Tokyo Systems Engineering Summit 2025: Bridging Continents

The Tokyo Systems Engineering Summit on November 14, 2025, at Marunouchi Hall set new benchmarks: With over 300 registrations, the venue was filled to capacity – impressive evidence of this event's growing significance. What began just a few years ago has evolved into an established platform and is a special passion project for prostep ivip: offering the steadily growing community in Asia, with a focus on Japan and South Korea, intensive international exchange.

Recipe for Success: International Partnership on Equal Footing

Behind this success stands a strong partnership: Tomohiko Adachi, board member of prostep ivip and Mazda Motor Corporation, along with the NTT Data team as partners from day one, drive the Summit forward with dedication. "The unique value of this event lies in connecting different continents and enabling genuine knowledge transfer across borders," emphasized Dr. Alain Pfouga, Managing Director of prostep ivip Association.

Premium Partners Make It Possible: Free Access for All

Special thanks go to Premium Partners NTT Data, HCLTech, and PTC, whose sponsorship enabled free participation for everyone. "Without this commitment, we couldn't create a platform where innovation and collaboration thrive without barriers," said Dr. Pfouga.

From Agentic AI to Engineering Societies: Keynotes with Substance

The program featured high-caliber speakers who illuminated current challenges from different perspectives:
Jens Poggenburg (Executive Vice President, AVL) opened with "Revolutionizing Software-Defined Vehicles through Agentic AI" – a vision of how artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming vehicle development.
Dr. Henrik Weimer (Director, Airbus) demonstrated in "Transforming Product Development with AI" how the aerospace industry leverages AI to make development processes more efficient and innovative.
Professor Seiko Shirasaka from Keio University looked beyond traditional boundaries: "From Engineering Systems to Engineering Societies" expanded the systems engineering discourse into societal dimensions.
Takao Sugai (Project GM, Toyota Motor Corporation) brought practice into play: His "Practical Systems Engineering Use Cases" showed how Toyota translates theory into concrete development processes.
The subsequent Q&A session evolved into a lively dialogue between participants and industry leaders – exactly what makes the Summit special.

From Practice for Practice: In-Depth Case Studies

The afternoon sessions provided concrete insights into the digital transformation of leading companies:
Kenji Hashimoto (Mazda) took participants on Mazda's ALM journey – authentic and with valuable lessons learned.
Dr. Thilo Jania (Senior Vice President, Olympus) demonstrated how product and process structures can be integrated into a comprehensive data model.
Takeaki Koga (Toyota) presented advanced testing methodologies: Use case analyses with traceability to MILS functional tests.
Dr. Hasan Esen (Denso Automotive Deutschland) posed the crucial question: "How to make Systems Engineering Smart?" – and delivered compelling answers at the intersection of intelligence and engineering.
Thomas Kamla (Volkswagen) provided insights into VW's Transformation Roadmap, showing the strategic direction of one of the global players.
Prof. Dr. Rainer Stark (TU Berlin) rounded out the program with academic expertise: New virtual engineering and prototyping approaches for integrating MBSE and SDV.

Premium Partners with Technical Depth

The Premium Partners also delivered substantial contributions:
Christoph Braeuchle (PTC) demonstrated how to leverage the intelligent Product Lifecycle in engineering.
Nikhil Joshi and Deodatt Bawachkar (HCLTech) showed with "From Silo to Mainstream" how MBSE connects with ALM and PLM.
Jens Krueger (NTT Data) explored the use of Agentic AI in SDV development.

Networking That Works

Twelve leading solution providers presented at the exhibition: Accenture, LieberLieber Software, Contact Software, Dassault Systèmes, Keysight, Jambe, AVL, NTT Data, HCLTech, PTC, Zuken, and Dentsu Soken. The breaks and extended social event from 6:00 to 8:00 PM were particularly bustling – exactly the atmosphere that enables productive exchange.
In strategically placed Exhibitor Pitch Sessions, all exhibitors presented their latest solutions concisely – efficient and informative.
With over 300 registrations, the prostep ivip team faces a welcome challenge: How can they meet growing demand in 2026 without losing the intimate networking atmosphere that makes the Tokyo Summit so special?
"This problem demonstrates the enormous value our community places on this international exchange," said Dr. Pfouga. "We're already working on solutions that enable growth while preserving the collaborative spirit."

Conclusion: Connecting Continents Creates Innovation

The Tokyo Systems Engineering Summit impressively demonstrates: When experts from different continents, cultures, and disciplines come together, unique impulses for innovation and progress in systems engineering emerge. The blend of top-tier keynotes, hands-on case studies, and extensive networking opportunities establishes this event as a must-attend for all those driving the future of industrial development. The Tokyo Systems Engineering Summit 2026 is poised to build on this success story.