Industry survey: Business-friendly, self-confident government wanted!

What are the reactions after the election? What do industry players and representatives of industry and research think about the new majority and options for the future after the election at the end of February 2025? Galvanotechnik asked around at the Leipzig specialist seminar and researched further reactions.

The world is currently changing rapidly. We are witnessing how authoritarian states are gaining the upper hand and the law of the jungle is reasserting itself. Trade barriers, tariffs, spheres of influence and wars mark a return to the era of the law of the jungle. In this constellation, the EU of 27 is struggling to unite and reposition itself. Germany, as the largest EU country and an important pillar of the European community of states, has quickly put together new multi-billion euro financing packages to modernize infrastructure and defence.

At the same time, there are new majorities in the federal government - Black-Red is likely to form the new government. However, the fact that one in five voters cast their vote at the ballot box for a far-right party should give pause for thought. The tremendous speed of the upheavals is fueling uncertainty and making expectations of the new government more important than in the past, not least because the German economy has lost its growth momentum in the structural change towards climate neutrality. Where does our industry stand in this mixed situation and what are our and other associations demanding from the new government team in Berlin?

Cautious optimism in the industry

Lisa Büker, designated laboratory manager at Kiesow Oberflächentechnik and member of the Female (Sur)Faces network of the German Surface Technology Association (ZVO), is standing at a high table during the coffee break and going through a few papers when she is asked about her expectations and assessments. "The government should definitely act well and quickly now. It's our last chance before the next election, before things get worse with regard to the AfD," the doctor of chemistry is convinced. She would like the new government to provide more certainty for the industry: a clear direction and clear announcements on economic policy and democracy so that the industry can reliably align itself with them. "Nobody can relax anymore, at the moment there is no basis for deciding whether an investment makes sense or not," she says, assessing the current situation.

Lisa Büker

Nico Kahlich

Nico Kahlich from plant manufacturer Ditec presents his products at the Leipzig trade seminar. The 28-year-old has paid particular attention to the current general election. "I watched all the squares and duels on TV, which was really exciting," he says, looking back. "I hope for the industry that the electricity price will really be reduced and that the excessive bureaucracy will be cut." Standards are essential, he says, but the many approvals repeatedly restrict electroplating and surface technology in particular. "Standards are necessary, but they also need to be assessed with common sense," he says. When it comes to migration, he is concerned about too rapid isolation and the resulting disputes with neighboring countries. "We need people in this industry to hang racks. This is also an opportunity to start a career." Europe must now stick together, see the developments in America as a shot across the bow and build up its own economic power. "I am sure that we can do it; we now have big tasks ahead of us in the SME sector," he says optimistically.

For Oliver Brenscheidt, who also had a stand at the trade exhibition, the election was disappointing for two reasons. Firstly, because the economic party FDP is no longer a member of the Bundestag and secondly, because almost a trillion euros in new debt is now being taken on, "an amount equivalent to all public entities put together", he draws a comparison. He also criticized gifts to the SPD and the Greens in order to push through the defence budget. "That won't be good for us and, above all, our children," he is convinced. But now it is important to look ahead and realize that the mood in the industry is worse than the figures. "We're certainly not doing as well as we have been in recent years. But we're not doing badly either," he says, assessing the situation. This insight needs to sink into people's heads - and the "German Angst" needs to disappear!

Dennis Stritter from Atotech is concerned about the use of the money from the new special funds. He takes a critical view of expensive purchases abroad. "We have all industries here," he emphasizes. The government is now called upon to pull out all the stops to tackle energy prices, subsidies and the bureaucracy issue and remain competitive. "Let's take the example of connecting elements," he says, referring to his presentation topic "Electrical and mechanical optimization of bolted busbar connections". "German manufacturers can't keep up internationally with the current energy prices."

Prof. Siegfried Steinhäuser, former Professor of Surface Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology and Chairman of the DGO from 2001-2005, is optimistic about the new government and expects the newly strengthened CDU, as a conservative party, to do more for electroplating because the technology is in demand in the industry. Steinhäuser does not approve of the AfD, but the party also represents companies that fear for their existence. The enterprising 85-year-old professor hopes that money will now be made available to secure the existence of these companies.

Metalworking associations: Competitive energy prices demanded

In addition to the ZVO, associations from energy-intensive industries, such as the VDEh (Verband Deutscher Eisenhüttenleute, now the Steel Institute), the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Metalle (WVMetalle) and the Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie (BDG), are insisting on significantly lower energy prices.

Business and research: reducing bureaucracy, practical research, technological sovereignty

Dr. Volker Treier, Head of Foreign Trade and Chief Analyst at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), is calling for more innovation momentum through more scope for research and innovation as well as a reduction in bureaucracy: "The structural weakness in Germany as a business location is clearly slowing down the innovation momentum in companies. According to the latest DIHK economic survey, only just under one in three industrial companies still wants to invest in the development of new products - which is not enough for more growth. In order for our export-oriented industry in particular to have a chance on the international markets, it must be more innovative than its competitors. To achieve this, companies and their research partners need more scope for research and innovation. This includes a noticeable reduction in bureaucracy, efficient innovation funding and practical technology transfer."

Dr. Volker Treier

Prof. Holger Hanselka

Germany's most important research organization, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, was also asked about the government's future course. "Our innovative strength is a key lever for overcoming current and future challenges. As an application-oriented research organization at the interface between research and industry, Fraunhofer has a central role to play here," emphasized Prof. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "In order for us to realize our potential optimally, we need modern framework conditions that are flexible and goal-oriented. This is the only way we can bring scientific findings into application even faster and make them usable for industry and society. Today, we are setting the course for our long-term international competitiveness, our technological sovereignty and our prosperity."

Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA ), also emphasizes the importance of research and development: "The competitiveness and implementation strength of our innovation area must be the top priority of any new federal government. More 'Research for Industry' is the order of the day. The levers are clear: joint industrial research, production technologies for value creation, technological sovereignty and resilience in Europe, research allowances, high-performance engineering sciences and guard rails that prevent the unwanted outflow of publicly funded knowledge and technologies from a location perspective. Let's tackle this together - let's turn our innovation space into an innovation dream for the best innovation in industry and science!"

Hartmut Rauen

Wolfgang Weber

Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the Management Board of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI), advocates the opportunities offered by new technologies and risk-based regulation instead of blanket bans: "New technologies offer enormous potential for digital transformation and for energy and resource efficiency. Instead of rash regulation, their opportunities should first be seized more consciously. Instead of blanket bans, risk-based regulation is necessary. This applies, for example, to the use of artificial intelligence in industry and to substances such as PFAS, which are needed in industry for innovative solutions."