A Darmstadt-based author invites you to a release event and expert forum at the Comedy Hall on October 14th
How can Europe not only cope with technological and social change, but actively shape it? Darmstadt-based author and entrepreneur Michael Mattis in his new book, "The Phoenix Moment." He will present the book on Wednesday, October 14th, at 6 p.m. in the Jahn Hall of the Comedy Hall – Kikeriki Theater in Darmstadt. The event will explicitly not be a traditional reading.
The evening will feature presentations, discussions, and opportunities for personal interaction. Mattis will begin by introducing key ideas and theses from his book. Following this, experts, some of whom are interviewed in the book, will share their practical experiences. The audience will be actively involved in the discussion. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for further exchange over drinks and snacks.
Crises as a starting point for change
The book's title stems from an experience that has stayed with Mattis since childhood. In the 1960s, he saw the classic film "The Flight of the Phoenix" starring Hardy Krüger in a Darmstadt cinema. The film had a lasting impact on him and later even inspired him to study engineering.
“In the film, Krüger embodies an authentic form of resilience: the ability not to conceal setbacks, but to process them productively and reinvent himself without losing his own stance,” explains Mattis. He applies this principle in his book to the current technological, economic, and social challenges facing Europe.
A central thesis: Europe lacks neither knowledge nor inventiveness. Mattis sees the problems rather in bureaucracy, siloed thinking, and a lack of courage to implement successful developments on a larger scale. He points, among other things, to innovations such as the MP3 format or the World Wide Web, which originated in Europe but whose economic potential was later exploited in many other places.
Learning, collaborating and networking
Mattis has been active in the regional digital economy for many years. Among other things, he founded the Darmstadt-based AMC Media Network and initiated event formats such as dikomm and the DIGITAL FUTUREcongress.
With the concept of "Silicon Valley Europe," he is not advocating for a copy of the American Silicon Valley. Instead, European strengths such as scientific excellence, data protection, and societal sovereignty should be combined with stronger cooperation, greater speed, and more entrepreneurial courage.
Darmstadt also serves as an example for him. In his view, universities, research institutions, cultural institutions, and medium-sized businesses offer great potential when different stakeholders are better networked.
Three concepts therefore serve as guiding principles throughout "The Phoenix Moment": learning, collaboration, and networking. The book is aimed particularly at people who deal with technological change, strategy, and economic and social issues of the future.
The most important data
What: Book launch of "The Phoenix Moment" with expert forum
Author: Michael Mattis
When: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 6 p.m.
Where: Jahn Saal, Comedy Hall – Kikeriki Theater, Darmstadt
Program: Presentations and keynote, expert panel, audience discussion and networking
Tickets: Ticket booking for “The Phoenix Moment”
