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Robotics has long been a cornerstone of German industry, and now a new generation of intelligent machines is emerging. Whereas earlier robots were largely designed for repetitive, predefined tasks, advances in artificial intelligence are enabling robots to navigate complex environments, learn new tasks and increasingly work alongside people. For companies, the shift opens up new possibilities for automation, greater efficiency and entirely new applications – from intralogistics and manufacturing to healthcare and defense. At the same time, the growing capabilities raise questions around how humans and machines will work together and how businesses can integrate those systems into their operations. Germany has by far and away Europe’s highest robot density. With its strong industrial base, research expertise and established automation market, it is positioning itself as a key player in this transformation. And there are plenty of opportunities for international companies to become part of this growing Germany’s ecosystem. Our guests: Marcus Liebhardt is Head of AMR Europe at Yujin Robot, a Korean-based robotics company that recently expanded to Berlin. He’s helping expand the use of Autonomous Mobile Robots across European markets, bringing new levels of automation and efficiency to intralogistics. Lorenzo Masia is Director of the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) at the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s leading research centers for robotics. His work focuses on driving innovation at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence and human-machine interaction.

How can Germany remain an attractive destination for international business expansions? Martin Blessing, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’ point man on investments and foreign business expansions explains how the country is positioning itself in a changing global economy, and why Germany is still central for companies looking to scale up in Europe. Germany is adapting its investment strategy in response to global competition, technological change and shifting industrial dynamics. In this episode of Into Germany, we speak with Martin Blessing, former CEO of Commerzbank and, since late 2025, government commissioner and chairman of the supervisory board of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). He explains how the country aims to strengthen its position as a location for industry, innovation and sustainable growth. We explore what makes Germany attractive for today’s growth-hungry international companies – from its strong industrial base to emerging sectors such as AI and space technologies – and where structural challenges still need to be addressed. Our guest: Martin Blessing is a German banker and business executive. He served as CEO of Commerzbank from 2008 to 2016 and held senior roles at UBS and McKinsey. In late 2025, he was appointed commissioner and chairman of the supervisory board of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), where he is responsible for the strategic oversight of Germany’s investment promotion efforts.

Artificial intelligence has changed the way companies work, and now a new phase is emerging. Whereas earlier systems could only respond to prompts, Agentic AI is designed to handle entire workflows. For companies, the shift is profound, as it promises greater efficiency, faster decision-making and entirely new ways of structuring work. At the same time, it raises important questions around control, accountability and integration into existing business processes. Germany, with its strong industrial base and growing AI ecosystem, is positioning itself as a key player in this transformation. Companies and institutions across the country are exploring how agentic AI can be scaled responsibly and effectively. And there’s lots of room for international companies to enter the market. Our guests: Daniela Rittmeier is a supervisory board member, advisor and head of Capgemini’s Generative AI Accelerator, leading AI integration and scaling across industries and value chains. With over 20 years of experience driving transformation and innovation, she’s a thought leader in sustainable, anthropocentric AI and an advocate for women in technology and digital education. Des Traynor is co‑founder and chief strategy officer of the customer messaging and support platform Intercom, which has expanded to Germany. He has driven Intercom’s shift toward AI‑first product strategy and development, including the creation of AI agents such as Fin.

Germany’s space sector is booming, as commercial players increasingly shape what was once a purely state-driven domain. From satellite manufacturing and Earth observation to reusable spacecraft and green propulsion systems, German-based companies are helping make space more accessible, sustainable and economically viable. Supported by strong public-private partnerships, generous funding schemes and a dense ecosystem of research institutions, Germany is on its way to become one of Europe’s key space hubs. Our guests: Anke Pagels-Kerp is Divisional Board Member for Space at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where she oversees research and innovation at the interface of government, science and the emerging New Space economy. Martin Polak is Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany, responsible for the company’s operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and for expanding its satellite manufacturing and Earth observation activities in Germany. Victor Maier leads the German and Central European business at The Exploration Company, a Franco-German start-up developing reusable spacecraft to provide Europe with independent, sustainable access to space.

