners who want to learn more about the institute's key topics. The overarching theme? Generative AI for automation.
Registration for Fraunhofer IKS's next Safe Intelligence Day, focusing on industrial automation, is now open until January 22. The German-language event offers insights into a range of current topics that Fraunhofer IKS is researching.
The Safe Intelligence Day event series enables participants to stay informed about developments at the interface between industry and science, define their strategic positioning, and identify new business opportunities. At the previous edition of the event, for example, important insights were developed that are helping to shape the current automation landscape.
If you are interested in learning more about current research trends in automation, discussing approaches to increase flexibility and efficiency in production, and speaking with professionals from both business and academia, don't forget to register for the Safe Intelligence Day 2026 – places are limited and registrations should be completed by January 22, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming you at Fraunhofer IKS!
