EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF GERMAN BUSINESS 2026

A Resilient Europe - Economically Strong, Politically United, Globally Capable of Acting

17-18 September 2026 | Pátio da Galé - Lisbon

Download the Executive summary of the Conference


Thursday, 17th of September

09:00-09:15 Opening & Welcome


09:15-09:25 Business Keynote: The New Competitiveness Agenda for Europe


09:25-10:15 Panel: Strengthening Europe's trading power: strategies for global competitiveness



Moderator: Jörg Buck, CEO & President | Global Spokeperson of the AHKs
10:50-11:20 Coffee & Conexões
11:20-11:50 Business Keynote: Tomorrow's AI, Today's Decisions - What European Leaders need to prepare for now.


11:50-12:40 Panel: Artificial Intelligence - Opportunities for the European economy



Moderator: Luís Viegas, Banco Português de Fomento
12:40-13:00 Keynote - Digital Sovereignty in Practice: The Case of Schleswig-Holstein


  • Dirk Schrödter, Minister for Digitalisation and Media Policy of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

13:00-14:00

 Lunch & Networking
14:00-14:40 Political Dialogue: A Stronger Europe - Competitiveness, Resilience and Growth

14:40-14:55

 Business Keynote - Resilient Supply Chains in Times of Geopolitical Uncertainty

14:55-15:10

 Business Keynote - Aligning Climate Ambition with Industrial Competitiveness: the Path to Transforming Europe's Bus Industry


15:10-15:35

 Business Discussion - The role of Southern Europe for the economic Success of Europe



Moderator: Dr. Nicole Renvert, Managing Director of International Economic Relations at DIHK
15:35-16:10 Pastéis & Partnerships
16:10-16:40 Fireside Chat with Carlos Moedas


Mayor of Lisbon (European Capital of Innovation 2023) and former EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation


Moderator: Carla Rocha, Communications Consultant, Professor and Author
16:40-16:50 Summary of the Day


  • AHK Europe Spokesperson and CEO, German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry

from 19:00

 German-Portuguese Business Gala meets Europe


Guest of Honour - Minister of Economy and of Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida

Friday, 18th of September

09:00-09:05 Welcome & Outlook
09:05-09:40 The AI Superorganisation - A Live Experience
09:40-10:40 Panel: Security, Defence & New Technologies




Moderator: Germano Almeida, News Now Commentator and Sábado columnist
10:40-11:00 Coffee & Conexões
11:00-12:00 NextGen Europe: The Companies Shaping Europe's Future

Moderador: Dr. Jan Feller, CEO of the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (AHK Finland)

12:00-12:45 Europe's Compass - Navigating in Challenging Times


  • Paulo Portas, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal; commentator for CNN Portugal
12:45-13:00 Closing Remarks & Outlook for the European Conference of the German Economy 2028
13:00-14:30 Closing Lunch

António Costa

Präsident des Europäischen Rates

António Costa ist ein portugiesischer Politiker mit einer langjährigen Regierungslaufbahn und war von 2015 bis 2024 Premierminister Portugals. Im Jahr 2025 wurde er zum Präsidenten des Europäischen Rates ernannt und übernahm damit eine zentrale Rolle in der politischen Koordination der Europäischen Union auf höchster Ebene. Er gilt als anerkannter Verhandlungsführer und politischer Gestalter und wird insbesondere für seinen Beitrag zur Stabilität Europas geschätzt.

Barbara Konner

CEO / Geschäftsführende Vizepräsidentin, AHK Brasilien - São Paulo

Barbara Konner ist Ökonomin und Politikwissenschaftlerin und hat ihr Studium an der Universität zu Köln abgeschlossen. Sie verfügt über eine internationale Karriere innerhalb des Systems der Deutschen Auslandshandelskammern (AHK). Sie leitete die AHK in Argentinien, Uruguay und Paraguay und ist seit 2023 geschäftsführende Vizepräsidentin der AHK São Paulo. Ihre Expertise umfasst insbesondere Wirtschaftsdiplomatie, die Förderung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen (KMU), Internationalisierung sowie die institutionelle Zusammenarbeit zwischen Deutschland und Lateinamerika.

Carlos Moedas

Mayor of Lisbon (European Capital of Innovation 2023) and former EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation

Carlos Moedas was born in 1970 in Beja, Portugal, and graduated as a civil engineer from Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) in 1993. He was one of the first Erasmus Students in Portugal and attended the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris (1993). In 1998 he graduated with a Master in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, USA (1998/2000).
He started his career as a civil engineer working for the French conglomerate Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in France, where he lived for 5 years. After his graduation from Harvard he worked for Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking division in London. In 2004 he returned to Portugal and became head of Aguirre Newman, where he was also a member of the executive board in Spain. In 2008 he went on to create his own investment management company.
In 2011 he headed the Social Democrat Party's (PSD) economic team and participated on the negotiations for Portugal's 2011 Public Budget.
That same year he was elected a Member of Parliament by the Beja constituency and appointed under-Secretary of State to the Prime Minister of the XIX Constitutional Government of Portugal where he was tasked with coordination of monitoring the adjustment programme structural reforms.
In 2014 he was nominated by the Portuguese Prime-Minister to be the European Commissioner. He is the Commissioner responsible for Research, Science and Innovation, one of the largest science and innovation projects on the planet worth 77 billion euros. He designed the proposal for the future Horizon Europe programme worth 100 billion euros, set to be launched in 2021. He is the 5th Portuguese national to hold this position since Portugal became a EU Member State in 1986.
In 2019 he joined the board of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He is also vice-president of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris.
Carlos Moedas co-authored a series of publications in the field of science and innovation. Among these articles, one stands out: 'Open Innovation: Research, Practices and Policies' published in the California Management Review, co-signed by Henry Chesbrough who is known for coining the term 'Open Innovation'.
In 2014, the Commissioner became the youngest member to be elected to the Portuguese Academy of Engineering. He is an honorary fellow from the African Academy of Sciences. In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Laws by the University of Cork in Ireland and in 2018 an Honorary Doctorate in Management from the ESCP Europe (École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris).
On 26 September 2021 he was elected President of the Lisbon City Council and re-elected for a second term on 12 October 2025.
Since July 2024, he has been a member of the Council of State, elected by the Assembly of the Republic, as a representative of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
In November 2025, he was elected President of the Lisbon Metropolitan Council.

