Future Thinkers

Future Thinkers is a long-term initiative built to help the project cargo community anticipate change. The program is led by a group of senior executives and specialized academic experts who meet at each Breakbulk event to identify the fundamental shifts coming between now and 2045 and what companies can do today to prepare for them.

The program has now expanded to include a new element: open membership for industry professionals from all sectors involved in industrial projects.

Become a member

Join the Future Thinkers Online Course

3-4 November 2026

Jointly hosted by Breakbulk Events & Media and in cooperation with ProLog Innovation.
Program responsibility: Prof. Dr. Sven Hermann, Future Thinkers Academic Chair

This program is designed for leaders and specialists in industrial and project-based organizations, particularly in project logistics, heavy-lift and supply chain functions across sectors such as energy, heavy machinery and plant engineering, who are responsible for strategic planning, market intelligence or building foresight capability within their organization.

Attendee joins a lively discussion during a networking session at Breakbulk Europe.

What to expect

Markets are shifting faster than most organizations can interpret them. This summit helps you close that gap. Over two focused afternoons, you will work with senior practitioners from Andritz Hydro, RENK Group, thyssenkrupp Uhde, Siemens Energy, Hitachi Energy, Fluor, Auerbach, Lilly and Siempelkamp, alongside academic perspective from the University of Hong Kong and NBS Northern Business School to translate megatrends and market signals into actionable future scenarios, build leadership capacity for navigating uncertainty and leave with a practical Foresight Toolkit you can apply directly in your organization.

Photo right: More than 30 Future Thinkers met in Rotterdam at Breakbulk Europe. Now we bring the experience to you with Breakbulk Future Thinkers' first online course.

Find out more