Opening Ceremony - United by Innovation: German Tech for a Stronger Europe

As Country of the Year 2026, Germany's startup ecosystem is among Europe's most dynamic, built on deep public-private collaboration, world-class research institutions, and a rapidly expanding deep-tech and AI landscape. What does it take for founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers to translate these structural strengths into globally competitive innovation? How can Germany, alongside its European partners, cut through fragmentation, scale its advantages, and assert Europe's sovereignty in the global technology race? For Germany, and for Europe, the stakes could not be higher.