Recap: AI & Robotics Delegation in chicago & milwaukee

August 27, 2026

Learning about the latest innovations in AI, robotics and automation in the Midwest

At the end of June, we welcomed a delegation of Austrian manufacturing companies to Chicago to experience the many AI, robotics, and automation-focused insights the Midwest has to offer.

Day one included:

An introduction meeting with Honorary Austrian Consul Reinhold Krammer, hosted by Masuda Funa
A visit to Northwestern University's Center for Robotics and Biosystems to learn about the center’s research on the science and engineering of embodied intelligenc
A tour of the DHL Americas Innovation Center to discover the future of supply chain, which included a number of fascinating robotics solution
...and a stop to watch the Austria vs. Argentina game, of course!

The day concluded with a panel discussion and networking event focused on humanoid robotics hosted by Barnes & Thornburg LLP with speakers Karim Taga & Christian Tauber.

On day two, the group attended the Automate Show, North America's largest robotics and automation event, discovering the latest innovations in robotics, AI, motion control, machine vision, and more. One highlight of the show was the Humanoid Robotics Pavilion, where attendees could watch demos of humanoids doing everything from picking, sorting and stocking objects to customer service tasks and dancing.

They also networked with the international community and honed their sports knowledge at the White Sox game, hosted by World Business Chicago.

The insights continued on day three! The group:

Traveled to Milwaukee to visit Rockwell Automation, where they experienced the company's digital and robotics solutions, toured a production line, and saw Milwaukee from above in Rockwell's famous clock towe
Visited the TRUMPF North America Smart Factory in the Chicago suburbs, where they saw TRUMPF's machinery in action and learned about their solutions for interconnectivity and predictive maintenanc

It was a jam-packed three days with lots of learnings on the future of manufacturing while showcasing the Midwest's strength in automation and robotics innovation. Many thanks to our partners for their hospitality and sharing their insights!