Germany, long seen as an industrial leader, is now facing a decline in global competitiveness.
What’s behind this shift, and what’s top of mind for industry leaders? These questions were central to a recent roundtable in Hamburg, hosted by Linesight, in partnership with Metroplan.
Despite the challenges, the panel shared practical strategies that offer cautious optimism. Long-term competitiveness will require bold action and forward-thinking. Encouragingly, investments in advanced facilities, especially in semiconductors, batteries, pharma, and aerospace, are already reshaping Germany’s industrial future.
Experts from across the construction and industrial sectors gathered to discuss the growing pressures on German industry, from global competition and rising costs to rapid tech change and geopolitical uncertainty.
Volker Magunna, Senior Director, Lufthansa Technik; Robert Heiler, Senior Manager, Porsche Consulting; Jens Manke, Director, Germany & Central Europe, OCO Global; Daniel Goos, Strategic Production Development Advisor, Liebherr Group/ Marc Sönnichsen, Director – Life Sciences, Linesight; Uwe Becker, Head of Operations Expansion Bioprocess Solutions, Sartorius; Stefan Zöller, Managing Director, Mercury; Florian Degen, Division Director – Strategy & Corporate Development, Fraunhofer FFB; Matthias Göke, Managing Director, Metroplan; Andreas Zeus, Director – High-Tech Manufacturing, Linesight.
Explore key insights below
Despite challenges like bureaucracy, high energy costs, and a skilled labor shortage, the expert panel remains optimistic. With innovative methods, strong collaboration, and smart complexity management, successful projects in Germany are still very achievable. A fresh industrial vision and entrepreneurial mindset will be key to shaping the future.
Companies that focus on core strengths and collaborate with external experts boost efficiency and planning certainty. Early partner involvement, clear roles, and mutual trust are key to success.
Industrial projects demand strong complexity management. Tools like Project Controls help track key factors, support data-driven decisions, and ensure transparency in fast-moving environments.
Future-ready production facilities require precise planning, clear goals, and early risk assessment. Digital tools like BIM support integrated modeling and transparency across all phases, enabling adaptable and resilient factory design.
A German version of this report can be downloaded below.