Christoph Schemionek

Präsident und CEO, Delegation der Deutschen Wirtschaft und Industrie, Washington, D.C.

Christoph Schemionek, promovierter Geograf (PhD), hat eine berufliche Laufbahn in der Interessenvertretung der deutschen Industrie in den USA aufgebaut. Er fungiert als Schnittstelle zwischen US‑amerikanischen politischen Entscheidungsträgern und deutschen Unternehmen und verfügt über umfangreiche Erfahrung in den Bereichen Wirtschaftsdiplomatie, Handelspolitik, transatlantische Beziehungen sowie wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen deutscher Unternehmen in den USA. Darüber hinaus ist er als Adjunct Professor an der George Washington University tätig.

Dirk Schrödter

Minister for Digitalisation and Media Policy of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Dirk Schrödter, born in 1978, has been Head of the State Chancellery of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, since 2017. Since 2022, he has also served as Minister for Digitalization and Media Policy of Schleswig-Holstein. Previously, he worked at the Ministry of Finance, where he was responsible for financial planning, budget planning, and federal financial relations within Germany's federal system.
Dirk Schrödter studied Economics at the University of Potsdam. He is a lecturer in Economics and Public Finance at the University of Applied Sciences for Administration and Services of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Gonçalo Matias

Minister für Staatsmodernisierung

Er ist Doktor der Rechtswissenschaften und seit 2022 Vorsitzender des Verwaltungsrats sowie des Exekutivausschusses der Stiftung Francisco Manuel dos Santos. Zudem ist er außerordentlicher Professor an der Rechtswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Katholischen Universität Portugal.
Zwischen 2008 und 2014 war er als Berater für Rechts‑ und Verfassungsfragen im Präsidialamt tätig; seit 2014 ist er dieser Institution weiterhin als Berater verbunden. Darüber hinaus war er Direktor des Observatoriums für Migration sowie stellvertretender Staatssekretär für Verwaltungsmodernisierung in der 20. verfassungsmäßigen Regierung. Außerdem war er Mitglied des Nationalen Rates für Migration und Asyl sowie des Verwaltungsrats der Agentur der Europäischen Union für Grundrechte.

Dr. Volker Treier

Head of International Trade, Member of the Executive Board, DIHK

Dr Volker Treier is Chief Executive of Foreign Trade and Member of the Executive Board of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in Berlin. In this role, he is responsible, among other areas, for representing the DIHK in matters of foreign trade and European policy, as well as overseeing international affairs, European Union relations, and the global network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs).
Previously, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and was in charge of the international division. Prior to that, he held several senior positions, including Chief Economist and Deputy Head of the Vocational Education and Training and Education Policy division.
As Chief Executive of Foreign Trade, Dr Treier is responsible for international and European economic affairs, as well as for the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, delegations and representative offices of German industry and commerce (AHKs), operating in 93 countries

Paulo Portas

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal; commentator for CNN Portugal

Paulo Portas served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal between 2011-2015. Between 2002-2005, he was also Minister of Defence. Mr. Portas was leader of the CDS-PP for 16 years, Member of Parliament for 7 terms, State Council and National Defence Council member in different periods. He founded Vinciamo Consulting, strategic advisory and business intelligence company. He is Professor of "Geo-Economics and International Relations" in Nova School of Business & Economics and in Universities and Academies of Europe and Asia. He directs seminars of geopolitical trends for multinational companies, and he serves as Deputy Chairman of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (CCIP), member of the Board of Trustees of Champalimaud Foundation and Non-Executive Member of the Board of Mota-Engil (since January 2023). Mr. Portas is also "Membre d'Honneur" of the L'Académie du Royaume du Maroc and author of the Sunday TV program "Global". He is fluent (written and spoken) in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and Italian.

ICEYE

https://www.iceye.com/
Presskit

ICEYE operates the world's largest and most advanced SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite constellation. The company provides customers with intelligence featuring exceptional quality, low latency, and high revisit rates, regardless of weather conditions, day or night.
For governments seeking to operate their own satellite constellation, ICEYE offers this proven capability as a sovereign system. ICEYE-built constellations support customers across defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance, and emergency management.
The company enables fast and informed decision-making, contributing to a safer future.

TEKAVER

Ein portugiesisches Technologieunternehmen, das sich auf Verteidigungs‑ und Sicherheitslösungen spezialisiert hat und auf Autonomie und künstlicher Intelligenz basierende Lösungen für kritische Missionen anbietet.
https://www.tekever.com/

TEKEVER ist ein Technologieunternehmen, das 2001 gegründet wurde und auf Verteidigung und Sicherheit spezialisiert ist. Das Unternehmen entwickelt fortschrittliche Lösungen auf Basis von Autonomie und künstlicher Intelligenz. TEKEVER schafft innovative Fähigkeiten zum Schutz von Menschen, Infrastrukturen und Staaten, wandelt operative Erfahrung in strategische Vorteile um und unterstützt kritische Missionen jederzeit und weltweit.

