On Monday, June 23, 2025, the inaugural lecture of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Benjamin van Giffen took place at the University of Liechtenstein. Under the title "Tradition Meets Technology: Overcoming Cultural Tensions in AI Adoption within Lean Quality Management", the new Professor of Information Systems & Digital Innovation shed light on the challenges and opportunities that arise from the interplay between traditional Lean principles and modern AI technologies.

The official program began at 5:00 PM with a ceremonial opening. In their welcoming remarks, Dr. Christian Frommelt, Rector of the University of Liechtenstein, Dr. Gunter Beitinger, Senior Vice President Manufacturing and Head of Factory Digitalization at Siemens, and Karsten Neugebauer, founder of VIQTORIOUS AG and former CEO of the G2K Group, emphasized the relevance of the topic for business, science, and society. They underlined the university’s role as a driving force for digital innovation in the region and beyond. A common thread throughout all the speeches was the connection between excellent research and practical application.

At the heart of the subsequent lecture was the question of how companies can manage cultural tensions that arise when implementing artificial intelligence into established management systems. Benjamin van Giffen emphasized that the integration of AI requires not only technological, but above all cultural and organizational change. Using real-world examples and solid scientific insights, he demonstrated how companies can successfully manage this transformation and achieve both efficiency gains and innovation-friendly structures.

The lecture combined theoretical depth with a strong practical orientation, offering the audience insights into current research projects and concrete recommendations for leaders and organizations undergoing digital transformation. Professor van Giffen particularly emphasized the importance of a human-centered innovation approach, grounded in Design Thinking and attentive to both ethical and governance-related aspects of AI use.

With this inaugural lecture, Professor van Giffen presented himself not only as a recognized expert in the design and scaling of AI systems, but also as a bridge-builder between academic excellence and business practice. His broad experience in research, teaching, and industry consulting – including collaborations with companies in Liechtenstein, Europe, and the United States – gives his work special relevance for both regional and international business.

Following the lecture, the University hosted a networking reception, where guests from academia, industry, and public administration took the opportunity to exchange ideas in an informal setting. In many conversations, the topic of the lecture was taken up, further explored, and discussed in the context of concrete entrepreneurial challenges. The reception also provided a valuable opportunity to meet Assoc. Prof. Dr. van Giffen in person and establish initial contacts for potential collaborations.