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From Competition to Collaboration — Europe, China and the AI Era at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera | FIAA

From Competition to Collaboration — Europe, China and the AI Era at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera

PublishedSeptember 16, 2026

Categorynews

From Competition to Collaboration — Europe, China and the AI Era at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera

Europe and China are navigating a moment of profound strategic recalibration — and on Tuesday evening a full room at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera came together to ask where the real opportunities lie. “From Competition to Collaboration: How Can Europe and China Lead Together in the AI Era?” was the question on stage, and it kept panel and audience in conversation well beyond the formal programme.

The panel on stage at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera, with the event slide showing the four panelists and the moderator

Four Perspectives, One Question

FIAA e.V., together with MIT Club of Germany e.V., brought four complementary voices to the stage: Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner (Artificial Intelligence, Deggendorf Institute of Technology), Prof. Dr. Horst Löchel (Economics, Sino-German Center), Yingnan Yao (China Market Practice, GARBE Industrial and FIAA member) and Prof. Dr. Wei Manske-Wang (International Business, MCI China Center). Sara Kukovec (FIAA e.V.) moderated the evening.

Welcome address at the microphone in front of the audience

The discussion was structured along three themes:

Geopolitics & Economy — navigating cooperation and confrontation in a new era of strategic realignment
Technology & AI — China's role in the global AI race, and what it means for Europe's competitiveness
Practice & Strategy — concrete recommendations German companies can act on today

A panelist speaking into the microphone during the discussion

A panelist makes a point during the panel discussion

What made the evening special was the mix of angles in one conversation: research on artificial intelligence, economic analysis of the Europe–China relationship, hands-on market practice, and international management experience — with a moderator who kept the debate sharp and moving.

A panelist speaking during the discussion

A panelist gesturing while speaking on stage

On stage during the moderated discussion

An Audience That Joined In

The Q&A was as lively as the panel itself. Questions from the floor turned the second half of the evening into a genuine exchange between stage and audience.

A guest asking a question from the audience

A guest with the microphone during the audience Q&A

Networking at Lili's Bar

As is FIAA tradition, the conversation continued afterwards — over drinks at the Sofitel's Lili's Bar, where alumni, members, guests and speakers exchanged perspectives, cards and a few overdue catch-ups late into the evening.

Guests in conversation during the networking reception

Guests with drinks at the networking reception

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to our panelists Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner, Prof. Dr. Horst Löchel, Yingnan Yao and Prof. Dr. Wei Manske-Wang, to Sara Kukovec for moderating, to our partner MIT Club of Germany e.V., to the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera for hosting us, to NeoTherma Haustechnik for supporting the evening — and to every guest who made this panel so memorable.

Next: Africa 2035

Save the date: on Thursday, 15 October 2026, FIAA e.V., MIT Club Germany e.V. and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management invite you to “Africa 2035 — Will Africa shape global systems, or be shaped by them?”. Doors open at 6:30 pm, panel at 7:00 pm, at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

👉 Details and registration on our events page or via FIAA2026@yahoo.com.

Connect. Support. Inspire. Lead. — We look forward to seeing you again soon.