German-Czech Economic Forum 2024 Digitalization.AI

The German Czech Economic Forum (GCEF), hosted by the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce through its #PartnerForDigitalization platform, drives digital transformation across industries, with a focus on AI. It fosters innovation and competitiveness through experience sharing and collaboration. A key feature is the Best Practice Company Tours, where partners exchange strategies and solutions. The GCEF is the highlight event featuring CEOs and leading experts in the field of digitalization. » PROGRAMME

Photos

Economic conference by the German Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) during the Czech presidency of the EU-Council 2022

17 | 10 | 2022

in

by

under the auspices of

supported by

Thank you all!!!

This was a special day! Key players and decision-makers of the German-Czech economy gathered in Prague at the German Czech Economic Forum to jointly discuss and present solutions and strategies for a successful adaptation in times of crisis and the transformation of the industry.

The keynotes of 🇩🇪 Economy Minister Robert Habeck and ŠKODA AUTO. CEO Klaus Zellmr clearly showed: the importance and potential of German-Czech economic cooperation are enormous. Both made it clear that sustainability will not be sidelined in times of crisis, but part of the solution. We are very grateful for the valuable and rare input of both speakers.

The power of dialogue: Panel discussions, workshops and round tables showed that business is oriented towards the future and solutions even in difficult times. We must face the challenges together, both at the business and national level. Therefore, it is an important signal that the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Síkela, also spoke at the GCEF. Vice-Chancellor Habeck paid tribute to the 🇨🇿 government for how well the country handles the role of the EU Council presidency. Czech Republic has proven itself as a moderator in the search for common European solutions, e.g. in the issue of the energy crisis. This is not a given!

Many thanks to all of our Partners.

And last but not least: many thanks to all 350 guests. See you soon and until then... stay resilient! 🙂

Main Guests

Formats

Keynotes

Panel Discussions

Interactive Marketplace

Speaker's & Matching Corner

Workshops

Energy

Procurement & Supply Chain

Digitalization & Innovation

Security

Financing

Main Topics

Dr. Robert Habeck
Klaus Zellmer
Jozef Síkela
Dr. Martin Wansleben
...and many more!

“We must never again become dependent on one supplier alone.”

– Dr. Robert Habeck –

Driving Tomorrow's Industry - the most important players and decision-makers of the German-Czech economy, politics and R&D will present and discuss solutions and strategies for a successful adaptation in times of crisis and the chances of a sustainable transformation of the industry.

Corona crisis, war and energy crisis have shown: Efficiency & strategic resilience are crucial for our companies and international economic relations - absorb external shocks, stabilize critical functions, secure future growth!

Be part of the German Czech Economic Forum, be part of a successful (ex)change. Get your tickets now 🡦.

Photo Gallery

Programme

9:40

10:00

10:20

10:45

11:00

11:40

12:00

12:40

14:00

18:00

Keynotes & Discussions

Moderation: Petr Šimůnek, Editor in Chief, Forbes CZ

Warm-up: Startups on Efficiency and Resilience in times of crises with Cyrkl - Cyril Klepek, CEO, SmartGuide - Jan Doležal, CEO, and Ackee - Martin Pulpitel, CEO

Welcome Addresses

Milan Šlachta & Bernard Bauer, Jozef Síkela, Dr. Martin Wansleben

Keynote I & Interview: "Energy, Industry, and International Trade in Transformation"

Dr. Robert Habeck, Vice Chancellor of Germany, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

Keynote II: "Transformation of the Automotive Industry and the Future of Škoda Auto"

Klaus Zellmer, CEO Škoda Auto

Panel Discussion I:
"Energy, Industry, and International Trade in Transformation"

The energy crisis, disrupted supply chains, inflationary rising prices in procurement, and the urgent need to protect the climate are global challenges. What does this mean strategically for the industrially designed European economy, e. g. with a view to the procurement of raw materials or the due diligence requirements in supply chain design? This applies above all to export-oriented countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic.

Coffee Break

Panel Discussion II

"Innovation, Transformation, and Value Creation in the German-Czech Economy"

The German-Czech economy has been setting one record after another for decades. The character of the cooperation has also changed significantly in the last ten years – R&D is gaining importance, also with German investments in the Czech Republic. But how can we take the cooperation to a new level with a view to the current challenges in digitization, supply chains, and sustainability and turn it into a showcase for other cross-border regions in Europe?

