Partner

EY Germany (EY) is one of the largest German auditing and consulting organizations. EY is the German market leader in the tax sector. EY employs more than 11,100 people at 20 locations. Together with the approximately 393,000 employees of the international EY organization EY serves clients all over the world.

EY helps companies to grow and supports them in their digital transformation. The company advises on the acquisition and sale of companies and parts of companies as well as conducts first-class audits. EY supports entrepreneurs, companies and the public sector in dealing with their acute and urgent issues.

EY consists of four integrated business units – Audit and Assurance Services, Tax Advisory, Consulting and Strategy and Transactions. On the basis of in-depth sector expertise EY supports clients in developing new business models and assessing risks. The multidisciplinary teams also help companies to comply with regulatory standards, keep investors up to date and ensure that clients meet the needs of their stakeholders.

Today, companies increasingly need to reinvent themselves to succeed in the market. At CMS, we help you put your business on a sound legal footing. Our more than 750 lawyers, tax advisors, and notaries know the laws and understand your industry.

The healthcare and life sciences industries operate within a complex landscape of innovation, stringent regulatory requirements, and significant economic risks. We advise companies, institutions, and investors, particularly where regulatory requirements (EU/DE), competition law, compliance expectations, and data protection requirements intersect. Our Life Sciences & Healthcare team combines legal precision with in-depth industry knowledge – across the entire value chain: from research and development through regulatory approval and market access to sales, collaborations, and dispute resolution.

Our approach is clear: strategic, efficient, and solution-oriented. Thanks to well-established teams, transparent models, and innovative digital tools, even demanding and cross-border projects are implemented seamlessly.

UniCredit is a pan-European commercial bank with a unique offering in Italy, Germany, and Central and Eastern Europe. Our goal is to support societal development by providing the best for all stakeholders and unlocking the potential of our customers and employees across Europe.

We serve more than 15 million customers worldwide. They are at the heart of everything we do in our markets. UniCredit comprises four core regions and two product lines, offering solutions for corporate and private clients. This allows us to provide close support and leverage the full range of services offered by the entire group to supply all markets with the best products.

Digitalization and a commitment to ESG principles are essential prerequisites for our services. They enable us to provide excellent support to our stakeholders and to shape a sustainable future for our clients, society, and employees.

TrendAI™, a global leader in AI security and the enterprise division of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with complete visibility into their AI usage and consolidated security that builds trust, fosters innovation, and eliminates risk. Globally, the largest enterprises and government agencies in 185 countries rely on TrendAI™ to protect their entire organization—from identities and infrastructure to data.

Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI™ to reduce risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by leading threat and attack analytics. Through close partnerships with technology pioneers like NVIDIA, Anthropic, AWS, Google, and Microsoft, TrendAI™ empowers organizations to move forward securely at the speed of AI.
AI Fearlessly.

Alpine Eagle is a defense-tech company developing the next generation of counter-UAS systems. Founded in 2023 by experts in machine learning and aerospace engineering, the company develops AI-powered sensor networks and a software-defined system architecture for the detection, tracking, and coordinated defense against unmanned threats.

With its airborne sensors and intelligent networking of distributed platforms, Alpine Eagle enables earlier detection, greater range, and faster response times to drone swarms and other autonomous systems. The open software platform Sentinel OS connects sensors, platforms, and effectors across domains—air, land, and sea—and integrates seamlessly with existing command and control systems.

Backed by leading international investors such as IQ Capital, General Catalyst and HCVC, Alpine Eagle has raised more than 10 million euros in capital to date to redefine airspace protection in the age of autonomous warfare.

Founded in 2022, ARX Robotics is one of Europe's leading developers of software-defined defense technologies for land autonomy. The company enhances military capabilities through rapidly deployable unmanned land vehicles and digitally transforms legacy platforms through its AI-powered operating system, Mithra OS. ARX Robotics systems are deployed across several European armed forces and represent the largest Western-built UGV fleet currently deployed in Ukraine. The company currently employs 300 people across locations in Munich, Berlin, London and Kyiv. ARX Robotics is committed to developing technologies that enhance soldier protection and strengthen European sovereignty and defense readiness.

