Not a day goes by without an article about the ‘state of health’ of Germany’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Everyone in society, politics and business has come to realise just how important SMEs are for our country and for Europe. Whether it comes to competitiveness, innovation, the labour market or social security systems – it is always SMEs that bear the brunt of the burden. This is nothing new. People were already aware of this importance back in Ludwig Erhard’s day.
What is new, however, is the dynamic of change that is having a particular impact on this group of companies. Alongside economic transformation, there is a social dimension and – certainly since Trump came to power – an unprecedented geopolitical dimension, including trade tariffs and the like. This is having a fundamental impact on the rules of the economic game. And it is the economy’s most important cross-sectoral industry – transport and logistics – that is being affected above all.
The ability to adapt quickly thus becomes a key prerequisite for survival. In all cross-cutting issues – such as the skills shortage, energy price trends or digital sovereignty – courage and decisiveness are required across the board. And it is precisely these qualities that are part of the DNA of SMEs. They have both feet firmly planted in their markets, know their customers well, and stand out for their innovative strength and willingness to embrace change. And that is the stuff of future-proofing: market and customer knowledge, reliability, quality and the pace of innovation.
This will be a summit without empty rhetoric, bullshit bingo or ego trips. We’ll be providing practical guidance with a clear, consistent focus, delivered in a variety of formats and featuring speakers who really have something to say.
The guiding principle: “Transformation as a competitive lever” – with clear, actionable takeaways.