Dr. Frank Meyer

Member of the Board Management, Robert Bosch GmbH

Member of the board of management, Robert Bosch GmbH
Dr. Frank Meyer has been a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH since February 1, 2024. He is responsible for the Bosch Energy and Building Technology business sector with its Building Technologies and Home Comfort Group divisions and Smart Home subsidiary. He is also responsible for Bosch's business in Japan and for central quality management at Robert Bosch GmbH.
Born in Dorsten, Germany, in 1978, Frank Meyer is married and has two children. In Germany, he studied physics and mathematics at RWTH Aachen University and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He also studied physics in France at the University of Paris-Orsay, and in the U.K. at Imperial College London. In 2006, he earned his doctorate in physics at the Max Planck Institute in Munich. In 2023, Frank Meyer graduated from Harvard Business School after successfully completing the Advanced Management Program. 

Grupo Bosch

https://www.bosch.pt/

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 412,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2025). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 91 billion euros in 2025. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity, and an orientation to sustainability. In this context, Bosch's broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture user-friendly, sustainable products. With technology that is "Invented for life," Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 490 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch's global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch's innovative strength is key to the company's further development. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 82,000 associates in research and development.
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering." The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-four percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a limited liability company with a charitable purpose. The remaining shares are held by Robert Bosch GmbH and by a company owned by the Bosch family. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG. It is entrusted with the task of safeguarding the company's long-term existence and in particular its financial independence - in line with the mission handed down in the will of the company's founder, Robert Bosch.


Prof. Dr. Sabina Jeschke

CEO KI Park; Member of the Supervisory Board, Rheinmetall and AUMOVIO

Prof. Dr. Sabina Jeschke is a manager, entrepreneur, and scientist with extensive international experience in technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. After a long academic career, she served as a Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Bahn AG from 2017 to 2021, where she was responsible for the "Digitalization and Technology" division. Her responsibilities included group-wide digital transformation, IT infrastructure, data management, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 5G/mobile network expansion, and technological innovation in mobility and railway systems.
Since June 2021, she has been serving as Senior Advisor at Deloitte Germany, focusing on technology consulting. In addition, she founded several companies, including Arctic Brains AB in Sweden, specializing in AI consulting and development, and Quantagonia GmbH i.G., which develops solutions for quantum computing environments. She also supports the "KI Park" initiative in Berlin, aimed at becoming Europe's leading accelerator for next-generation AI applications.
Before joining Deutsche Bahn, Sabina Jeschke held professorships at renowned institutions such as RWTH Aachen University, the University of Stuttgart, and TU Berlin. Her academic focus areas include artificial intelligence, data analytics, robotics, automation, cyber-physical systems, and high-performance and quantum computing. Her international research and visiting appointments included collaborations with NASA, as well as institutions in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sweden.
Alongside her operational roles, she serves on supervisory boards (Rheinmetall and AUMOVIO), scientific committees, and governmental advisory councils, particularly in the fields of digital transformation and high-tech strategy. She has received numerous awards, including recognition as one of "Germany's Digital Minds" and the Nikola Tesla Medal.
Sabina Jeschke is regarded as one of the leading voices for digital innovation and technological transformation in the German-speaking world. She lives in Berlin, Sweden, and Madeira.


KI Park e.V.

https://kipark.de/

The AI Park creates the necessary conditions for the successful research and development of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies. Its ambition goes far beyond incremental progress: the AI Park pursues "bold moves" and aims to enable the next quantum leap in research, as well as in the economic, societal, and regulatory application of artificial intelligence.
The AI Park provides innovative platforms for research institutions, start-ups, established companies, and political and societal stakeholders to collaboratively develop forward-looking AI solutions. The focus lies on those AI technologies that will significantly shape the future of industry and society and whose research and development must therefore be substantially accelerated. These include, for example, generative AI, quantum machine learning, AI in 5G and 6G networks, synthetic data, and natural language processing (NLP).
Through its network, expertise, and access to relevant technologies, the AI Park supports cross-sectoral and cross-organizational projects for the development of innovative AI solutions. The ecosystem brings together leading AI thinkers and experts from across Europe and promotes knowledge exchange both within the AI community and beyond.
In addition, the AI Park is actively engaged in developing ethical and regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence. In cooperation with experts from government, public administration, and academia, it develops proposals for the responsible use of AI and actively fosters dialogue with the media and the broader public.

Christian Beckmann

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) und Member of the Global Executive Board

Christian Beckmann has served as CEO of the SAERTEX Group and member of the Global Executive Board since April 2024. In this capacity, he oversees the company's strategic direction, with particular emphasis on sales, marketing, global market expansion, and new business development.
With revenues of approximately €350 million, 1,500 employees, and 17 locations across five continents, SAERTEX stands as a global leader in the manufacture of technical textiles from glass and carbon fibres - serving key industries including wind energy, aerospace, and lightweight construction.
Mr. Beckmann´s academic background spans industrial electronics engineering, a university degree in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA in Finance. He brings nearly two decades of international leadership experience spanning Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Prior to joining SAERTEX, he served as CEO of the RELINE Group, as a member of the Executive Board of the Viega Group, and as Vice President at Danfoss. He additionally holds advisory board positions at an investment fund and an AI company.
His core areas of focus include sales and innovation, digitalisation, sustainability, and international corporate leadership - underpinned by a clear commitment to a resource efficient future for the composites industry.

