Press Release
Mar 20, 2017
Germany’s ICT sector is forecast to grow rapidly
Berlin (GTAI) – At the 2016 CeBit, then Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel laid out a ten-point programme for Germany entitled ‘Digital Strategy 2025’. The overall target was to be the global leaders in the new wave of technological and business conceptual development, by developing infrastructure, supporting investment and fostering innovation. One year on, at the 2017 CeBit, Germany’s ICT sector has responded with some excellent growth in a number of areas. The overall revenues within the sector are forecast to grow by 1.3 percent to a new high of €161.4bn.
However, there will be much faster growth in the areas of software (6.3 percent to €23bn) and IT services (2.3 percent to €39bn), both key foundations of a better and more innovative digital future. Moreover, an additional 21,000 jobs within ICT are set to be created in 2017. Moreover, Germany will present a new global resource efficiency initiative at this year’s G20 summit in Hamburg, where digitisation will be shown as a key driver for resource efficiency, helping to decouple resource usage from global economic growth. With this in mind, the ICT sector should only continue to grow.
The process of digital transformation requires a near-endless reinvention of business models to cope with developments in pioneering-edge technologies such as cloud computing, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and security. At the 2017 CeBit, where Japan is the official partner country, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), Germany’s federal economic development agency, and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) will be teaming up at a networking event for companies from the two countries.
Representatives from GTAI will be present throughout the fair to provide further information on investing in Germany and the progress on Digital Strategy 2025, as well as making several presentations. More details can be found on the link below. “Digitisation is the current buzzword of the world’s production economy. It is present in all industries, from simple service solutions to entire supply chains and complex production lines,” said Dr. Benno Bunse, CEO of GTAI.
“Germany’s government has laid a significant foundation in this direction with its digital strategy 2025, announced at this very trade show last year, but it will only be truly value-adding and effective if we are able to integrate concepts, ideas, technologies and investment from abroad, as well as exporting such in the other direction. Germany provides an excellent innovative culture and investment conditions for cutting-edge research and development in the ICT industry, which we are looking forward to seeing at this year’s CeBit.”