DEEP-DIVE

Building Next Practices for Sustainability & Circularity

Darmstadt • 27-29 January 2026

hosted by

merck-kgaa-white

Join a Deep-Dive together with a group of 30+ experienced participants from large multinationals (only) to take innovation for Sustainability, Circularity and Net Zero to the next level – through a rigorous process characterized by creative work with lots of peer exchange.

During the Deep-Dive Lab (28-29 January) participants will form workgroups, build rudimentary next practices, and establish connections. This enables them to work jointly after the event, where the work continues in subgroups to implement and further develop the practices. 

Preceding the 2-day Deep-Dive is an Innovation Roundtable® Workshop on the topics of “Collaboration & Data for Sustainability & Circularity”, attended by 150+ corporate innovation professionals: a great opportunity to be inspired in building relevant discussion topics for the subsequent two days, and to connect with a larger community of like-minded peers.

What you WILL do and accomplish

27 January · "Classic" Innovation Roundtable® event

28-29 January · 2-day Deep-Dive Lab

DAY 1 • 27 January
Classic Innovation Roundtable® Event

1-day event on “Collaboration & Data for Sustainability & Circularity“, with presentations, roundtable discussions and networking with 150+ corporate attendees.

Presentations by senior corporate speakers, peer-to-peer roundtable discussions, and ample time for informal networking

Presentations by:
Merck Group, ABB, BMW Group, Evonik, Schneider Electric, BASF

Dinner

DAY 2 • 28 January
Deep-Dive Workshop

  • Marketplace: Team set-up, topic identification and consolidation

  • First iteration: Determine current state-of-the-art, analyze challenges, and identify the questions to answer

  • Second iteration: Move beyond the current level of understanding by envisioning ideal next practices 

Dinner

DAY 3 • 29 January
Deep-Dive Workshop

  • Third Iteration: Develop concepts, solutions, and concrete action recommendations

  • Final presentation and evaluation of concepts

Each day starts around 8:30 and ends around 17:00 (16:00 on 29 January).

It is recommended to attend the 3 days for the full experience. Alternatively, it is possible to join only the 2 Deep-Dive Workshop days (28-29 January).

REGISTER

ARE YOU FROM A MEMBER COMPANY?

Our network’s member companies have a number of DeepDive tickets included in their annual membership plans + can purchase additional tickets at special member rates. Please contact us at [email protected] to learn more.

Regular Rate

for non-member companies
1200
  • Access to the event
  • Lunch, light breakfast, coffee breaks
    at the event venue

Member Rate

for member companies
600
  • Access to the event
  • Lunch, light breakfast, coffee breaks
    at the event venue
Save 50%

It is recommended for all to join the dinners, where networking and discussions continue:

Networking DINNERS

Dine and relax informally with other attendees at the end of the first two days.
27 Jan: Restaurant Sitte
3-course dinner with 3-hour unlimited wine, beer, water, soft drinks, coffee / tea • € 72.00
28 Jan: Restaurant Stadtweg
3-course dinner with drinks (incl. 2 glasses of wine/beer and water) • € 71.50

Who can join

This event is intended for corporate professionals that already have a good level of experience in managing innovation for sustainability and circularity.

The Deep-Dive is limited to max 50 participants: secure your ticket before it gets sold out!

Like all Innovation Roundtable® events, you can join if you are working for a large, multinational firm (min €500mln in revenues). Innovation Roundtable ApS reserves the right to reject any application to attend.

Tickets & rates

Special rates available to participants from member companies of the Innovation Roundtable® network.

VAT refund
German VAT is charged on the delegate fee (19%). It is possible to get VAT refunded — a standard process in large firms.

Payment by credit card
Accepted credit cards: VISA, Mastercard and Amex. Credit card fees (2.2%) are not included.

Dinners
We do not apply any commission / agency fee to the price of the dinners negotiated with the restaurants.

Cancellation policy
If the registrant is hindered from joining the event he/she may find a replacement from within the same company. Such substitution is permitted at no extra charge at any time before the event date, subject to approval by the Innovation Roundtable ApS. Innovation Roundtable ApS reserves the right to reject requests made by member firms to change a paid registration into one within the quota of seats included in the membership privileges. Cancellations received by email will be refunded with credit vouchers that can be used towards future events organised by Innovation Roundtable ApS, anytime within 18 months from issuance (subject to availability of seats at those events). Cancellation of parts of the event (e.g. one day) is not possible and will not result in a refund.

Travel & Accommodation

Attendees are responsible for booking their own travel arrangements and accommodation.
Read below for recommended hotels.

Meet your Workshop Guide

Dr. Gunter Nittbaur

Dr. Gunter Nittbaur builds on his experience from more than 500 change projects with organizations of all kinds around the world.

In 2008, he founded a company to look for ways to better leverage the collective intelligence of organizations. DECIDER.ONE fuses all his experience and combines collective intelligence with artificial intelligence.

DECIDER stands for: Define • Engage • Check • Identify • Design • Execute • Reflect

the host & venue

Merck Group is a global science and technology company operating across healthcare, life science, and electronics. Founded in 1668, it is one of the world’s oldest pharma and chemical companies, now focused on innovative therapies, cutting-edge laboratory and bioprocessing solutions, and advanced materials for semiconductors and displays.

The event will take place at the Merck Innovation Center in Darmstadt, a state-of-the-art hub designed to spark new businesses and technologies, bringing together internal teams, startups and external experts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Photograph by ----

RECOMMENDED HOTELS

We recommend the following hotels – located within 5-10 distance by car from the Merck Innovation Center
Best Western Hotel Darmstadt Mitte
IntercityHotel Darmstadt
Hotel Jungstil
T H E Darmstadt

GET THE AGENDA

Do you want to receive the detailed program and agenda of the Deep-Dive Lab on Sustainability & Circularity?

Please fill in the form, and we will send it to you!