1949, the year the BDI was founded, was not a "zero hour". As regards the organisation’s essential features, the umbrella organisation’s structure and responsibilities, the founders of the BDI drew on the Weimar Republic model, the Reichsverband der Deutschen Industrie / Reich Association of German Industry (RDI).

When the BDI opened the new Brussels office in February 2016 it was primarily a completely new space. With its glass facades and walls the architectural design of the offices in the rue Marie de Bourgogne are a symbol of the transparency which has always been characteristic of the organisation’s international activities.

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.

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.

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.

Die Geschichte des „Bundesverbands der Deutschen Industrie e.V.“ (BDI) beginnt 1949 in Köln. Der am 19. Oktober ursprünglich gegründete „Ausschuss für Wirtschaftsfragen der industriellen Verbände“ wurde nur wenige Wochen später in „BDI“ umbenannt. 32 Wirtschaftsverbände und Arbeitsgemeinschaften organisierten sich fortan im neuen Spitzenverband. Ihre Zahl wuchs in den folgenden Jahren und Jahrzehnten kontinuierlich auf 38 (Stand 2026)