This year’s Digital Summit of the Federal Government entitled “PlattFORM DIE ZUKUNFT” started this morning in Dortmund.

Tomorrow, on the main day of the conference, Federal Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier will welcome around 1,300 high-ranking representatives from government, business, trade unions, science and society. Alongside Chancellor Merkel, the event is also being attended by Federal Ministers Anja Karliczek, Andreas Scheuer and Hubertus Heil, and Minister-President Armin Laschet. The EU Commission is represented by Competition Commissioner Vestager.

Minister Altmaier said: "Data are becoming the most important raw material of the future. The European economy urgently needs an infrastructure that ensures data sovereignty and broad availability of data whilst providing high security standards. Digital platforms are completely changing the global economy. They serve as a direct interface between manufacturers, customers and users, and thus are changing entire industries at breathtaking speed. Germany and Europe don't want to and shouldn't be just spectators here. We now have to use our strengths to shape the platform economy ourselves and to ensure that internationally successful platforms emerge from Germany and Europe as well. This creates growth and jobs and contributes significantly to making our economy fit for the future."

On Tuesday, Federal Minister Altmaier will present the concept for the creation of a sovereign and open European data infrastructure, which the Federal Economic Affairs Ministry has developed together with numerous players from industry.

During the Digital Summit, high-ranking members of the extensive summit network will discuss numerous aspects of the platform economy: business models, security and sovereignty in the platform economy, digital platforms in the world of work and education, and the question of responsibility of digital platforms in a democracy.

Exhibits from the summit platforms show how digital platforms can help to network cities and regions smartly, how they radically alter the logistics landscape and re-establish citizens’ sovereignty over their own data. There were more than 30 information stands at the summit, which is testament to the diversity of digital platforms.

Detailed information about the entire programme of the 2019 Digital Summit and all current projects and initiatives of the Federal Economic Affairs Ministry for the summit can be found at www.digital-gipfel.de (in German).