SAERTEX GmbH & Co. KG

https://www.saertex.com/

With revenues of approximately €350 million, 1,500 employees, and 17 locations across five continents, SAERTEX stands as a global leader in the manufacture of technical textiles from glass and carbon fibres - serving key industries including wind energy, aerospace, and lightweight construction.

Rui Costa

CEO of ICEYE Portugal

Rui Costa has built his career turning frontier technology into real-world products, from connected vehicles to AI to space. As CTO of Veniam, he led the R&D behind an intelligent networking platform connecting vehicles at city scale (over 150 patents filed) and grew the company's North American footprint in automotive and autonomous vehicles. He went on to serve as Chief Architect at Nexar, an AI vision company for mobility, and as CTO of Indie Campers. He holds 16 international patents, helps organisations accelerate AI adoption and build AI-native products, and teaches AI at Porto Business School.
Now CEO of ICEYE Portugal, Rui leads the Lisbon Center of Excellence, building end-to-end space intelligence through R&D in software, systems integration, and AI.


DIHK

https://www.dihk.de/

The DIHK - The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry - represents the interests of more than three million companies in Germany. As the umbrella organization of the 79 Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHKs) and together with the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs), it effectively integrates economic concerns into political decision-making processes. Companies from all industries - from start-ups and medium-sized businesses to globally active corporations - benefit from this pooled expertise and the deep practical experience of the IHK system.

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann

Chairman of the Supervisory Board and majority shareholder of Leica Camara AG

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann was born in Mannheim in 1953 and earned a PhD in Literature in 1992. The Austrian entrepreneur joined Leica Camera AG in 2004.

Leica Camera AG

https://leica-camera.com/

Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras, lenses and sports optics. As part of its growth strategy, the company has expanded its portfolio to include mobile imaging (smartphones) and the manufacture of high-quality spectacle lenses and watches and is also represented in the home cinema segment with its own projectors.
Leica Camera AG, having its headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, operates a global network of its own distribution companies with around 120 Leica Stores worldwide.
The Leica brand stands for excellence in quality, German craftsmanship and industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral aspect of the brand culture is the promotion of the culture of photography, with around 30 Leica Galleries worldwide, the Leica Akademie and international awards such as the Leica Hall of Fame Award and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).

Robert Jozic

Member of the Management Board, Schwarz Digits and Managing Director, Schwarz Media

Robert Jozic is Managing Director of Schwarz Digits - Disruption. In this role, he is responsible for strategic foresight as well as the identification and evaluation of future-oriented technology and business fields within the Schwarz Group (including Lidl, Kaufland, PreZero, and Digits). His focus lies on ensuring the group's long-term competitiveness.
Since joining the group in 2016, he has held several key leadership positions. From 2018, as Managing Director of Schwarz Digital, he was responsible for the group's digitalization strategy as well as the design and scaling of digital ecosystems. With the additional responsibility for Schwarz Media in 2021, he significantly contributed to business development and go-to-market strategies for innovative retail media solutions.
Previously, at Schwarz Business IT, he served as Managing Director leading the BI & Analytics division. In parallel, he supported strategic initiatives such as the IT consolidation between 2017 and 2018, the development of new digital business areas, and initiated the partnership with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), where he has been an active member of the supervisory board for nine years.
Robert Jozic studied Computer Science and Business Administration and has extensive consulting experience. He began his professional career in 2001 at a leading international management consulting firm. In 2005, he founded his own consulting company focused on Business Intelligence, Analytics, and Data Mining. After this entrepreneurial phase, he became Managing Partner in 2011 at an international consulting firm specializing in data-driven solutions and transformation.

Schwarz Digits

https://schwarz-digits.de/

Schwarz Digits is the IT and digital division of Schwarz Group and offers impressive digital products and services that meet the high German data protection standards. With the aim of achieving the greatest possible digital sovereignty, Schwarz Digits provides the IT infrastructure and solutions for the extensive ecosystem of Schwarz Group's companies and develops it for the future. Schwarz Digits' sovereign core services include Cloud, Cyber Security, Data and AI, Communication and Workspace. In addition, Schwarz Digits creates optimal conditions for the development of trend-setting innovations for end customers, companies and public sector organizations.

João Rui Ferreira

Portuguese State Secretary for the Economy

Graduated in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aveiro, João later specialized at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in extraction with supercritical fluids. João also has a postgraduation degree from the Porto Management School (EGP) in Quantitative Management Methods.
João's career has been heavily associated to established companies leading in various industrial areas, from quality, to manufacturing and general management. His experience in the associative world is vast and equally significant having been the President of Portugal's Cork Association (APCOR) between 2012 and 2021. The following years until the start of 2024 João led the European Cork Confederation. He was also president of the Cork Technology Centre, Board member of CINCORK and president of FILCORK (Portuguese cork cluster).
At the State level, João was part of the ''Reflection Group for the Future of Portugal''- an advisory body to the President of the Republic between 2018 and 2022 and coordinated the social and democratic party's ''National Strategic Council'' in all public services and state reform-related matters in 2023.

