IOC President, Dr. Thomas Bach; RWE CEO, Dr. Markus Krebber; SAP Germany CEO, Sven Mulder; STAWAG Board Member, Dr. Christian Becker; Chairman of Westenergie, Katherina Reiche; IOC Executive Board Member, Ivo Ferriani; Sports Manager, Oliver Bierhoff; Bayer 04 Leverkusen‘s CEO, Fernando Carro; Bayer CEO, Bill Anderson; VfB Stuttgart’s CEO, Alexander Wehrle, the two IOC members, Petra Sörling and Britta Heidemann, and many more: The list of speakers and visitors at the #neuland Congress (July 2ndand 3rd, 2024) reads like the who’s who of the sports, business and social-political scene. In cooperation with people from the areas of sport, business, politics, investors and scientists, the congress strives to find solutions for an efficient and equally ecological and economic sustainable future. The organisers of the star-studded congress are Rhein Ruhr City GmbH, the Aachen Technology Entrepreneurship Conference (ATEC) RWTH Aachen and the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS.

The CHIO Aachen stands for top international sport with a long tradition. But at the same time it is also a place of encounter and exchange. The #neuland congress has been held during Germany’s largest sporting event since 2018 and thus offers scope for an exchange at the highest level. Together with the ATEC, the congress unites sport with deep tech, entrepreneurship and innovation, to lay the foundation for an efficient and equally ecological and economic sustainable future. In the scope of a pitch battle, it gives start-ups the opportunity to present innovative ideas in a dynamic competition. The focus lies above all on the exchange of knowledge, promoting discussions and establishing new contacts. Over the course of two exciting days, the participants at the #neuland congress can look forward to current trends, concrete examples of good practice, lively discussions, stimulating lectures and a fabulous networking atmosphere revolving around current, social themes. “The idea behind the congress is to decisively push the vision of a sustainable future forward,” explained Michael Mronz, General Manager of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH and CEO of the organisers, Rhein Ruhr City GmbH.

Immediately prior the CHIO Aachen, which kicks off on the evening of July 2^nd, with its spectacular Opening Evening, and when the celebrities walk over the most famous red carpet of the equestrian sport scene on their way to the traditional gala evening, the “Media Night“, the first day of the congress at the traditional showgrounds at the Aachen Soers, will be brought to a close with an impulse lecture by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach. Hence, this offers the speakers and the guests a unique opportunity to experience the breath-taking atmosphere of the CHIO Aachen and engage in an exchange and network in this first-class ambiance. Accredited journalists also have the chance to attend the impulse lecture.

Furthermore, on both days the congress will examine the important role sport plays within the society, especially with regards to sustainable financing models and its contribution towards social integration and social cohesion. “Sport is an important social axis of our society. It holds great social potential and at the same time bears a far-reaching economic responsibility,” stated Michael Mronz. “Particularly the theme of the sustainable financing of clubs, associations and sporting events takes on an ever-increasing significance in the planning and strategic alignment and will in future also be of key importance for the sports industry.” Celebrities such as the DOSB President, Thomas Weikert or the CEO and founder of Dyn, Christian Seifert, will be present when together with further high-ranking representatives of the sports industry, solutions for sustainable financing models and the related preservation of the important role of sport for the society are jointly discussed at the #neuland congress.

The CHIO Aachen Scientist Circle will be one of the themes addressed on the second day of the congress. This project brings equestrian experts together with leading scientists from Germany, Belgium and Switzerland and the focus of its work lies on the well-being of sports horses. Prof. Dr. Dirk Winter from the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science; Dr. rer. nat. Arne-Rasmus Dräger, an expert for artificial intelligence and developer of AI-based camera systems for monitoring the health of horses and CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg are participating.

“We are looking forward to providing the CHIO Aachen Scientist Circle with a stage amid this impressive setting, but at the same time also to the top level, interdisciplinary exchange on major sport-related and socially relevant future themes,” commented Philip Erbers, who in his capacity as a member of the board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, organisers of the CHIO Aachen, is among others responsible for the areas Digital Technology and Innovations. “I am convinced that ultimately the outcome will be interesting ideas on all themes.”

Tickets for the congress are available immediately here: www.neuland.today. Journalists, who are accredited for the CHIO Aachen 2024, have the opportunity to attend the congress and there will be a shuttle to drive them to the event location.