4 Sep 2026 – 12:00 – 45 min
Location: Innovation Stage
Format: Fireside Chat

Digital Policy Put to the Test

What Germany needs for innovation and competitiveness

Speakers
Dr. Karsten Wildberger
Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, Bundesministeriums für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung
Dr. Reinhard Christian Zinkann
Executive Director and Co-Proprietor, Miele
Pinar Atalay
TV Host & Journalist
Track: World of AI & Future of Tech
Language: German

How can Germany remain a leading industrial hub in the face of global competition? And how can we achieve a form of digitalization that eases the burden rather than creating new obstacles?

To start, Federal Minister Dr. Wildberger will give an introductory note

Key Takeaways:

The discussion will touch upon the following

  • Regulation, Reducing Bureaucracy, and Global Competitiveness: Does reducing bureaucracy become a locational advantage? How does the government ensure digital competitiveness? What investments enable companies to remain competitive in the face of the global digital transformation?
  • Innovation, Data, and New Business Models: Legal certainty versus barriers to innovation for data-driven services, connected devices, and AI applications. How can a balance be struck between data usage, data protection, and the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property? What role does cybersecurity play for connected products?