Following main challenges at the interface of automation technology, process technology and information technology will be discussed

• - Convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and IT
• - Maturity of OT developments – driven by the high innovation rate of IT
• - Digital twin – Re-use of models in the whole product and plant life cycle, i.e. over decades and designed for different disciplines
• - Time-to-market – from lab to operation
• - Complexity of processes in chemical industry – technically, from operator’s point of view, from disciplines point of view
• - Continuous need for increased productivity – raw material and energy efficiency, work productivity, capital productivity
• - Sustainability of OT solutions in plant life cycle – i.e. over decades
• - Permanently changing requirements – chemistry, market, logistics, demography, sites and plants, regulations

For all of these challenges the state-of-the-art and current BASF approaches will be presented.

Target of the colloquium: Stimulate further discussions, how the scientific community can contribute to develop improved solutions for these existing and upcoming challenges.