At the beginning of May, the CDU/CSU and SPD sealed their coalition agreement - with a clear focus on economic policy. For the first time, an independent digital ministry is being created in Germany. The digital association Bitkom conducted an initial survey to find out what German businesses expect from the new ministry.
Which digital policy topics are in focus
With regard to digital policy issues, companies in Germany consider the fight against cybercrime, the digitalisation of schools and a review of data protection to be particularly important - 95% of companies consider these issues to be important in each case.
This is followed by increasing digital sovereignty (89%), the digitalisation of companies as a whole and the digitalisation of the state and administration (87% each). 86% consider the further digitalisation of the healthcare sector to be important. These are the key findings of a representative survey of 602 companies from all sectors with 20 or more employees in Germany commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.
"If Germany takes decisive action now, it can position itself as a strong player in the digital world - and thus secure its competitiveness, security and prosperity in the long term," explained Bitkom President Dr Ralf Wintergerst in a press release.
Industry calls on new federal government to intensify digital policy
This includes not only the targeted promotion of key technologies such as AI and quantum, but also an efficient digital infrastructure, among other things. 82% of the companies surveyed consider the expansion of communication networks to be important, as do the expansion of digital skills in society. Wintergerst: "For the new Digital Ministry, it is both an opportunity and an obligation to drive forward digital policy and make Germany technologically fit and digitally sovereign."
Overall, 85% of German companies are calling for the new federal government to prioritise digital policy. At the same time, 99% - and therefore practically all companies - are calling for Germany's competitiveness to be strengthened again. 74% of companies trust the federal government to actually drive the economy forward again.
"The CDU/CSU and SPD have agreed on a coalition agreement in a short space of time - everyone involved deserves praise for this. Now the new government must prove that it is willing and able to act in day-to-day practice - especially in the digital realm," Wintergerst continued.
Further information is available at www.bitkom.org.
