How are artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, and the ever-increasing networking of machines changing future-proof industrial communication? The annual colloquium "Communication in Automation" (KommA) will address these questions on November 10, 2026, at the Innovation Campus Lemgo. This established conference serves as a leading forum in the German-speaking world for exchanging information on the latest trends and offers a platform for dialogue between academia and industry.

Industrial communication forms the backbone of modern, decentralized automation systems. Where isolated machines once operated, highly networked production environments now exist. This transformation increases the demands on the underlying network infrastructure: reliability, adherence to strict real-time requirements, seamless interoperability between systems from different manufacturers, and robust IT security have become indispensable in automated technical processes.

Artificial intelligence throughout its entire life cycle

A key driver of this development is the increasing use of artificial intelligence. AI-based approaches are no longer limited to pure data analysis in the cloud, but are now being integrated into the entire lifecycle of industrial communication systems – from design and engineering through ongoing operation to automated diagnostics, preventive maintenance, and continuous system optimization.

A particular focus at KommA 2026 is therefore the practical application of AI methods in engineering. The focus will include the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) and machine learning in network and automation engineering. The technical program will be kicked off by Prof. Dr. Alexander Fay from Ruhr University Bochum with his keynote address on "AI in the Engineering of Automated Systems" .

Broad range of topics for research and industry

In addition to its main focus on AI, KommA 2026 covers a broad spectrum of current communication and automation technologies. These include:

• Communication technologies: Established fieldbuses, real-time Ethernet, wireless communication solutions, 5G and 6G mobile communication standards, heterogeneous networks, and M2M and IoT technologies.

• System characteristics and quality criteria: Quality of Service (QoS), cross-manufacturer interoperability, safety & security, fault tolerance, availability and system integration.

• Application areas: The solutions covered range from classic manufacturing and process automation to building automation and logistics, as well as maritime systems, infrastructure networks and remote control technology.

Through lectures and discussions by renowned domain experts, the conference facilitates a direct transfer of knowledge between academic research and industrial application.

A strong partnership for automation

The KommA conference is jointly organized by the Institute for Industrial Information Technology (inIT) at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH-OWL) in Lemgo and the ifak – Institute for Automation and Communication e. V. Magdeburg. Scientific direction is provided by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Jasperneite and Prof. Dr. Lisa Underberg. The conference is supported by the Real-Time Systems Committee of the German Informatics Society (GI) and the Information Technology Society within the VDE (ITG).

All conference papers will be made available as citable open-access publications on the day of the event. An online archive also provides access to papers from past events and documents the evolution of industrial communication around core technologies such as TSN, OPC UA, Industrial Ethernet, and administration shells.

Event details at a glance:

• Event: KommA 2026 – 17th Annual Colloquium “Communication in Automation”

• Date: November 10, 2026

• Location: Innovation Campus Lemgo

• Further information & conference program:  www.jk-komma.de