GDELS: European provider of military mobility solutions

General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) is part of the General Dynamics Corporation and has operations in seven European countries: Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Romania, and the Czech Republic. GDELS develops, manufactures, and maintains protected wheeled and tracked vehicles and mobile bridging systems. GDELS' European sites are integral to their respective national defense industries and possess decades, and in some cases centuries, of experience. Today, the company employs 3,000 highly skilled and motivated people. More than fifty countries worldwide, including 20 NATO member states, rely on GDELS mobility solutions for their police and armed forces. In Germany, the company is represented by GDELS – Germany, headquartered in Berlin, as well as by GDELS – Bridge Systems in Kaiserslautern and the maintenance and repair specialist GDELS – FWW in Neubrandenburg. Two additional production facilities are currently under construction in southern Germany.

Lockheed Martin is a global leader in security and defense solutions, continuously driving innovation and technological advancement. With our integrated mission solutions and 21st Century Security® approach, we accelerate the development and deployment of transformative technologies to give our customers and partners a decisive competitive advantage.

Northrop Grumman is a trusted innovator, delivering technologies that ensure the US and its allies lead the world in military strength and innovation. Our 100,000-person workforce specializes in high-demand areas of national security including integrated air and missile defense, advanced weapons, precision munitions and aircraft systems.

In Germany and across Europe, we partner with governments and industry to strengthen national sovereignty and NATO's collective defense, including co-developing and co-producing systems that build industrial capacity. Our portfolio includes the Integrated Battle Command System, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, counter-uncrewed aerial systems solutions, AARGM-ER, advanced munitions and F-35 mission-enabling capabilities, including center fuselage production with significant German workshare.

As an international partner of choice, Northrop Grumman is committed to Germany for the long term – helping the Bundeswehr field war-ready capabilities today while building a future-ready defense industrial base.

Learn more at: https://www.northropgrumman.com/who-we-are/global-presence/northrop-grumman-in-germany.

With STACKIT and Schwarz Digits, the IT division of the Schwarz Group, you secure a high-performance, European cloud alternative. Thanks to server locations in Germany and Austria, your data remains consistently within Europe, GDPR-compliant, and protected against access from outside Europe. Benefit from high availability, technical independence without vendor lock-in, and regulatory compliance.

SThree is the global STEM workforce consultancy

As a strategic partner, we advise companies, assemble expert teams, and develop project solutions that create real added value. We always go one step further, combining ambition, expertise, and technology, thus living our motto:

Outpace tomorrow, together.

Our global team combines local knowledge with in-depth industry experience in life sciences, technology, engineering, energy, financial services, and digital and creative sectors.

Since 2018, LiveEO has established itself as the global market leader for AI-powered monitoring of critical infrastructure based on high-resolution satellite data. Today, the company, headquartered in Berlin with offices in the USA, UK, and Latvia, already collaborates successfully with companies such as DB and E.ON. Given the dynamic security situation in Europe, the security and defense sector is becoming increasingly relevant for LiveEO.

Diehl Defence is a leading systems house for state-of-the-art air defense systems and a renowned supplier of high-tech guided missiles, innovative munitions solutions, and specialized reconnaissance and protection systems. Its advanced system solutions for ground-based air defense set new international standards. Diehl Defence generates annual sales of over €2.5 billion with approximately 6,000 employees.

AeroSpace.NRW sees itself as a network for all stakeholders in the aerospace sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia established the network as a state cluster in 2021. Its goal is to increase the innovative capacity and competitiveness of the aerospace industry by promoting collaboration between companies, research institutions, universities, policymakers, and society, thereby creating jobs and developing sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies.

AeroSpace.NRW connects business, science, and politics through initiatives such as organizing conferences and joint trade fair booths both domestically and internationally, and by initiating workshops on industry-specific topics. Furthermore, AeroSpace.NRW develops strategies for the advancement of aerospace technologies in North Rhine-Westphalia and assists companies and institutions in implementing these strategies. The network is operated by NMWP Management GmbH in Düsseldorf.

The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) represents the interests of an industry that, through international technological leadership and global success, has become a key driver of growth for the German economy. The German aerospace industry encompasses virtually all strategic key technologies.