2025 was a year of course alignment for the German economy. Conservative Friedrich Merz became Germany’s chancellor after snap elections, and his new coalition government immediately signaled that investment, reform and pro-business policies would be its priorities. We review pivotal economic and business developments of 2025 – from government measures supporting industry and startups to international investment trends and Germany’s positioning in global markets. Find out what it all means for companies looking to invest in or expand into Germany. Our guests: Our year in review features leaders from business and politics and Germany Trade & Invest experts from a variety of fields.

Germany’s start-up sector is regaining momentum – thanks to a dynamic ecosystem shaped by entrepreneurial spirit, government support and strong industry clusters, ranging from Berlin’s vibrant tech scene to regional hubs throughout the country. Initiatives such as the de:hub network are connecting founders with established players, while new legislation aims to make investment easier and reduce bureaucracy. International entrepreneurs are increasingly drawn to Germany’s mix of cutting-edge research, skilled talent and access to Europe’s largest consumer market. Our guests: Philipp Kövener is Director of Trend & Innovation Scouting at Germany Trade & Invest. Together with his team, he supports start-ups entering the German market and helps those from Germany grow internationally. Johannes Büker is co-founder of Hydronauten, a Rostock-based start-up that developed pioneering pump technology to save energy and stabilize power grids. Anna Bojić is co-founder and CEO of Miss Moneypenny Technologies, a Berlin-based company transforming digital wallets into powerful customer engagement tools.

Offshore wind currently produces around 6% of all electricity fed into Germany's public grid, but by 2045, that figure will need to be quadrupled. It’s a heady but achievable challenge. What started out 15 years ago as a couple of experimental facilities is now a major pillar of Germany’s conversion to renewable energy. We look back and ahead at the biggest changes, challenges, and innovations – and explore how business opportunities are evolving in this dynamic sector. Our guests: Simon Hagemann is Head of Pipeline Development at Swedish utility Vattenfall, the company behind Germanys first offshore wind farm. Markus Nölke is Managing Director of WAB, a nationwide network for the wind energy sector, representing around 250 companies and research institutes across the wind, maritime, and emerging hydrogen industries.

On April 6, 2025, conservative Friedrich Merz was sworn in as Germany’s tenth chancellor. He leads a coalition of his center-right CDU_CSU alliance with the center-left SPD, two rivals united by a 144-page coalition agreement. Its top focus? Business, growth and competitiveness. What opportunities does this political shift offer for international companies looking to invest or expand in Germany? We get some answers from Julia Braune, CEO of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). Our guest: Julia Braune has been CEO of GTAI since February 2023. The organization – the Federal Republic of Germany’s international business promotion agency – is responsible helps foreign companies expand to and in Germany and German-based companies do business abroad.

The foremost challenge for entrepreneurs and start-ups with potentially game-changing ideas is getting financial support for ideas and business concepts that, by definition, are completely untried. Germany recognizes the dilemma and has set up a government agency, called SPRIND (www.sprind.org), to assist the most audacious of innovations. We talk to SPRIND’s innovation manager and an agency-supported start-up that wants to rid the world’s waters of microplastics. Our guests: SPRING Innovation Manager Olav Carlsen has specialized in radical business notions for more than 30 years. He now focuses on seeking out innovative ideas in Germany to ensure they get the support they need. Roland Damann is founder and CEO of Microbubbles, a company that has developed a novel approach to the problem of microplastic pollution.