Tobias Gotthardt

Vice Minister in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

  • Vice Minister in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy since November 8, 2023
  • Tobias Gotthardt was born on June 3, 1977, in Regensburg and grew up in Burglengenfeld and Kallmünz.
  • After completing his high school education and studying political science in Regensburg and Freiburg, he initially worked as a parliamentary assistant and head of office in the European Parliament and the German Bundestag.
  • After his election to the Bavarian State Parliament in 2018, he assumed the chair manship of the Committee for Federal and European Affairs. In addition, in 2021, he was appointed as deputy and then acting chairman of the Committee of Education and Culture. At the same time, he was the federal, European, education and youth policy spokesman of the FREIE WÄHLER parliamentary group.
  • After his re-election, Tobias Gotthardt was appointed Vice Minister and member of the Bavarian State Government in 2023

Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

https://www.stmwi.bayern.de/

The Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy is a central authority of the Bavarian state government in Germany. It is responsible for the economic development of the state, energy policy, and regional planning.
Its main tasks include strengthening the Bavarian economy, supporting businesses-especially small and medium-sized enterprises-and creating and securing jobs. The ministry also focuses on the energy transition by promoting renewable energy and ensuring a secure and sustainable energy supply.
Another key goal is balanced regional development across Bavaria to ensure equal living conditions in both urban and rural areas.

Municipality of Lisbon

https://www.lisboa.pt/en/

As the executive body of the Municipality, the Lisbon City Council is responsible for defining and implementing public policies across a wide range of areas, including Environment, Administrative Affairs, Finance and Human Resources, Smart City, Culture, Social Development, Sports, Economy and Tourism, Education, Public Space, Urban Hygiene, Territorial Coordination, Housing and Local Development, Innovation, Mobility, Animal Protection, Civil Protection and Emergency Services, Citizen Relations and Participation, Information Systems, Transparency and Anti-Corruption, as well as Urban Planning. Under its legal framework and responsibilities as established by the Law on Local Authorities, the largest municipal authority in the country is chaired by Carlos Moedas, who leads the aforementioned areas of municipal activity within an executive composed of nine councillors out of a total of sixteen.

Oliver Steil

Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, TeamViewer

Oliver Steil has been CEO of TeamViewer since January 2018 and, following the transformation of TeamViewer AG into a public limited company in 2019, has also served as Chairman of the Management Board. As an internationally experienced executive, he has successfully built and developed several leading technology champions throughout his career. As Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Steil is responsible for TeamViewer's strategic direction, including business development, commercial strategy, and marketing.

TeamViewer

https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/company/about-teamviewer/

TeamViewer is a digital workplace platform that helps companies optimize and automate work processes. Originally launched as remote access and IT support software, TeamViewer has evolved into a global leader in remote connectivity and digital workplace management.
Today, more than 620,000 customers worldwide rely on TeamViewer's solutions to improve digital workplaces, streamline IT operations, and enhance industrial processes. Using AI-powered and augmented reality technologies, TeamViewer helps organizations reduce downtime, resolve technical issues faster, and increase productivity.
Headquartered in Göppingen, Germany, the company employs around 1,900 people globally and generated approximately €768 million in revenue in 2025. TeamViewer is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is part of the SDAX index.

Katja Busch

Chief Commercial Officer DHL & Head of CSI

Since February 2018 Katja Busch has been responsible for the Sales Organization "DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation" as Chief Commercial Officer & Head of CSI at Deutsche Post DHL Group.
From January 2013 - January 2018 Katja Busch was Chief Sales Officer (CSO) DHL Parcel Germany in the Post - eCommerce - Parcel division. Prior to this she was Divisional Board Member for DHL Parcel for over six years in the Mail division at Deutsche Post AG responsible for domestic sales including customer service for Parcel. Appointed CSO DHL Parcel Germany in 2013, Busch assumed overall responsibility for customer service for both Mail and Parcel business units, including 22 call centers operated by Deutsche Post Customer Service GmbH. From March 2014 - January 2018 she headed international customer service for the Group's Post - eCommerce - Parcel division. In August 2016 she also assumed responsibility for the newly created Global eCom* Key Account Management unit.
Following an education in natural sciences, Busch spent seven years in various sales roles at TNT Express Germany before moving to Deutsche Post DHL Group in 1997. After serving as service branch head and business department head, she was appointed Head of Marketing & Sales in January 2004 at DHL Express Austria based in Vienna. In March 2006 she was appointed Divisional Board Member for DHL Parcel Germany.
Katja Busch was born September 15, 1969.

DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation

https://group.dhl.com/en/about-us.html

The sales organization "DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation" (CSI) is a central division of DHL Group. It is responsible for the global management of key accounts and the development of innovative and integrated logistics solutions across all business divisions.
CSI acts as a strategic interface between customers and the various divisions of DHL Group, supporting companies in making their international supply chains more efficient, digital, and sustainable. Its core focus includes key account management, business development, supply chain innovation, and customized transport and logistics solutions for global customers across a wide range of industries.
Through close collaboration with the Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain, and eCommerce divisions, CSI develops comprehensive solutions for complex international logistics requirements.

