ACE 2026: Where Adaptive Intelligence Gets Real for PLM

PLM is entering a new phase.

As AI moves from experimentation into the systems that govern engineering data, change processes, and lifecycle decisions, the conversation is no longer about whether intelligence will reshape product development. It is about how quickly organizations can apply it in practical, governed, and scalable ways.

That is what makes ACE 2026 such an important moment.

This April, customers, partners, developers, and industry leaders will come together in Miami to explore what Adaptive Intelligence means for the future of PLM and the digital thread. It is a shift toward AI-native PLM and intelligent digital threads that do more than connect data. They help organizations detect change earlier, respond faster, and make better decisions across the lifecycle.

Recent developments, including the introduction of Aras InnovatorEdge AI, show just how quickly this shift is becoming real. Organizations are beginning to build, deploy, and govern agentic AI services directly within their digital engineering and PLM environments. That changes the conversation from abstract AI potential to practical implementation.

ACE 2026 takes place April 14–15 in Miami, with a pre-event Tech Summit on Monday, April 13. Across the week, attendees will get a front-row seat to how PLM is evolving and what it will take to turn digital thread strategy into a measurable business advantage.

What makes ACE especially relevant this year is that the stakes are higher. Engineering organizations are under growing pressure to manage more complexity, move faster, and coordinate decisions across increasingly fragmented systems. AI is raising expectations. Product complexity is growing. And the cost of slow or poorly informed decisions continues to rise.

That is why this year’s conversations matter.

ACE is where the community comes together to separate signal from hype. Engineers share lessons from real implementations. Technology leaders discuss how the landscape is changing. Developers and solution builders dive into the tools and architectures shaping the next generation of PLM.

Attendees will see how a PLM-managed digital thread can connect lifecycle data across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and service to create a more complete and trustworthy product record. Through customer stories, strategic discussions, technical sessions, and hands-on learning, ACE will highlight how organizations are improving traceability, coordinating change more effectively, and building a stronger foundation for AI.

Start the week with the Aras Tech Summit

The week begins with the Aras Tech Summit on Monday, April 13, offering a deeper look at the technology behind the Aras platform and the innovations reshaping digital engineering.

Through demonstrations, discussions, and conversations with Aras product experts, attendees will explore the latest developments in AI, PLM, Aras Innovator®, and digital thread solutions. For technical teams and builders, the Tech Summit is a chance to move beyond concepts and see how these capabilities can be applied in practice.

It also sets the tone for the rest of the week: this is not just about where the industry is going, but how organizations can start moving now.

Main stage sessions that frame what comes next

ACE main stage sessions bring together Aras leaders, industry experts, and customers to explore the forces reshaping product development. These sessions combine strategic vision with real-world experience, helping attendees better understand how organizations are modernizing PLM, connecting lifecycle data, and preparing for a more intelligent, adaptive future.

This year’s keynotes include:

Leon Lauritsen, CEO, Aras

Leon Lauritsen will open ACE 2026 with the keynote, Adaptive Intelligence: A Vision for the Next Generation of PLM and Digital Thread. This will be Leon’s first ACE keynote since becoming CEO last September, making it an important moment for the Aras community and the company’s next phase of growth.

Leon will explore how organizations can address the growing complexity of fragmented engineering data by extending the digital thread beyond traditional PLM. Connecting lifecycle data across the broader engineering ecosystem opens the door to faster decisions, stronger coordination, and more effective use of AI.

Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Co-Founder and CEO, Cuebric

Pinar Seyhan Demirdag will deliver a guest keynote on the new skills leaders and teams must develop to thrive in a world shaped by AI. As the founder of Cuebric, a company working at the intersection of film, AI, and storytelling, she brings a unique perspective on creativity, responsible innovation, and how advanced technologies can expand human potential rather than constrain it.

Together, these keynote perspectives will challenge attendees to think not just about new technology, but about the new capabilities organizations must build to compete.

