»Leadership means connecting people.«
We all feel it: The global order as we know it is dissolving, and a new one is not yet in sight. Technological upheaval, innovation, and geopolitical shifts are putting immense pressure on the German and European economy. The situation calls for leadership and a clear sense of direction. For me, shaping this change means forging ahead with a compass in hand while acting flexibly. It means being independent and bold, not timid. That is what I stand for at the helm of the BDI, together with all of German industry.
German industrial strength is rooted in a unique mix of large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Mittelstand sector, and family businesses or startups of all sizes working in tandem to create value day after day. Our leadership role is to strengthen this diversity and connect people through shared perspectives.
Germany is a great country with a workforce of dedicated engineers, technicians, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, and millions of people who are committed to helping others. We have every opportunity for a better future, but only if we are honest with ourselves, work hard, and stand up for one another. Our strength is and has always been a collaborative effort, especially when the stakes are high. Right now, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Working together, we — businesspeople, public officials, society at large — can and will make Germany and Europe strong; that is, economically and technologically sovereign. The BDI and I are personally committed to achieving these goals.
How do we want to live up to this shared responsibility? By connecting people through leadership.
Dauerwandel
Transformation has become an all-of-society effort that can secure and grow our prosperity. Industry has a duty to tackle this task and drive it forward.
Change is no longer a one-off project; it is the new normal. Climate change, demographic trends, digitalization, and national-security requirements are fundamentally changing our markets and the means of production. This makes innovation a central source of future economic vitality.
Leadership
The question is not whether German industry is in the lead, but how it leads the way in this new order — for Germany and Europe.
Responsible leadership is a function of skill and impact. German industry demonstrates both in its technological excellence, deep industrial value chains, and international connections.
Fundament
Credible claims to leadership rest on economic strength. It preserves our capacity to act by securing sovereignty and resilience in a changed world.
A strong economy is a requirement for political freedom of action. It unlocks investment opportunities, enables technological development, and improves our ability to respond to crises. Without industrial substance, strategic autonomy remains an illusion
Systemkompetenz
Value creation today is a dynamic, interconnected fabric of closely integrated businesses, technologies, markets, and societal expectations. The reality of industrial production has fundamentally shifted. Products no longer emerge in isolated value chains but in complex networks of suppliers, platforms, services, and digital infrastructures.
Verbundkraft
Innovation and transformation emerge at the intersection of industry, commerce, and technology.
Many of the most impactful innovations of our time occurred at such intersections: of energy and industry, of digitalization and health, of mobility and infrastructure.
Verlässlichkeit
Germany and Europe boast a stable legal environment that enables reliable collaboration, a decisive locational advantage in the context of global competition. Legal certainty, dependability, and institutional stability are central prerequisites for long-term industrial collaboration. Germany and Europe provide an environment that builds trust between companies, investors, and governments.
Zusammenhalt
The international environment is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. A shifting balance of global power, hybrid threats, and the deliberate creation of economic dependencies are fundamentally altering the contours of what it means to be a global economic destination.
