Summer School 2026

Looking Back – The 2026 Summer School

On July 8, 2026, more than 160 communications professionals once again gathered at the Summer School to learn, experiment, and encourage one another. In keeping with our motto, “communication meets technology,” the focus was on how communication is evolving in the age of digitalization and technological transformation, and what opportunities this creates for our daily work.

This year’s host was the Melitta Group in Minden: a venue where the welcoming atmosphere—and, of course, the great coffee—made you feel right at home.

A highlight of the day was the keynote address by Janine Langlotz, VP of Product Marketing & Communications at Deutsche Post & DHL Germany. She highlighted where AI truly makes a difference in everyday communications—such as in research, drafting, and routine content—and where communicators are still needed, particularly when it comes to standing out from the crowd with a unique voice. Ultimately, it’s the quality and authenticity of the content that make the difference. She also made it clear that AI can only be as good as the data it accesses.

The importance of developing a genuine data culture was a key takeaway that ran through the entire day. Antonia Eidner and Ricarda Heim, co-founders of ECA, made it clear that this is a matter of long-term cultural development, not a short-term project.

During the interactive breakout sessions, participants had the opportunity to get hands-on, for example, by exploring the full scope of communication controlling or by developing a GEO strategy for reputation management.

The CommTech Working Group would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who attended. The next event, the CommTech Summit, will take place on November 26, 2026, at Merck in Darmstadt.