The primary tasks of the BDLI include communication with political institutions, authorities, associations, and foreign representatives in Germany, as well as providing services to members both domestically and internationally. The association is the responsible organizer of the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin.

The BDLI is officially accredited by the German Bundestag and fulfills a number of legally enshrined tasks there.

As most important digital association and largest European think tank on digital topics We bring the digital economy into dialogue with politics, media, science and society.

Our overarching goal is to make Germany a leading digital location, to drive the digital transformation of business and administration, to strengthen digital sovereignty and to achieve broad societal participation in digital developments.

About us | Bitkom e. V.

Defence.NRW connects companies, research institutions, and other stakeholders in the security and defense sector – thereby pooling strengths in North Rhine-Westphalia and laying the foundations for innovation in the defense field. In addition to targeted networking, the cluster also serves as a first point of contact for advice on technologies and capabilities, as well as on funding and financing opportunities. Furthermore, Defence.NRW creates spaces for exchange, knowledge transfer, and cooperation on topics relevant to security and defense. The Defence.NRW cluster is operated by VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

NATO is the world's most successful security alliance, guaranteeing its member states peace, stability, and security for over 70 years based on freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The German Atlantic Society is dedicated to deepening understanding of the Atlantic Alliance's objectives and providing information about NATO's policies. It advocates for strengthening NATO's European pillar and forging close ties with the two North American democracies.

Independent and non-partisan, we offer lectures, seminars, and conferences that provide a platform for public discourse on Germany's security policy situation within the international community, thus opening up opportunities for new substantive perspectives. Join the discussion and attend events organized by one of our regional groups. We look forward to your participation.

Visit our website for more information:

Women in International Security Germany (WIIS.de) is the German section of Women in International Security and thus part of a global network of women in foreign and international security policy. WIIS.de was founded in Berlin in 2003. Since then, WIIS.de has operated nationwide as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. WIIS.de advocates for increased visibility of women in foreign, security, and defense policy and now connects and supports over 800 members. For its members, the organization serves as an information platform, a forum for exchange and networking, and is particularly distinguished by the diverse professional backgrounds and areas of expertise of its members. Due to the valuable professional expertise of its members, the targeted development of future female leaders is also a key priority for WIIS.de.

The BDI's cross-sector NewSpace initiative forms a unique alliance of NewSpace startups, aerospace companies, associations, traditional industrial enterprises, and the digital economy. Nearly 100 companies and associations are already members of the initiative. Its goal is to unite these diverse stakeholders under one umbrella for the first time, thereby actively promoting the digital transformation of the German economy through space applications. Politically, the initiative advocates for strengthening NewSpace "made in Germany.".

The Handelsblatt Defense Circle offers business decision-makers access to all relevant Handelsblatt content from the security and defense industry sectors, as well as assessments of geopolitical developments – all bundled in one place.

Whether exclusive articles or meet-ups, white papers or webinars: By registering for the Handelsblatt Defense Circle you will receive regular updates and exclusive invitations – free of charge and without obligation.

The TECH Conference once again brought together Europe's most influential leaders in technology, business, and politics, welcoming over 2,000 participants and 300 speakers to Heilbronn. With a strong focus on AI, digital sovereignty, and security & defense, the event created a dynamic platform for exchange, innovation, and collaboration.

Tagesspiegel Background provides expert information on regulation and current debates for decision-makers and experts in politics, business, academia, NGOs, and public administration. Subscribers receive daily briefings on policy debates at 6 a.m. Weekly monitoring reports document parliamentary decision-making processes and legislative procedures. Our editorial teams provide reliable analysis of developments and deliver background information and exclusive news via email and our web portal. As a member of the community, readers also benefit from an exclusive network.

Since September, the new specialist briefing on security and defense has complemented this offering. The editorial team researches and curates the most important developments in politics and economics on a daily basis.

The topics range from legislation and internal and external security to innovation and start-ups in the defense industry, procurement and transformation of the German Armed Forces, supply chains, raw material security, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and financing and funding.

Those who make decisions or help shape this field can maintain an overview every morning. Expertly researched, reliable, and concise.

https://background.tagesspiegel.de