Themen:
Media Release
July 21, 2025
Berlin, July 21, 2025 – 61 leading companies and investors have come together across industries to launch the initiative “Made for Germany”, aimed at shaping a future-proof German economy. Against the backdrop of geopolitical and economic challenges, “Made for Germany” initiates a new era of strengthened dialogue for constructive exchange between business and government, aiming to sustainably enhance Germany’s investment climate.
“Made for Germany” welcomes the German government’s reform and investment program as a vital step towards a future-oriented economic policy. The initiative positions itself as a key point of contact for the government, working to define priorities, develop targeted measures and implement reforms effectively. The goal is to establish a constructive and forward-looking dialogue on key challenges like digitization, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, and skilled labor. The members of the initiative, representing a broad range of industries, take responsibility and actively contribute their expertise and dedication to support political decision makers in addressing these significant challenges – complementing the important work of business associations.
Investments and flagship projects for Germany as a leading economic hub
The members of the initiative have jointly committed to investing 631 billion euros (~733 billion US dollars) in Germany’s economic growth by 2028. This sum includes planned and new capital investments (capex), research and development (R&D) spending, as well as contributions from international investors. A three-digit billion amount, representing a significant proportion of the total, will be allocated to new investments. This pledge represents a strong endorsement of Germany’s potential – especially considering the significant investment outflows Germany has faced over the past years[1], which have reached triple-digit billion euro levels. The magnitude of these investments underscores Germany’s continued appeal as an economic hub and demonstrates the strong confidence of international investors in the country’s long-term potential.
Stable economic conditions are crucial for making planned and future investments a reality. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups should have better access to private capital to help them increase their own investments.
The initiative draws on a broad array of both established and new flagship projects to showcase the strong momentum created by participating companies. These projects drive innovation, create employment, and strengthen Germany’s competitive edge. Importantly, their impact extends beyond economic growth to deliver meaningful value for society as a whole.
Official presentation of “Made for Germany” at the Federal Chancellery
“Made for Germany” was brought to life by Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank, Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens, Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, and Alexander Geiser, CEO of FGS Global. To mark the official launch of “Made for Germany”, the four co-initiators, together with numerous CEOs from participating companies, will present the initiative to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil, and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche at the Federal Chancellery.
“Germany needs a new operating system – one focused on growth, technology, and competitiveness. The time for change is now. Government and business must forge a new kind of partnership and take joint responsibility for society,” says Roland Busch. “This initiative embodies that spirit of solidarity and stands for a fresh start: with less bureaucracy, and more innovation. Germany is home to world-class companies, has a strong industrial base, and exceptional talent. We have everything it takes to reclaim a leading economic role – especially in digitalization and artificial intelligence.”
Christian Sewing says: “We have it in our own hands to tackle our country’s economic challenges. Now is the time for government and business to pull in the same direction. We must ensure that every political decision supports growth and strengthens our competitiveness. Consequently, companies from Germany and around the world will once again be keen to invest. The commitments made today as part of the ‘Made for Germany’ initiative are just the beginning. We need to combine public and private resources as effectively as possible – and the financial sector stands ready to fully support this effort.”
Mathias Döpfner says: “Now, it’s up to everyone – politics, business, and society – to turn this momentum into real action.”
Alexander Geiser says: “Germany now has a historic opportunity to strengthen its long-term competitiveness and reestablish itself as a target destination for investment. This is the time for bold leadership and decisive action – to send a clear signal of innovation and progress both domestically and internationally. We want to show the world that Germany can be Europe’s economic powerhouse.”
We warmly invite other companies and investors to join the initiative and help strengthen and future-proof Germany as a business location. For questions or interest, please contact the initiators directly.
[1] Source: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW Köln), 2024; Deutsche Bundesbank, 2024.
Contact Information
Deutsche Bank
Frank Hartmann
+49 69 910-42744
db.media@db.com
Siemens
Richard Speich
+49 173 1758319
richard.speich@siemens.com
Axel Springer
Peter Huth
+49 30 2591 77655
peter.huth@axelspringer.com
FGS Global
Dirk von Manikowsky
+49 171 120 12 16
m4g@fgsglobal.com
About “Made for Germany“
“Made for Germany” is a cross-industry initiative, in which 61 leading companies and investors join forces for a strong, successful, and future-proof German economy. The initiative aims to foster constructive dialogue between business, the government and society in order to boost confidence in Germany as an economic hub, attract targeted investment, and stimulate domestic demand. Ultimately, this will create lasting opportunities for future generations.
The following companies and investors are members of the initiative:
Axel Springer is media partner of the initiative. McKinsey & Company is a knowledge partner and provides expertise and objective analysis to facilitate decision-making processes. Any conclusions and recommendations expressed are exclusively those of the initiative.
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