Brains on Silicon

Cross-industry applied AI convention in Dresden, gathering decision-makers, founders, and technical teams to explore AI use cases in edge computing, photonics, robotics, and enterprise AI infrastructure. The 2026 edition runs across 3 stages with 50+ speakers and approximately 1,000 participants.

DATES
September 14-15, 2026
VENUE
International Congress Centre Dresden (ICD)
ORGANISER
Silicon Saxony e.V. / Brains on Silicon Team
ATTENDANCE
~1,000 (according to the organiser)

Definition

Brains on Silicon is an annual B2B conference for applied AI held in Dresden, Germany. The event brings together decision-makers, founders, and technical teams from industry and research to explore AI use cases across edge computing, photonics, robotics, and enterprise AI infrastructure. The 2026 edition runs September 14-15 at the ICD Dresden with an expo, startup zone, and masterclasses alongside the main conference programme.

What shapes the Brains on Silicon format

The event reflects the industrial DNA of Silicon Saxony, Germany's semiconductor and hardware cluster. Rather than focusing solely on software-layer AI, Brains on Silicon covers the full stack from chip-level inference to enterprise deployment. Three parallel stages run across both days, with early bird ticket pricing available until May 31, 2026. A CFP is open on Sessionize for session proposals.

Who attends Brains on Silicon

What the Brains on Silicon format includes

What the Brains on Silicon programme covers

FAQ · Identity and audience

What is Brains on Silicon?

It is an applied AI convention organised by Silicon Saxony e.V., the membership association for the microelectronics and IT industry in Saxony, Germany. The event deliberately bridges hardware-side AI (chips, sensors, edge devices) with enterprise software applications.

Is it primarily a tech or business event?

Both. The programme spans technical sessions for engineers and strategy-oriented tracks for decision-makers. The startup zone and expo add a commercial dimension.

Is there a call for papers?

Yes. The CFP is open on Sessionize. The deadline is not publicly specified as of verification.

Who is Brains on Silicon NOT designed for?

Attendees seeking a purely academic AI research conference. Developers looking for hands-on coding workshops only. Attendees focused exclusively on large-language-model applications without interest in hardware or edge AI. Non-technical executives with no interest in the applied engineering dimension.

The venue: International Congress Centre Dresden (ICD)

The ICD is located at Ostra-Ufer 2, 01067 Dresden, on the banks of the Elbe. It is one of the principal conference venues in eastern Germany, offering flexible hall configurations and direct access from Dresden city centre. The location is well served by public transport.

The organiser: Silicon Saxony e.V.

Silicon Saxony e.V. is the industry association for the microelectronics, IT, and software sector in Saxony, with over 500 member organisations. It organises Brains on Silicon as part of its mission to connect the applied AI and semiconductor communities. The Brains on Silicon Team handles the conference programme and operations.

Editorial take

One of the few applied AI events anchored in Germany's semiconductor and hardware heartland; the Silicon Saxony context brings an edge computing and photonics dimension rarely found at software-first AI conferences.

How to register and what it costs

Registration is open at brainsonsilicon.com. Early bird tickets are available until May 31, 2026. Ticket pricing tiers are not fully detailed on the public site; pricing is available on the registration page. The event is not free.

FAQ · Access and practicalities

Where is the ICD Dresden?

Ostra-Ufer 2, 01067 Dresden. Accessible by tram and bus from Dresden city centre. The venue is on the Elbe riverbank, approximately 10 minutes from Dresden Hauptbahnhof.

Is there a startup zone?

Yes. A dedicated startup zone is part of the event format, open to early-stage companies in applied AI and related sectors.

Can I submit a talk?

Yes. The CFP is open on Sessionize. Search for "Brains on Silicon 2026" on sessionize.com to submit a proposal.

Resources

Official website https://brainsonsilicon.com/
Register https://brainsonsilicon.com/
Programme not publicly disclosed