In a time of rapid technological change and growing global uncertainty, both industry and academia are rethinking how products are developed and realized. These topics were explored at the Wingquist Laboratory 25th Annual Seminar, with perspectives on today’s challenges and future directions.
Held on 21 April 2026, this year’s seminar gathered participants from across industry and academia to exchange insights on the future of digital product realization, highlighting both global perspectives and research developments.
Perspectives on a changing world
The seminar featured keynote presentations from Johan Norberg, Author, Speaker and Historian of Ideas, and Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice President Trucks Technology & Industrial Division, Chief Technology Officer Volvo Group.
Johan Norberg opened with a broad perspective on global development, drawing on historical patterns to explore how societies navigate periods of uncertainty and transformation. In his talk, he reflected on lessons from past “golden ages” and emphasized the importance of adaptability in shaping future progress.
“We need imitation and we need innovation. We need to learn from others and then try new things again and again. That’s how you build a golden age,” says Johan Norberg.
Jens Holtinger followed with insights from the forefront of industrial transformation, highlighting how Volvo Group is navigating a rapidly changing and highly competitive global landscape , and emphasizing the need for faster innovation and stronger partnerships.
“We are living in a situation where you have an intersection of many cycles coming together at the same time, from geopolitics to technology and environmental challenges. When you combine these, we are in hyper-competition,” says Jens Holtinger.
Insights from the research groups
The four research groups withing Wingquist Laboratory, Geometry Assurance & Robust Design, Systems Engineering Design, Automation, and Geometry & Motion Planning shared their latest research results and initiatives. The sessions covered topics from megacasting and digital twins to AI-driven engineering methods, sustainable aerospace development and advanced robotics.
About Wingquist Laboratory
Wingquist Laboratory is a competence centre for multidisciplinary research within the field of digital product realization. The lab envisions a fully digital product realization process, where complex, mechanical, assembled products and their production systems are developed and verified together, without need for physical prototypes or testing.
- Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering