FM joins ARENA2036 research platform to investigate automation and AI risks
Luxembourg, 5 March 2026 – Commercial property insurer FM today announced that it has joined the ARENA2036 research platform (Active Research Environment for the Next Generation of Automobiles, e.V.) as a member, becoming the first insurer in the ARENA2036 network.
The ARENA2036 membership will strengthen FM’s European research strategy, allowing it to work side-by-side with Germany’s leading technology companies and research institutions to scientifically investigate risks in automated and AI-based production systems – long before these technologies are deployed at scale across industry.
Focus on automation and intelligent production systems
Approximately 60 partners from industry and science, including Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, Siemens, Nokia, and several Fraunhofer Institutes are members of ARENA2036. The organization’s research is based on a project-oriented approach, and its thematic scope ranges from robotics, AI and mobility to sustainability, production and connectivity, all the way to community and ecosystems. The organization’s research is continuously being expanded to include new and innovative fields.
“With FM, ARENA2036 gains a partner that sends an important signal: Industrial insurers are also actively working on the technologies and risks of tomorrow. Direct cooperation with industry and our shared forward-thinking approach help to make innovations secure, robust and practical right from the start,” said Peter Froeschle, Managing Director, ARENA2036.
FM’s primary focus will be research into key technologies shaping the future of automotive production, with an emphasis on automation, robotics and digitalization.
“Membership in ARENA2036 enables us to closely track technological developments in manufacturing and identify emerging risk factors before these technologies enter industrial practice,” said Sandor Becz, staff senior vice president, research at FM. “As an insurer, we add a perspective that has not previously been represented within the consortium, while contributing nearly 200 years of engineering expertise to joint research.”
Concrete research scenarios: What FM will examine
FM will analyze how local failures can cascade. Examples include robots making unpredictable movements, AI systems turning faulty sensor inputs into incorrect decisions, or digital twins representing incorrect states during live operations. The aim of the research is to detect new sources of risk early and derive loss-prevention guidelines for industrial deployment – before disturbances lead to business interruptions or property damage.
Expanding FM’s European research network
Membership in ARENA2036 complements FM’s existing research collaborations. In June 2025, the company announced a partnership with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) focused on climate and cyber risks. FM is also building the FM Science and Technology Centre, Europe, located in Luxembourg and scheduled to open in 2027.
“Our collaborations with ARENA2036 and LIST cover distinct, emerging risk domains,” said Dr. Roland Schaefer, vice president, research director of automation and cyber at FM. “Our work with LIST explores solutions for climate and cyber resilience, and our partnership with ARENA2036 will focus on automation and intelligent production systems. Together, these partnerships expand our ability to prepare clients for evolving risks.”
About ARENA2036
ARENA2036 stands for “Active Research Environment for the Next Generation of Automobiles” and is one of the leading innovation platforms for mobility and production of the future. As a research campus within the framework of the "Research Campus – Public-Private Partnership for Innovation" funding initiative, ARENA2036 is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). The registered association, based in Stuttgart, currently has around 60 members from science and industry. Together, they are shaping the future of work, mobility, and production in the context of digitalization under one roof. The project landscape ranges from applied basic research to technology transfer and is characterized by a wide variety of topics.
About FM
Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world’s largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.
Follow FM on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Visit our newsroom for updates on FM, and listen to our new podcast, Sound Policy, on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.