Building the first edition in public
Before the flagship i5Forum 2028, we spend 2027 testing the format, meeting the people who will shape it and preparing future host cities, through a series of smaller gatherings.
What i5Dialogues are
Focused, small-scale sessions that bring together city and regional leaders, industry, researchers and funders around one challenge at a time.
Formats
City dialogues
Half-day sessions with a city or region exploring its industrial challenges and what hosting the Forum could bring.
Track roundtables
Expert roundtables that shape the agenda of each of the six Forum tracks.
Research workshops
Sessions with universities and research institutes connected to the Call for Papers.
Online dialogues
Open virtual sessions so participants anywhere can contribute.
What they lead to
Every i5Dialogue feeds directly into i5Forum 2028:
- Challenges and pilot ideas for the Forum programme
- Speakers and track leads
- Partnerships with prospective host cities
- Lessons that shape the Residency Programme
2027 at a glance
- Q1Online Launch Dialogue: the programme, the framework agenda and the Call for Papers
- Q2City Dialogues and a policy roundtable with the European Industry 5.0 community
- Q2–Q4Track roundtables for each of the six Forum tracks
- Q3Research workshop for Call for Papers authors
- Q4Lessons shared; 2028 host city announced
Host a City Dialogue
A low-commitment way to put your city on the Industry 5.0 map, and the first step towards hosting i5Forum 2028.
What your city gains
An Industry 5.0 position snapshot
Before the Dialogue, our research team prepares an initial assessment of your city or region against the five i5Benchmark dimensions: a structured starting point for strategy, funding applications and investor conversations.
International attention on your local strengths
The Dialogue is built around challenges your city chooses. We bring international experts, companies and researchers to work on them, with your local businesses and institutions in the room.
Concrete follow-up, not just discussion
Each Dialogue ends with a short City Brief: priority challenges, candidate pilots and the partners interested in them. Pilots that emerge can be presented in the Forum’s impact deal room in 2028.
Visibility across the Forum’s network
Your city is featured as an i5Dialogues host across the Forum’s channels and partner network.
A head start on hosting i5Forum 2028
Cities that host a Dialogue get first-hand experience of the format and are given priority consideration in the selection of the 2028 host city.
What we bring
Agenda design, international speakers and participants, the position snapshot, facilitation, the City Brief and communications.
What your city provides
A venue for half a day to one day, help convening local companies, institutions and officials, and a named contact in the city administration. Hospitality can be arranged through the Forum’s founding partners.
Formats
- Half-day Dialogue
- One challenge, 30–60 participants.
- Full-day Dialogue
- Two to three challenges, plus a visit to a local site or pilot.
- Host-candidate Dialogue
- A full-day Dialogue combined with a site assessment for i5Forum 2028.
Building in public
We will share what we learn after each Dialogue: what worked, what we changed and what comes next.
Upcoming Dialogues
Dates and locations will be announced as each Dialogue is confirmed.
Get involved
Be there from the start.
Programme news, host city updates and the call for contributions, a few times a year.