Entrepreneurship

levelbuild AG: Saxony’s Digital Pact: Business alliance joins forces for the state’s digital future

Leipzig, April 1, 2026 – Saxony has a new, powerful voice in the digital economy. At Leipzig’s R42 Games Hub, leading figures from Saxony’s digital economy joined forces today to form the “Unternehmensverband Digitalwirtschaft Sachsen” (Saxony Digital Economy Business Association) in order to give the large number of owner-managed companies a strong, independent voice.

An alliance of Saxon movers and shakers – visibility for the “silent champions”

The association is headed by Michael Woitag, an experienced strategist whose path took him from the board of a TecDAX company with over 2,700 employees back to his home in Saxony four years ago. Today, he brings this experience to bear as CEO of levelbuild AG and newly elected Chairman of the new association.

“When I returned to Saxony after my time on the TecDAX Management Board, I was really impressed by the substance I found here. I met countless companies that quietly do great work and are at the forefront of technology worldwide, but often fly under the radar. These movers and shakers are the true heart of our economy. My motivation is to make this enormous potential visible. Saxony has a great digital economy – now is the time for us to join forces and shine a spotlight on our innovative strength so that our region is also perceived internationally as what it is: a digital pioneer,” emphasizes Michael Woitag, initiator and newly elected chairman of the association and CEO of levelbuild AG.

The combined strength of Saxony’s SMEs

The relevance of this alliance is already clear from the sheer size of the founding round. In total, the participating companies already employ well over 1,500 highly qualified employees in the field of digitalization. This alliance therefore not only represents technological excellence, but is also an important employer and training driver for the entire state.

Regional solidarity meets global ambition

Christopher Siebenhüner, CEO of the Gecko Group and co-founder, emphasizes the community spirit of the initiative:

“As an owner-managed community, we stand for companies that want to stay here and grow. Our aim is to develop Saxon digital champions and secure the location in the long term through the targeted inflow of growth capital and the structuring of company successions.”

Strong response from politics and administration

The foundation was accompanied by high-ranking representatives from politics and administration. Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, emphasized the importance of the growing industry:

“The founding of the Unternehmensverband Digitalwirtschaft Sachsen gives digital SMEs a strong voice. The rapid growth of the industry in the Free State shows that Saxony has enormous innovative strength. The many smaller owner-managed companies in particular have great potential for sustainable jobs and digital sovereignty in line with European standards. The association will be an important partner on this road to success.”

Leipzig’s Mayor of Economic Affairs, Clemens Schülke, also sees the initiative as a decisive impetus for transforming entrepreneurial spirit and technology into genuine regional value creation:

“Innovation doesn’t happen in a quiet little room. It needs space, a tailwind and the will to think bigger together. This is exactly what this day stands for: with today’s foundation, a new structure for growth, exchange and strategic action is being created here in the heart of Leipzig. This is where what makes Saxony’s digital future strong comes together: entrepreneurial spirit, technology and the ambition to turn good ideas into real added value.”

Core mission: ability to act and transfer

The “Manifesto of Saxony’s Digital Economy” presented today forms the foundation of the joint work. It calls for a close alliance between politics and business for agile administration and state-of-the-art digital processes. The association is also closing the gap between cutting-edge research and the market: in an alliance with Saxon universities, scientific breakthroughs are being translated directly into marketable products.

About the Saxony Digital Economy Business Association

The Unternehmensverband Digitalwirtschaft Sachsen represents the interests of owner-managed software and digital companies in the Free State of Saxony. As a strategic alliance of business and cutting-edge research, it strengthens Saxony’s technological sovereignty and global competitiveness. The association acts as a central mouthpiece for politicians and is committed to reducing bureaucratic hurdles, promoting the transfer of innovation and positioning Saxony as a first-class location for digital talent and investors. It combines regional roots with international clout.