Lunch & Networking

Interactive Marketplace: Booths of key-companies, 4 Round Tables, 12 Workshops

Swing the Challenge

Welcome Addresses

Milan Šlachta

President, German Czech Chambre (AHK)

Bernard Bauer

CEO, German Czech Chambre (AHK)

Dr. Martin Wansleben

CEO, Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce

Jozef Síkela

Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Keynote I

Born in 1969 in Lübeck, Habeck studied philosophy, German language and literature and philology before earning a doctorate in 2000. He joined the environmentalist Green Party in 2002. The father of four was a writer of childrens' books living in Flensburg by the border with Denmark. He served environment minister in the state of Schleswig-Holstein from 2012 to 2018. During that time, he built a reputation as an easygoing, pragmatic politician who worked with the center left SPD

Dr. Robert Habeck

Vice Chancellor of Germany, Federal Minister
for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

„Energy, Industry and International Trade in Transformation"

Keynote II

On 1 July 2022 Klaus Zellmer superseded Thomas Schäffer as the new CEO of ŠKODA AUTO. Zellmer has started in 1997 as an assistant to of the Board of Porsche AG and worked as a project manager overseeing development of the sales and marketing areas relating to the new Porsche plant in Leipzig. In 2015, Zellmer moved to Porsche Cars North America in Atlanta, USA as President & CEO. Since 2020, Klaus Zellmer has been the member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand responsible for Sales, Marketing and After Sales.

Klaus Zellmer

CEO, ŠKODA AUTO

"Transformation of the Automotive Industry and the Future of Škoda Auto"

Panel Discussions

Jan Kohlmeier

CEO, MAN Trucks & Buses

Mark Elser

Country Manager Germany, iBanFirst

Ewald Raben

CEO, Raben Group

Jan Dusík

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment

Panel I:
"Energy, Industry and International Trade in Transformation"

Tomáš Vondrák

Plant Manager & Managing Director, Continental Automotive

Moderator

Petr Šimůnek

Editor in Chief, Forbes CZ

Veronika Kramaříková

Vice-rector for Strategy, Czech Technical University in Prague

Panel II:
"Innovation, Transformation and Value Creation in the German-Czech Economy"

Dr. Ulrike Wolf

Ministerial Director, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology

Dr. Johannes Neft

Member of the Board of Directors for the area of Technical Development, ŠKODA AUTO

Daniel Senf

Vice President, CCI Dresden

Milan Šlachta

President, German Czech Chamber (AHK), Representative of Bosch Group in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Ondřej Vaněk, PhD

CEO, Blindspot Solutions (member of Adastra Group)

Speakers

Milan Šlachta

President, German Czech Chamber (AHK), Representative of Bosch Group in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Bernard Bauer

CEO, German Czech Chamber (AHK)

Jozef Síkela

Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Dr. Ulrike Wolf

Ministerial Director, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology

Dr. Martin Wansleben

CEO, Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce

Prof. Frank Ebinger

Profesor of Sustainability-oriented Innovation and Transformation Management, Nürnberg Campus of Technology

Kristina Soukupová, PhD

President of Defense and Security Innovation Hub

Jan Kohlmeier

CEO, MAN Trucks & Buses

Vice President, CCI Dresden

Daniel Senf

Tomáš Vondrák

Plant Manager & Managing Director, Continental Automotive

Ondřej Vaněk, PhD

CEO, Blindspot Solutions (member of Adastra Group)

Veronika Vohlídková

Board Member, Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform

Ewald Raben

CEO, Raben Group

Mark Elser

Country Manager Germany, iBanFirst

Dr. Johannes Neft

Member of the Board of Directors for the area of Technical Development, ŠKODA AUTO

Björn Noack

Project Director Sustainable Mobility Strategy at Bosch Powertrain Solutions, in the Round Table: Hydrogen/fuel cells

Jan Dusík

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment

Veronika Kramaříková

Vice-rector for Strategy, Czech Technical University in Prague

Benjamin Hague

Research Director at INCIEN

Prof. Sebastian Scholz

Fraunhofer IWU Zittau

Werner Diwald

Chairman of the Board of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV)

and many more...

Interactive Marketplace

The future of the automotive industry including hot aspects such as the effects on e-mobility on production and regional supply chains, chips- and battery production

4 Round Tables