Till Oberwörder

CEO, Daimler Buses

Till Oberwörder, born on February 1, 1971, is CEO Daimler Buses. He graduated in business administration at the Julius Maximilian University Würzburg in 1998 and joined the interna tional Trainee Group at former DaimlerChrysler AG in Stuttgart. The following year, he took over the position of the Assistant to the Vice President Sales Mer cedes-Benz Trucks and transferred to a management position in Sales Controlling Mercedes Benz Trucks. In the same year he became Senior Manager for Sales and Market Management for Northern and Western Europe in the Mercedes-Benz Truck division. In 2006 he was ap pointed President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Ceská Republika in the Czech Republic. In Feb ruary 2011 Till Oberwörder returned to Stuttgart and became responsible for Sales at Mer cedes-Benz Vans. In April 2012 he was appointed Head of Marketing, Sales and Aftersales at Daimler Buses and Director Sales at EvoBus GmbH. In July 2015 Till Oberwörder was Head of Marketing, Sales and Services Mercedes-Benz Trucks. In this capacity, he is responsible for Mercedes-Benz global Sales and Aftersales activities. Till Oberwörder has been CEO Daimler Buses since April 1, 2018. In this position, he is respon sible for the bus division of Daimler Truck.

Daimler Buses

https://www.daimlertruck.com/en/company/daimler-buses

The Daimler Truck segment Daimler Buses, as one of the world's leading bus manufacturers with numerous regional subsidiaries, oversees the global activities of the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Omniplus, and BusStore bus and service brands. The Daimler Buses product portfolio ranges from coaches, intercity, city, and special buses to bus chassis. In addition to manufacturing and selling new buses, Daimler Buses has a global service network and offers comprehensive services for vehicles, including trading in used buses.
Daimler Buses' locations include Daimler Buses GmbH with various subsidiaries in Europe, Daimler Buses Latin America in Brazil, Daimler Buses Mexico, Daimler Coaches North America, and the Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş. bus business in Turkey.
With production sites in Mannheim and Neu-Ulm, Daimler Buses is the only manufacturer in Germany that produces city, intercity, and coach buses over 8 tons.

Nuno Melo

Minister of National Defence

Nuno Melo was born in Joane, Vila Nova de Famalicão, on 18 March 1966. A lawyer by occupation, he holds a Law degree from the Portucalense Infante D. Henrique University School of Law. He has been Chairman of CDS-PP since April 2022. He was elected member of Parliament in several Governments between 1999 and 2009 and was elected President of the CDS-PP Parliamentary Group in July 2004. From 2007 to 2009, he was Vice-President of Parliament. He was head of the CDS-PP list for the 2009 European elections and was re-elected in 2014 and in 2019. He was a member of the European Parliament until 2024. He was Minister of National Defence in the previous Government.

Prof. Dr. René Bohnsack

Professor of Strategy and Innovation at the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and CEO of zeroto100.ai

Prof. Dr. René Bohnsack is ranked by Stanford University among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in Business and Management. He designs and delivers AI leadership programs for multinationals, SMEs, and governments, and has trained thousands of leaders globally. He is the author of The AI Strategy Playbook: From Zero to 100 and a frequent speaker at venues including TEDx. His work helps organizations move from AI experimentation to scalable adoption and measurable strategic value. He is CEO and co-founder of the AI adoption platform zeroto100.ai.

zeroto100.ai.

https://zeroto100.ai./

Zero to 100 is an AI adoption platform that helps organizations move from AI experimentation to scalable, measurable value. It combines a diagnostic that shows where teams stand with department-focused capability building and use cases people put to work the same day. Leaders get a clear view of progress as AI, and increasingly AI agents, go to work across the organization.

Jörg Buck

President | Global Spokeperson of the AHKs

Jörg Buck is CEO and Managing Board Member of the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Italien) and the official Delegate of German Industry and Commerce in Italy. With executive leadership experience across Europe, Asia and Latin America, he brings deep expertise in international business, strategic transformation and cross-border ecosystem building.
As Global Spokesperson of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, he helps shape the future of the global AHK network, with a clear focus on innovation and competitive growth.

Carla Rocha

Communications Consultant, Professor and Author

Founder and CEO of Carla Rocha Comunicação, Lecturer at Nova SBE and Broadcaster at Rádio Renascença
She is a communication consultant, guest lecturer and author - but it all started in radio. Over a 30-year career, she has hosted leading audience programmes, including Café da Manhã on RFM and As 3 da Manhã on Renascença, where she continues to be heard today.
She is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Executive Education programmes at Nova SBE, teaches on the ISEG MBA and collaborates with postgraduate programmes focused on communication and organisational wellbeing.
She founded Carla Rocha Comunicação, a training and development company specialising in communication and leadership. She works with leaders and teams who want to communicate with greater clarity, impact and empathy.
More recently, she travelled around the world to explore the "superpowers of communication" - a journey that brought her new insights and learnings, which she now incorporates into her work with organisations.
She is the author of three published books and has delivered two TEDx Talks.

Germano Almeida

News Now Commentator and Sábado columnist

  • International politics commentator for Now since November 2024
  • Creator/host of the program "Guerra e Paz" (War and Peace') on Now since January 2025
  • International politics commentator for SIC between 2020 and 2024
  • Author of seven books (six on US Presidencies and one about Russian invasion of Ukraine)
  • Degree in Communication Sciences from Universidade Nova
  • Defence and Security Studies for Journalists (National Defence Institute, 2013)
  • Advanced Studies in Geopolitics (National Defence Institute, 2023/2024)

Fernando Silva

Chairman & CEO Siemens España | Chairman Siemens Portugal

Fernando Silva is President of Siemens Spain and Portugal and, since December 2024, also CEO of Siemens Spain. A Portuguese national, he holds a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL). He subsequently completed further executive education in E-Business, Information Management and Executive Management at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Fernando Silva has more than 25 years of experience at Siemens. Since joining the company in 1999, he has held various technical, sales and management positions in the energy sector. Among other roles, he led the Energy Management and Smart Infrastructure businesses for Spain and Portugal. In 2023, he was appointed CEO of Siemens Portugal. He currently serves as President of Siemens Spain and Portugal, CEO of Siemens Spain and General Manager of Smart Infrastructure for Spain and Portugal. In addition to his responsibilities at Siemens, Fernando Silva is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fundación Princesa de Girona, the Board of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain, and the Business Roundtable Portugal (BRP), representing Siemens in Portugal. In November 2024, he was appointed an Honorary Individual Member of the Portuguese Order of Engineers in recognition of his contribution to major infrastructure and economic projects in Portugal.


