Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz provided an impressive impetus on the final day with a keynote speech and a subsequent panel discussion on technology, energy and industry. He acknowledged that the region is a clear role model for the nationwide transformation process: “Eastern Germany has developed into a strong region of the future and shows how successful structural change can be achieved: with innovative strength, speed and new ideas. The whole of Germany can learn from this.”
Economic resilience through the security and defense industry
The conference made it clear that issues of national and European security are becoming increasingly important as direct location factors. Experts from industry and associations – including OHB System, Rolls-Royce, Fujitsu, PwC and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) – discussed the specific regional potential during the keynote speech and the subsequent panel on the security architecture of eastern Germany. With its available space and established industrial structures, eastern Germany has the essential prerequisites to play a leading role in the European security economy.
In her keynote speech and on-stage interview on Monday, Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, emphasized that a competitive industrial policy is closely linked to the development of resilient supply chains and the linking of civil and security-relevant technologies. Eastern German industry could act as a model region in this regard.
Digitalization and modernization as productivity levers
In addition to the security architecture, the digital transformation was the second focus of the following days. Digital Minister Dr Karsten Wildberger opened the final day of the event with an impulse on state modernization. He emphasized that the digitalization of administration and the targeted expansion of the digital economy are decisive levers for the competitiveness and technological sovereignty of the location. The associated economic opportunities and value creation in the age of AI were discussed in greater depth in the subsequent panel by stakeholders from science and the global economy.
Strategic investments require reliable framework conditions
There was agreement at the forum that the mobilization of capital is directly linked to clear political guidelines and reliable local structures. In the financial policy discourse on the final day with executives from KfW, Germany Trade & Invest and the East German Banking Association, it was emphasized that eastern Germany has become significantly more attractive in international investment competition, but that efforts to optimize the framework conditions must be consistently continued.
In addition to the large-format panels on the main stage, the OWF as a platform is traditionally characterized by direct, cross-industry exchange. Once again this year, numerous interactive workshops and the informal setting in Bad Saarow – such as confidential discussions in small groups – offered the tried-and-tested space to consolidate networks away from the official agenda and to translate strategic impulses directly into concrete approaches for action for local companies.
Holger Lösch, Managing Director of Land der Ideen Management GmbH and Deputy Managing Director of the BDI, summarized the results of the conference: “We are experiencing times of profound upheaval that require quick, but also considered answers. The OWF 2026 has proven how indispensable direct, honest dialog between politics, business and science is. The intensive debates of the last few days have shown this: If we pool the expertise from eastern Germany, this will result in real power to act for the entire business location – and beyond.”
About the OWF
OWF is the leading business conference in eastern Germany. The aim of the OWF is to highlight the opportunities and challenges of the business location with the help of the transformation barometer, to network relevant players from business, politics, science and society and to develop solutions for the structural change and transformation processes that characterize the location. With top-class speakers, panel discussions and networking formats, the OWF offers its participants the opportunity to actively participate in this important dialog.
About Germany – Land of Ideas
Founded in 2006 by the German government and German industry on the occasion of the Football World Cup, the Germany – Land of Ideas initiative is committed to promoting ideas and innovative strength in Germany.
Together with partners from business, politics, science and society, Germany – Land of Ideas organizes competitions, networking projects and the East German Business Forum.
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Further links
👉 https://ostdeutscheswirtschaftsforum.de
👉 https://land-der-ideen.de/
Photo: Germany – Land of Ideas/Brundert_Marquardt
