EY vs McKinsey & Company

Humanoid Robots: Race for Factory Floor Still Open

At the invest.austria conference 2026, industry experts discussed the state of humanoid robotics in industrial applications. Panelists agreed that while the technology is advanced, many pilot projects fail due to unrealistic expectations and lack of a clear business case. Nikolaus Keuth of EY highlighted a "graveyard of pilot projects" and the need for use-case clusters. Majdoline Wahbi of Kiosmo noted that Europe lags in research-to-startup conversion, with only 15% of researchers founding companies compared to 45% in the US. Christian Tauber of NEOALP emphasized that the challenge now lies in robotic skills and data collection, not hardware. Christopher Polligkeit of Plug and Play stressed the importance of addressing labor shortages. The consensus was that Europe needs a stronger pipeline from research to industrial practice to win the race.

• The invest.austria conference 2026 took place on Wednesday with a panel on Robotics & Industrial AI.
• EY Senior Manager Nikolaus Keuth mentioned a 'large graveyard of pilot projects' in humanoid robotics.
• Majdoline Wahbi of Kiosmo stated that only 15% of European researchers found companies, versus 45% in the US.

EY Wins BMW Audit Mandate Starting 2029

The article reports that EY has won the prestigious audit mandate for BMW, effective from 2029. This marks the second major DAX mandate for the former Wirecard auditor after its ban expired, following a similar win at Allianz. The content is paywalled, so only limited details are available. The news is significant for the professional services industry, indicating EY's comeback in the German market. However, detailed information about the contract terms, duration, or implications for other auditors is not provided due to the paywall.

EY Survey: Half of German CEOs See AI Skills Gap

According to the EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey, 53% of German CEOs fear their companies are not developing AI skills fast enough, the highest level of agreement (21%) among surveyed countries. Globally, 44% of CEOs cite economic uncertainty as a top concern, followed by cyber risks (40%) and technological change including AI (34%). German CEOs prioritize process optimization (62%) over AI applications (48%) for productivity. 24% of German companies cannot reliably assess AI costs and ROI, while only 18% have real-time cost visibility. On average, German companies spend 0.9% of revenue on AI, with 88% expecting increased spending on generative AI over the next three years. EY recommends linking financial responsibility for AI more closely to its economic benefits.

• 53% of German CEOs fear AI skills gap, highest in Europe.
• 24% of German companies cannot reliably assess AI costs and ROI.
• German companies spend average 0.9% of revenue on AI.

Europe's quantum startups need more than research funding

According to McKinsey's 2026 Quantum Technology Monitor, global investment in quantum technology startups reached €11.15 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2025, a 6.3-fold increase from the previous year. However, the share from public sources dropped dramatically to 3% from roughly one-third in 2024. The author, Marie Lepske, argues that public funding often goes to research infrastructure, universities, and training, which strengthens the ecosystem but does not directly provide startup capital. She emphasizes that founders must look beyond headline commitments to understand where money is actually directed and what it can fund. While Europe has a strong research base—producing 22% of global quantum publications and 17% of top-cited papers—she stresses that this does not automatically translate into financing for scaling companies. The article concludes that European founders need to plan for private capital, as ecosystem funding and company financing serve different purposes.

• Global investment in quantum startups reached €11.15 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2025, 6.3x more than 2024.
• Only 3% of 2025 quantum startup funding came from public sources, down from roughly one-third in 2024.
• The EU produces 22% of global quantum-computing publications and 17% of top-cited papers.

McKinsey: Global Assets Reach $165T, ETF Boom Drives Growth

According to a McKinsey study, global assets under management reached a new high of $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at the end of 2025. Net inflows are projected to grow by 5% annually, the highest in a decade. European ETFs saw strong inflows, with $255 billion raised in H1 alone, nearly matching the previous full year. However, market concentration is increasing, with the top five ETF providers in the US capturing 94% of net inflows, and the top ten private credit funds accounting for 72%. Technology spending by asset managers rose 13% to $41 billion in 2025, driven by IT modernization and AI investments, which currently add costs before delivering significant savings. McKinsey concludes that growth in assets does not automatically translate into higher profitability, and firms must focus on specialization and efficient tech investment.

• Global assets under management reached $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at end of 2025.
• European ETFs attracted $255 billion in net inflows in H1 2026, nearly matching the previous full year.
• In the US, the top five passive ETF providers captured 94% of net inflows, up 8 percentage points from five years ago.

Social Media Shapes Travel Planning, Trust Drives Bookings

A joint study by McKinsey and Skift, based on a survey of over 1,000 travelers and 200 user diaries, reveals that social media and AI are reshaping travel planning. 60% of respondents get new travel ideas from social media, while only 13% use AI for inspiration. However, trust remains crucial: 52% insist on controlling booking details, and 43% book through traditional channels like travel agencies or booking platforms. The abundance of options is overwhelming (45% frustrated by comparing across platforms), leading 63% to prefer platforms offering about ten curated choices. AI is used for research (71%) but not for final bookings. Post-booking, 51% have cancelled a stay after finding a better deal, highlighting the need for flexible conditions and transparency. McKinsey advises travel companies to simplify search, personalize offers, and maintain control for customers to build loyalty.

• 60% of respondents get travel ideas from social media.
• 52% insist on controlling booking details before confirmation.
• 43% booked their last trip via travel agencies or traditional booking platforms.