Siemens AG

https://www.siemens.com/pt-pt/

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. A leader in industrial AI, Siemens leverages its deep domain know-how to apply AI – including generative AI – to real-world applications, making AI accessible and impactful for customers across diverse industries. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.


Luís Viegas

Banco Português de Fomento

Luís Viegas is an internationally recognised expert in technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and European competitiveness. For six years, he served as Senior Adviser on Technology and Innovation to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, working on issues including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, digital transformation and the Competitiveness Compass.
Previously, he advised European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Parliament on digital and economic policy. He is currently a Visiting Policy Fellow at the University of Oxford and a Visiting Professor at several European universities. His research and academic work focus primarily on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital transformation and the data economy.


Dr. Nicole Renvert

Managing Director International Economic Relations, DIHK

Nicole Renvert is the Managing Director International Economic Relations at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) since October 2024. Additionally, she is a member of the board of the Forum Ebenhausen of the German Institute for International Affairs and Security Studies (SWP) in Berlin, Germany. Prior to her assignment at the DIHK she worked for 10 years as the Head of Governmental Relations for the German Technology company Voith. Nicole Renvert has worked for the World Bank, the OSCE, the Aspen Institute and the Foreign Office and for several corporate foundations. She studied history, international relations and political science at the Universities of Bonn, the Sorbonne in Paris and at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington. D.C. She holds a PhD from the NRW School of Governance, University Duisburg-Essen and Georgetown University in Political Science and International Relations.


Stefan Rouenhoff

Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Stefan Rouenhoff has been Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy since 2025. He has been a Member of the German Bundestag since 2017 and, prior to his appointment as Parliamentary State Secretary, served on the Committee on Economic Affairs and chaired the Africa Working Group of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Prior to his election to the Bundestag, he worked for three years as Trade Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union. From 2012 to 2014, he was Spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and from 2010 to 2012, he served as an adviser on SME policy at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Previously, Stefan Rouenhoff worked as a research associate in economics, specialising in international economics, at the Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg. In 2010, he also undertook a research stay at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Stefan Rouenhoff has been a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 1996. From 1999 to 2004, he served as a CDU councillor in the city of Goch and, from 2000 to 2004, as Deputy Chairman of the Young Union in the Kleve district. Within the Young Union, Stefan Rouenhoff also served as Deputy Chairman of the Lower Rhine regional association from 2002 to 2006 and, from 2004 to 2006, as a member of the CDU State Executive Board of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2016, he has been Chairman of the CDU city association of Goch and, since 2019, Deputy Chairman of the CDU Lower Rhine regional association.


Jordi Sánchez

CEO Bayer Iberia & Country Division Head Pharmaceuticals Spain & Portugal

Jordi Sánchez serves as CEO of Bayer Iberia and Country Division Head of Pharmaceuticals for Spain, with overall responsibility for Bayer’s business operations in the Iberian market. He joined Bayer in 2013, bringing with him extensive prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held positions across clinical operations, medical affairs, market access, and senior sales and marketing leadership roles in a broad range of therapeutic areas. His professional trajectory includes country, regional and global responsibilities of increasing scope, developed through assignments in Spain, Switzerland and Germany. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Barcelona. In addition, he completed postgraduate studies in Pharmaceutical Medicine and Pharmacology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, as well as an Executive Development Program at IESE Business School.


Bayer

https://www.bayer.com/pt/pt/portugal-home

Bayer is a global life science company focused on the areas of healthcare and agriculture. Guided by its purpose, “Health for all, Hunger for none”, Bayer develops innovative solutions that help improve people's lives and support sustainable food systems. The company has been present in Iberia for over 120 years, operating through its Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Crop Science divisions

Marcin Ratajczak

Marcin Ratajczak

CEO of Inuru

Marcin Ratajczak is founder and CEO of Inuru. As a child, he wanted to replace paper with displays to reduce excess waste. Later he learned that display factories cost billions. So, he found a way to print displays instead. He started out as a building cleaner. That job grew into a family business with around 120 employees. He holds an MBA and studied physics, where he dropped out to found Inuru. His mission: a display and lighting industry in Europe, for Europe. He serves on the board of INAM, the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials.
Hao Yin

Hao Yin

CEO of TEGnology

Hao Yin received his PhD in materials science from Aarhus University. He joined a company as the first employee, responsible for technical development for 8 years, before becoming owner and CEO. During his management, the company has successfully transferred from a high-tech startup to a fast-growing company with global customers. Grown up in China and settled in Denmark, now expending business globally, Hao has first-hand observations and experience in maneuvering between EU and China. He believes in multilateralism and communication.
Hao Yin

Jan Feller

CEO of the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (AHK Finland)

He has founded three companies, worked 11 years for Nokia and Microsoft in various positions from sales to product marketing, and joined AHK Finland in 2015. Jan holds a PhD in industrial engineering from Helsinki University of Technology.
Hao Yin

