On 18th November, 2021 a GIWEP Innovation Dialogue was held again at ZENIT in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic it took place as a virtual event. Its focus was on the digitalization in the metals industry, namely the influence of the digitalization onto material development and processing. Mr. Dr. Pieper from VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH explained the current development funds program "MaterialDigital" of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research). The event was made perfect by further lectures about the topic, presented by Mr. Prof. Himmel and Mr. Nohl (Hochschule Ruhr West, Mülheim) as well as Mr. Dr. Oertel (GIWEP).