Customer stories that turn vision into proof

ACE will not just talk about the future of PLM. It will show how organizations are already putting digital thread and AI-driven strategies into action.

Customer sessions on the main stage will highlight how companies are applying Aras to real engineering and operational challenges across industries.

Representing aerospace and defense, Ajay Jain, Founder and CEO of RGBSI, will present When Every Mod Is Unique: Managing Aircraft Modifications at Scale with Aras. He will explore how aerospace programs can better manage complex aircraft modification processes while maintaining traceability and regulatory compliance. The session will show how a PLM-managed digital thread can help coordinate engineering changes, connect lifecycle data, and improve collaboration across distributed teams.

From the electronics industry, Toshihiro Shimizu, Senior Manager at Panasonic Information Systems, will present Advancing Business Processes and Building a Digital Thread with Panasonic Transformation. Shimizu will share how Panasonic Information Systems is using Aras to support digital transformation initiatives by improving data visibility and modernizing engineering processes.

On Tuesday, Kenzi Suzuki of Aisin will present Scaling Innovation with Reliable Generative AI and PLM, discussing how the organization is responding to electrification, software-defined products, and carbon-neutrality goals in the automotive industry.

These are the kinds of sessions that make ACE valuable: not just ideas, but examples of what transformation looks like in practice.

And the learning does not stop on the main stage. Throughout the week, breakout sessions will bring even more customer voices into the conversation. Organizations including BAE Systems, DENSO, Duncan Aviation, Johnson Matthey, Legrand, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and PMI will share how they are using Aras to modernize PLM environments, strengthen lifecycle visibility, and advance digital thread initiatives across complex engineering organizations.

Ask the questions that matter at Aras in the Round

A longtime ACE favorite, Aras in the Round brings attendees face-to-face with Aras CEO Leon Lauritsen and CTO Rob McAveney for an open, unscripted Q&A session.

There is no formal presentation. Just candid discussion driven by the audience.

Attendees can raise questions from earlier sessions, challenge assumptions, and engage directly with Aras leadership on the issues that matter most to their organizations. These conversations often surface some of the most thoughtful insights of the week because they reflect what is really on people’s minds: platform direction, market change, technical priorities, and where the industry goes from here.

Build new skills through hands-on training

ACE is also a place to learn by doing.

Throughout the week, attendees can participate in hands-on training designed for developers, administrators, and solution architects working with Aras Innovator. Sessions cover topics such as platform development, configuration, lifecycle management, and advanced capabilities within the Aras platform.

For teams looking to strengthen internal expertise, these sessions offer practical knowledge that can be applied immediately.

Get direct access to experts in the Ask Aras Demo Center

Throughout the event, attendees can visit the Ask Aras Demo Center to connect directly with Aras product and solution experts.

Designed as a space for conversation as much as demonstration, the Demo Center gives attendees the chance to discuss specific PLM challenges, explore possible approaches, and learn how others are creating value with the Aras platform. With live Q&A, deeper technical discussions, and personalized guidance, it is one of the best places at ACE to pressure-test ideas and explore what is possible.

Whether you want to better understand Aras Innovator, explore applications, or discuss strategy and best practices, the team will be there to help.

This is not the year to sit on the sidelines

ACE has always been about more than presentations. It is where the community comes together to share what is working, ask tough questions, and explore what comes next.

But this year feels different.

As AI begins to reshape how organizations manage complexity, govern change, and activate the digital thread, the need for practical understanding has never been greater. The companies that move first will not be the ones chasing hype. They will be the ones who understand where the market is going, what foundations they need, and how to turn new capabilities into real advantage.

That is why ACE 2026 matters.

If your organization is rethinking PLM modernization, digital thread strategy, or how to put AI to work in a governed engineering environment, this is a conversation you do not want to miss.

Join us in Miami and see how the next chapter of PLM is taking shape. Register Now!