As early as the year the BDI was founded, the Executive Board was established for the first time in the bylaws as an organ of the association. Within the scope of its assigned powers, it may make decisions, participate in decision-making, and be held liable. The Executive Board is obligated to report on its activities to the General Assembly. This strengthens the BDI’s democratic leadership structure.
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The Chief Executive Officers of the BDI from 1949 to 2022 -
BDI Historical Archive The historical archive is the BDI’s long-term memory. At present the archive contains almost a thousand metres of shelving dedicated to documents relating to the history of German industry’s umbrella association. From industry's perspective they primarily document the economic and political-historical context at national and international level.
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The BDI and its Presidents, 1949 – 2016 On 19 October 1949 representatives of 32 business associations and working groups founded the Ausschuss für Wirtschaftsfragen der industriellen Verbände / Committee for Economic Issues of the Industrial Associations at the Excelsior Hotel in Cologne. In addition to the President of the first German Bundestag, Dr. Erich Köhler, the evening reception was attended by four Federal Ministers: Vice-Chancellor Franz Blücher; Minister of Economic Affairs Ludwig Erhard; Minister of Labour Anton Storch and Minister for Transport Hans-Christoph Seebohm.
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Sachzuwendungen: Raus aus dem Regelungsdickicht Ein Blumenstrauß zum Geburtstag, ein Gutschein für Beschäftigte oder ein Geschäftsessen: Sachzuwendungen und Bewirtungen gehören zum Unternehmensalltag. Steuerlich lösen sie jedoch häufig aufwendige Prüfungen und Aufzeichnungen aus. Unterschiedliche Regelungen im Steuer- und Sozialversicherungsrecht erschweren zudem eine digitale Abrechnung. Der BDI schlägt deshalb ein Wahlrecht für eine vereinfachte Pauschalierung vor, die an den tatsächlichen Aufwendungen ansetzt.
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Income Tax Reform: Cutting Red Tape Instead of Increasing the Tax Burden On 7 September 2026, representatives from politics, academia and the business community met at the BDI to discuss the planned adjustment of the personal income tax schedule and the reforms needed to simplify corporate tax law. The discussion focused on the impact of the Income Tax Reform Act on unincorporated businesses and on ways to simplify tax procedures. It demonstrated that the announced Tax Simplification Act provides an opportunity to remove structural obstacles and improve the tax framework for investment while remaining largely revenue neutral.
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The Public Procurement Act: A New Direction for European Public Procurement With the Public Procurement Act (PPA) presented on 9 September 2026, the European Commission is proposing the most far-reaching reform of European public procurement law in more than a decade. The objective is to make procurement procedures simpler and more digital while using public procurement more strategically as a tool to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and economic security. From an industry perspective, the proposal offers significant opportunities but also raises questions regarding practical implementation and administrative burden.
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National IP Strategy: Intellectual Property as the Key to Innovation and Competitiveness Intellectual property is increasingly becoming a key competitive factor for innovation hubs. With its planned national IP strategy, the federal government aims to improve the framework conditions for the protection, transfer, and commercial exploitation of innovations and to secure Germany’s technological strength in the long term.
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European State Aid Law: New GBER needs to be fit for purpose The General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) is one of the most important instruments of European state aid law. It enables Member States to grant a wide range of aid measures directly without requiring prior approval from the European Commission. Since its entry into force in 2014, the GBER has been revised and expanded several times. The latest major amendment in 2023 created additional scope for investments in climate protection, industrial transformation, as well as research and innovation.
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Inheritance Tax before the Federal Constitutional Court: Why Business Assets Require Special Protection On 13 October 2026, the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court will hold a hearing on inheritance tax relief for business assets. The central question is whether the different tax treatment of qualifying business assets and non-qualifying private assets is compatible with the German Basic Law. The BDI has been invited to participate as an expert third party and will attend the oral hearing in Karlsruhe.
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Competition policy must be location policy In its main report, “Competition 2026,” the Monopolies Commission analyzes key challenges facing Germany as a business location. The BDI supports the goal of open and competitive markets, but takes a different approach on several points. Competition policy must take into account the conditions under which companies can invest, maintain industrial value creation, and scale new technologies in Europe.
Our social wall
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USA
The United States remains one of the most important foreign markets for the German economy. However, the policies of U.S. President Trump are posing challenges for German companies.
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International supply chains
The world has never been as interconnected as it is today—socially, politically, and economically. Global economic cycles ensure a wider range of goods and lower prices, but they also place high demands on logistics and efficient supply chains. Whether it’s trade conflicts, pandemics, shortages of raw materials, or the sinking of a container ship: companies must learn to manage these risks.
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Security and Defense
Security is fundamental to the political and social stability of any society. It provides the framework within which culture, trade, and the economy can develop in the first place. For example, people only invest if they are confident that they will be able to reap the rewards of that investment.
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Reducing bureaucracy
German industry—from publicly traded corporations to medium-sized family businesses—relies on an efficient and straightforward legal framework. Unnecessary bureaucracy costs time and money, hinders innovation, and exacerbates the country’s competitive disadvantage. Industrial SMEs in particular suffer from the multitude of government regulations, as they often lack the resources to cope with complex requirements.
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Current Tax Policy
A modern tax policy is essential for boosting investment, ensuring competitiveness, and positioning Germany as a sustainable business location for the future. We need simple, reliable, and internationally competitive rules so that investment decisions once again favor Germany. In this way, a smart tax policy provides the necessary momentum for industry.
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Cybersecurity and Economic Security
Data and cargo theft, cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage, and other forms of economic crime—which cause over 267 billion euros in damages annually—as well as natural disasters and political instability: For Germany’s globally interconnected industry, all aspects of security are critical—both physical and digital. Business and politics must work more closely together to address this challenge.
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing our lives. Its transformative effects in the future will have a lasting impact on the way we live and work. But what exactly is AI? How is AI used in industry? What are the barriers to AI adoption, and how is the BDI, in its role as the leading industry association, advocating for the implementation and innovation-friendly regulation of artificial intelligence?
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Latin America
Latin America is considered a growth region with great potential—even now, amid slow growth and difficult times. The region has significant needs in areas where German companies have much to offer. Nevertheless, Germany’s economic engagement in the region remains far below its potential. Improved framework conditions and new trade agreements could provide important impetus for expanding economic relations.
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Resource security
Raw materials are the foundation of industrial production in Germany. They are used throughout the entire value chain and have become an integral part of our daily lives: for example, a smartphone contains over 60 different raw materials. A secure supply of raw materials is of the utmost importance for Germany as an industrial hub.
