Ulrike Tagscherer
Managing Director | China Innovation Consulting
Ulrike Tagscherer is Managing Director of China Innovation Consulting, advising companies and organizations regarding their innovation and/or China strategy. Until March 2026 she was the Chief Innovation Officer at KUKA SE and managed cross-divisional innovation activities from the idea to market success. In 2024, she was recognized by the International Federation of Robotics as one of 10 women driving the future of robotics. Previously, Ulrike Tagscherer held different roles at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has studied, worked an lived in China and has more than 35 years of experience with China.
Kaleidoscope Stage
China as a Tech Superpower: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Supply Chains, and What Can We Do?
China is shifting costs, availability, and power structures in global supply chains—faster than many companies can react. The forces driving this dynamic are no coincidence: They are the result of targeted industrial policy, massive scale, and a pace of commercialization that Western companies often underestimate.
In this session, we’ll provide an objective and strategic overview of technological developments, including where China leads today and why; which sectors are particularly influenced by China’s technological momentum and industrial policy; what this means for Europe; and which strategy makes sense for your company—whether it’s cooperation, competition, coexistence, or targeted diversification.
Your takeaway: No scaremongering, no blind optimism—but clear guidance and concrete criteria for sourcing, risk, and investment decisions.