ABOUT
the
Future Tire
Conference 2026
2026 Agenda: Making Innovation Pay
Winning strategies for for turning innovation into competitive advantage across the global tire industry
The tire industry is entering a new phase of transformation, where the challenge is no longer just adopting new technologies, but making them deliver real commercial returns.
From AI and automation to sustainability, advanced materials, energy systems and circularity, manufacturers face mounting pressure to ensure that investment in innovation translates into productivity, resilience and profitability.
At the same time, cost pressures, regulatory demands and intensifying global competition are raising the stakes: technology must now prove its value - not just its potential.
The Future Tire Conference 2026 will bring together senior leaders from across the tire, automotive, materials, chemicals and equipment sectors to examine how the industry can successfully deploy and scale the technologies shaping its future.
Building on previous discussions around sustainability, the 2026 programme broadens the agenda to focus on how digitalisation, sustainability, materials innovation, manufacturing transformation and energy strategy can be leveraged to deliver measurable business outcomes.
From factory floor to boardroom strategy, the conference will address the critical question:
Which innovations will define competitive advantage - and how can the industry make them pay?
Key Themes & Topics
Key subject areas of the Future Tire 2026 programme of presentations and panel discussions will include:
STRATEGY, INVESTMENT & ROI
-
Turning innovation into measurable business performance
-
Lessons from successful (and unsuccessful) deployment
-
Aligning R&D, operations and commercial strategy
AI, DATA & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
-
AI in tire design, simulation and compound development
-
Smart manufacturing and predictive maintenance
-
Digital twins and end-to-end process optimisation
-
Data integration across the value chain
-
Barriers to scaling digital innovation
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & AUTOMATION
-
Next-generation tire production systems
-
Robotics, autonomous systems and flexible manufacturing
-
Productivity gains vs. capital intensity
-
Workforce transformation and skills challenges
-
Scaling innovation across plants
MATERIALS INNOVATION & PERFORMANCE
-
Next-generation elastomers, fillers and reinforcement materials
-
Bio-based, recycled and circular material solutions
-
Balancing cost, performance and sustainability
-
Accelerating materials development through digital tools
-
Securing raw material supply in volatile markets
SUSTAINABILITY AS A COMMERCIAL DRIVER
-
Moving beyond compliance to value creation
-
Regulation, reporting and their business implications
-
Traceability, transparency and digital product passports
-
Circular economy: recycling, retreading and reuse models
-
Customer demand and willingness to pay
ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION
-
Managing energy cost and volatility
-
Electrification and alternative energy strategies
-
Process efficiency and heat recovery
-
Decarbonisation strategies that protect margins
SUPPLY CHAIN, RISK & RESILIENCE
-
Regionalisation vs globalisation strategies
-
Supplier collaboration and innovation ecosystems
-
Raw material risk and price volatility
-
Digitalisation of supply chains
-
ESG requirements across the value chain
European Rubber Journal is pleased to announce the 2026 Future Tire Conference will take place on 18-19 November 2026, returning to the NH Collection Carlo IV Hotel in Prague.
Following the highly successful relaunch edition in 2025, the Future Tire Conference returns in 2026 to continue shaping the debate on the future of the global tire industry.
The 2025 conference attracted senior executives, technology leaders, and sustainability experts from across the value chain, delivering a dynamic programme of strategic insights, technical innovation, and forward-looking discussion.
As before, this high-powered discussion forum is dedicated to improving understanding and advancing the debate around current developments shaping the future of the tire industry.
In 2025, the conference featured keynote and expert contributions from leading organisations including Bekaert, Birla Carbon, Black Donuts Inc, Bridgestone, Dow Silicones, Endurica, Falken Tires, HF Group, Kuraray Europe GmbH, Nokian Tyres, Siemens, Škoda Auto, Skyhem Kimya, Synthos, Teijin Aramid, Tyres Europe and UPM Biochemicals, among many others, offering a comprehensive view of the technological, regulatory, and commercial challenges facing the sector.
Previous attendees include
The venue
ABOUT THE VENUE:
The Future Tire Conference will be held at The 5* NH Collection Prague Carlo IV is located on the border of the Old and New City of Prague. Just a ten-minute walk from Old Town Square, all the city’s key landmarks can be reached easily on foot, while nearby transport links connect guests with other major cities such as Brno, Dresden and Vienna.
FULL ADDRESS:
NH Collection Prague Carlo IV
Senovážné náměstí 13/991 - 11000 Czech Republic | +420 224 593 111
