The Startup Edge: Breakthrough Innovations Powering Smart Manufacturing
Startups are shaking up the manufacturing world with game-changing technologies and fresh approaches to production, supply chains, and factory automation. This panel will explore how emerging innovators tackle industry challenges, streamline operations, and redefine what’s possible in smart manufacturing.
Decoding Industrial AI: What Manufacturers Need (and What They Don’t)
Industrial AI is everywhere—but not everything labeled “AI” delivers real value. This session cuts through the noise to help manufacturers decode what’s actually worth investing in. From buzzwords like copilots and agents to the real-world use cases driving measurable outcomes, this session will explore what today’s factories truly need (and what they don’t). Attendees will walk away with clarity on priorities, red flags to avoid, and actionable insights to drive smarter decisions—without getting lost in the hype.
Thriving Amid Uncertainty: Building Agility in the Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturers must prioritize agility to stay competitive in an era defined by volatility—whether from trade wars, shifting tariffs, or global disruptions. This session will explore how leading companies are rethinking operations to build resilience and flexibility. From onshoring strategies to supply chain diversification and digital collaboration, panelists will share real-world approaches to managing uncertainty while driving growth. The conversation will highlight how advanced manufacturing networks and agile sourcing models are helping companies navigate policy shifts and deliver with confidence.
Edge-to-Cloud Synchronization: Seamless Data Flow for Smart Factories
Explore how manufacturers can achieve seamless data synchronization between edge devices and cloud platforms, enabling better insights, faster decision-making, and improved scalability. This session addresses the challenges of latency, data integration, and security in hybrid environments.
The Connected Factory: Driving Real-Time Insights with OT Data and the Unified Namespace
Unlock the full potential of your factory by harnessing OT data through the power of a Unified Namespace. This session will explore how real-time data flow transforms industrial operations, enabling seamless connectivity, faster decision-making, and greater agility in manufacturing. Discover how a connected factory drives efficiency, reduces downtime, and paves the way for the future of smart production.
Generative AI in Manufacturing: From Design to Production Optimization
Explore how Generative AI is transforming manufacturing by enabling dynamic production reconfiguration in real time, allowing factories to adapt swiftly to changing demand, supply chain disruptions, or downtime. This session will also highlight how AI-driven tools optimize energy efficiency, reduce waste, and support innovative material design, driving sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Learn actionable strategies to integrate these cutting-edge solutions for greater agility and resilience in manufacturing operations.
From the Concrete to the Carpet, Assessing and Navigating OT Risk
Over the past eight months, our data indicates that the US manufacturing sector has been the primary target of cyberattacks, followed closely by business services and construction. Ransomware groups frequently target multiple sectors to cause widespread disruption and chaos (SOURCE: Threat Intelligence Report). For example, organizations in the manufacturing sector paid the requested ransom more often than those in other industries. And the amount requested was also typically higher—in fact, in 25% of breaches among manufacturing companies, the demanded ransom was $1M or higher. The industry’s willingness to pay is understandable given that their cost of downtime is so high. And adversaries demand more from these enterprises because they know the companies can pay
(SOURCE: The 2023 Global Ransomware Report). Organizations that reported taking a best-of-breed point product approach to security were the most likely (67%) to fall victim to ransomware, while those that consolidated technologies to take a platform-driven approach were least likely (37%) to be breached. During this session, our panel of asset owners and suppliers will discuss how to mitigate risk through a platform-approach to security to protect manufacturers from a production shutdown impacting revenue and reputation.
Securing OT Data Transfers: Proven Strategies for Efficiency and Protection
As industrial environments embrace digital transformation, the challenge of securely and efficiently moving data into and out of OT networks becomes more critical than ever. This session will showcase real-world deployments of OPSWAT solutions—including Kiosk, Optical Diode, Endpoint Security, and Managed File Transfer (MFT)—that have successfully enabled secure data flows in manufacturing environments.
We’ll share insights from leading automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical manufacturers on overcoming security and operational hurdles, ensuring compliance, and optimizing workflows. Additionally, we’ll present key findings from our new survey with SANS Institute 2025 ICS/OT Cybersecurity Budget Report, offering data-driven perspectives on cybersecurity investment trends in industrial settings. Join us to explore best practices and proven strategies for safeguarding OT data transfers while maintaining operational efficiency.