Germany has long been an innovator in truck manufacturing and is leading the way on the next generation of electric drive solutions. Though still in its early stage, logistics is shifting gears, and registration figures for electric trucks in Germany are twice as high as the EU average. From 2021 to 2023, the number of e-powered vehicles on German roads almost doubled. But what still needs to change for e-trucks to become the industry standard, and when will the shift likely be complete? To get some answers, we talk to a German trucking company and one of the world largest manufacturers of heavy transport vehicles. Our guests: Kristiane Schmidt is Sustainability Manager at Contargo and an enthusiast for the development of sustainable solutions in the logistics sector. With a Master of Science in Physics and an MBA in Sustainability Management, she combines scientific precision with practical commitment. At Contargo, she relies on facts and empathetic communication to actively and sensitively drive change. Andreas Ritter has been working in container logistics for over ten years and has in-depth specialist knowledge and practical experience in this field. He is particularly interested in the optimization of processes and the further development of hinterland logistics. As Terminal Manager of the Hof site and a member of the Transport and Mobility Committee of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia Bayreuth and the Hof Chamber of Industry and Commerce committee, he is actively involved in shaping the future of the industry. Nils Heine has been working in various functions in the automotive sector for over 30 years. Since the launch of the new MAN TG3 series in February 2020, he has been responsible for sales at MAN as well as for zero-emission truck projects and their market launch in Europe. He demonstrates that the switch to zero-emission driving is not only exciting, but also necessary, with his personal drive - he rides his bike to work 90% of the time.

R&D in Germany has a long tradition. Its prestigious research institutes are known across the world. And no other European country invests more money in research and development – around 130 billion euros across all sectors in the last year for which figures are available. But part of Germany’s strength is its relatively decentralized, bottom-up orientation. A leader from Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research and a neurologist turned entrepreneur explain what makes R&D in Germany so special. Our guests: Professor Thomas Fritz leads the research group “Music Evoked Brain Plasticity“ at the Department of Neurology at the Max Planck Society. His research led him to the foundation of Jimmyn – a start-up based on a software that enables the conversion of bodily movements into music. Armin Reinartz is Head of the Directorate-General “European and International Cooperation” at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

GDP may have stagnated, foreign direct investment continued apace in Europe’s largest economy. 2024 was a banner year for German pharma and artificial intelligence. The world’s largest IT companies invested heavily in data centers, and the government further relaxed entry regulations for international professionals with sought-after skills and launched massive infrastructure projects to provide the country with green energy. INTO GERMANY looks back at the year that was. Our guests: Our year in review features leaders from business and politics and Germany Trade & Invest experts from a variety of fields.

Germans may have taken a while to get used to cashless payment systems and other fintech applications, but they’re now rapidly becoming standard in both B2B and B2C. Where are the greatest opportunities and what does the future ho0ld in store? We speak to the head of Berlin’s new fintech hub and the strategy guru at a French neobank that has branched out to Germany. Our guests: Sebastian Schäfer is an experienced entrepreneur and ecosystem builder and CEO at the newly established HoFT, the House of Finance and Tech in Berlin. Founded in spring 2024, it serves as a central hub within the city’s finance and tech ecosystem. Albertine Lecointe is Vice President of Strategy and Head of Strategic Management at French neobank Qonto, which expanded to Germany in 2020.

The German vegan and vegetarian movement goes back to the nineteenth century, but this lifestyle and nutrition choice has never been so popular. More than a third of Germans opt for a plant-based diet. The German plant-based retail market has been valued at around €1.9 billion, making it the biggest in Europe. We talk to two up-and-coming companies and the head of a leading pro-meatless advocacy group about what the future holds in store. Our guests: Tom Johansson is founder and CEO of Hooked Foods, a Swedish start-up producing vegan “seafood” based on plant protein. Elin Roberts is co-founder and co-CEO of Better Nature, a UK-based producer of tempeh. Jens Tuider is Chief Strategy Officer at ProVeg International, which originated in Germany and aims to “transform the global food system.“

Germany remains a pioneer when it comes to self-driving cars. Europe’s automotive heartland is the first country in the world to pass nationwide regulations for level-4 autonomous vehicles. International businesses that expand to Germany will find top-class research facilities, a well-trained and innovative workforce and an open-minded car culture! Our guests: Yang Ji is founder and CEO of LiangDao, a Chinese-German software and engineering service provider of AI-based sensor systems with offices in Munich and Berlin, as well as in Beijing and Shanghai. LiangDao is focusing on the so-called LiDAR technology, which is crucial for self-driving cars. Christoph Mester is Manager of Transportation Technologies at GTAI and works for the agency’s investor service department. As an expert for future mobility, he advises international companies planning to expand to Germany.