Luís Montenegro

Prime Minister of Portugal

Luis Montenegro was born in Porto on 16 February 1973. He is married and has two children.
A law graduate from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, he also holds a post-graduate degree in Personal Data Protection and an Advanced Management Programme from INSEAD.
A lawyer by occupation, he founded the SP&M law firm, of which he was partner until July 2022.
He was also chairman of the General Meeting of the Ferpinta Group and Rádio Popular.
He was member and Chairman of the Espinho Municipal Assembly and Councillor of the same Municipality.
He became a member of Parliament in 2002, having been elected in four consecutive legislative elections after that date (2005, 2009, 2011, and 2015), having been in Parliament for 16 years and President of the PSD Parliamentary Group from 2011 to 2017.
He has been leader of the Social Democrats (PSD) since 28 May 2022.

Inuru

https://www.inuru.com/

Inuru prints light. Displays will be everywhere. Yet Europe makes almost none of them. Nearly all come from Asia. Europe is investing in chips and AI. The missing piece is the display. Inuru wants to close that gap. Conventional display factories cost billions. Inuru prints OLED light and displays instead, at a fraction of the cost. Paper-thin. Flexible. Any shape. From idea to product in months, not years. The only vertically integrated player outside Asia. The whole chain is in-house: materials, inks, printing, integration. Production is in Wildau near Berlin. References include Coca-Cola, Displate and Engelbert Strauss. New uses: smart medicine packaging, safety clothing, and dual use in security and defence. Next step: a new factory. In Europe, for Europe.


TEGnology

https://tegnology.dk/

TEGnology is a Danish deep-Tech SME that develops innovative energy harvesting solutions for industrial IoT devices. TEGnology delivers power directly where the need arises by converting excess heat into electricity. The company's overall purpose is to support the green and digital transition through sustainable energy solutions that reduce resource consumption, maintenance and environmental impact in the industry and utility sector.

Thorsten Kötschau

Thorsten Kötschau

CEO of the German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Thorsten Kötschau

Dr. Lars Gutheil

AHK-Europe Spokesperson
Carlos Lacerda

Carlos Lacerda

Senior Vice President & Managing Director SAP Southern Europe

Carlos Lacerda is a Senior Vice President at SAP, member of the SAP Senior Executive Team, and Managing Director for SAP Southern Europe, overseeing operations across Spain, Türkiye, Portugal, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta. He also serves as a Non-Executive Board Member of SEMAPA.
With more than 25 years of international leadership experience across the technology, infrastructure, and healthcare sectors, Carlos has held senior executive positions at SAP, Microsoft, and VINCI Airports. Prior to his current role, he led SAP's Cloud ERP and Business Technology Platform (BTP) business across EMEA South, helping organizations accelerate their digital transformation and cloud adoption.
Before rejoining SAP, Carlos served as CEO of ANA - Portuguese Airports and member of the Executive Committee of VINCI Airports, leading a €800 million business and a workforce of approximately 4,000 employees while driving significant digitalization and organizational transformation initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Carlos held several senior leadership positions during his 19-year tenure at Microsoft, including General Manager of Microsoft Malaysia, member of the Microsoft Asia Pacific Senior Leadership Team, and Chief Operating Officer roles in Portugal and Italy.
Carlos holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, and Marketing, and has completed the PADE Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, French and has a basic knowledge of Italian.
Robert Czajkowski

Robert Czajkowski

CEO, WB Germany GmbH | WB GRUPPE

Since 2026 Managing Director of WB Germany GmbH | WB Gruppe. From 2024 on Managing Partner (MP) of TER Technical Engineering & Research GmbH, a SCM services provider in Europe and Asia for SMEs. 2000-2024 CEO/Partner of Terrot GmbH, a then worldwide leading textile machine manufacturer.
Since 2017 MP of private investment entities, magga Beteiligungs GmbH and VIANOVA Beteiligungen GmbH, focusing on restructuring and ventures in high-involvement industries.
2005-2017 in finance as Director at M.M. Warburg & CO in Frankfurt and Country Head Poland of Bank Sal. Oppenheim (later part of Deutsche Bank PWM Austria AG). From 1998 on various management positions at KirchMedia AG and BetaFilm GmbH. Kirch Group's media rights trading units.
Prior to that law state degree from the Berlin Free University and the Universidad Autónoma Madrid as well as industrial clerk diploma at Bertelsmann AG. Currently among other spokesperson of the board of the employers' association Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen e.V.

SAP Southern EuropeSAP Southern Europe

https://www.sap.com/portugal/about/company.html

🌍 Global Leader in Enterprise Applications & Business AI
Helping organizations bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations across Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Customer Experience. [sap.com]
☁️ Key Areas of Expertise
•Enterprise Applications
•Business AI
•Cloud Solutions
•Data & Analytics
•Digital Transformation
🔗 More information: www.sap.com [sap.com]
📄 Additional reference: SAP Corporate Fact Sheet (attached).
SAP Southern Europe is one of SAP's strategic market units within the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, serving customers across Spain, Türkiye, Portugal, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta under the leadership of Carlos Lacerda, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for SAP Southern Europe.
The region supports organizations across all industries in accelerating their digital transformation, leveraging cloud ERP, business data platforms, analytics, and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainable growth. As part of SAP SE, SAP Southern Europe helps customers adopt innovations such as SAP Business AI, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), and SAP S/4HANA Cloud to transform business processes and drive competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital economy.