Complex cyber-attacks in industrial environments are the greatest threats to smooth business processes. Every year, espionage, sabotage and data theft cause serious damage running into billions. But security and trust are essential for a successful digital transformation. A closer collaboration between businesses, politics and civil society is as vital to public confidence in digitalisation as it is to Germany's cyber resilience.

From remote maintenance and condition monitoring during the Corona pandemic, to reduced train downtime and a significant reduction in empty truck journeys, B2B platforms offer numerous benefits. A thriving platform ecosystem is currently emerging in Germany, as German industrial companies increasingly operate their own digital platforms for the business-to-business (B2B) sector. These platforms make a crucial contribution to ecological, economic and social sustainability.

In Germany, we mainly see the risks when it comes to data use. This is also due to the reputation of the General Data Protection Regulation, says law professor Christine Wendehorst. The co-chair of the data ethics commission hopes for a new mindset that also focuses on the opportunities.

More and more machines are connected to the internet setting the course for Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution. After mechanisation (Industry 1.0), mass production (Industry 2.0) and automation (Industry 3.0), the “internet of things and services” is now becoming an integral part of manufacturing. Industry 4.0  paves the way for personalised products, resource-efficient logistics, new services and a more flexible working environment. To reach its full potential, Industry 4.0 needs an innovation friendly regulatory framework.