Access to and control over critical raw materials is becoming a prerequisite for competing successfully in future key markets. For German industry, raw materials are essential to achieving major transformation goals. Yet, by the end of this decade, a metal crisis looms. Demand is growing faster than supply can keep up, and geopolitically driven trade restrictions further threaten reliable access. A strategic raw materials policy is urgently needed to manage dependencies and risks.

The “Transformation Paths” study commissioned by BDI from BCG and IW shows how Germany can remain competitive and fit for the future as an industrialized country. Over 30 companies and associations and more than 40 experts analyzed the location conditions for industry and industry-related services from October 2023 to September 2024. Read the study now!

The success of the energy transition depends to a large extent on hydrogen technology. Because of its wide range of applications, many branches of industry are relying on this future-oriented element. To meet the great demand, high-performance electrolysers are indispensable. These will be built in Berlin in the future.

Solar energy is not only a sustainable form of power generation on house roofs and agricultural land. It also gives parcel logistics a boost, as an innovative pilot project in Berlin shows.

The transformation of basic industries plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. German companies are meeting this challenge with the courage to invest and the willingness to go in completely new directions. One example is the technology shift in steel production.

Alternative drive systems and fuels are crucial on the road to climate neutrality. In addition to the expansion of electromobility, synthetic fuels, so-called e-fuels, play a central role. German companies are pioneers in this field and are developing solutions for the mobility of tomorrow.

Whether it's an e-car, e-bike or e-scooter, electromobility is booming. The number of battery-powered vehicles on German roads is increasing rapidly. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, German automakers increased production of e-cars by almost 86 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year. There was a similar increase in new registrations. As a result, the stock of e-cars has doubled within a year.

Climate neutrality by 2050 - that is the goal of the European Union. Strategies for CO2 avoidance are one way of achieving this. However, residual emissions are unavoidable. Innovative ideas are needed to deal with them. German industry is focusing on new technologies: Carbon capture, storage and utilization is a promising approach - especially in basic industries.

Together with acatech and an Australian consortium, the BDI has investigated for the first time whether and how the import of renewable hydrogen from Australia can succeed. The results from the project show that the German-Australian hydrogen bridge could become a reality before 2030.

The BDI delegation and acatech were on an intensive fact-making mission in Australia at the end of May. The delegates and the Australian stakeholders from industry, science and politics came together for insightful interactions - to accelerate the ramp-up of a global hydrogen market.

In mid-July 2021, the European Commission presented draft legislation for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). The aim is to keep EU companies, which must face higher climate protection requirements as a result of the tightening of climate targets, competitive. Thereby is carbon leakage to be prevented. The BDI, whose members have strong concerns about such a mechanism, is critical of the planned measure. 

Space travel is part of the solution for global environmental and climate protection and for more sustainability on Earth. It provides the data for numerous digital services, new business models and technologies. Its worldwide commercialisation – New Space – is a huge opportunity and is becoming increasingly important for Germany as an industrialised country.

Hydrogen has the potential to replace oil as the most important energy source. Germany can play a pioneering role in innovative technologies and infrastructure projects on the path to a green hydrogen economy. To achieve this, the country must face a number of challenges.

Electromobility is a building block for a sustainable and resource-saving mobility system – and offers enormous opportunities for Germany as a business location.

Tomorrow's car will be emission-free. Alternative fuels and drive systems offer the opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions and promote climate protection. Synthetic fuels are an important building block on the road to emission-free driving.

Companies are "enablers" for a transformation to a circular economy. However, this can only work out with adeuqate political framework conditions. Our claims for the new legislative period: a roadmap to the Circular Economy.

The conversion to a climate-neutral industrialised country requires a transformation in all areas of the economy and society. The BDI proposes a broad mix of instruments in climate, energy, transport and industrial policy to meet these complex challenges. An increase of the CO2-price is not enough. The recommendations for action in the study “Climate Paths 2.0” show what needs to be done.

In terms of climate protection, Germany is facing an enormous tour de force and at the same time a historic opportunity: to achieve the climate protection goals, additional investments of 860 billion euros are required for the milestone by 2030. This is shown in the joint study ”Climate Paths 2.0” by the BDI and the strategy consultancy BCG.

The starting signal for a mobile launch platform for small launch vehicles in the German North Sea is a historic milestone. It offers Germany and Europe the opportunity to be globally at the forefront of the dynamic future market space.

Recyclable material, longer product life, improved reparability - the new eco-design requirements for products are now being implemented. The manufacture of screens is one of the first examples of a new generation of sustainable products that use fewer resources.

Companies improve the environment- and climate-related properties of their products along their entire lifecycle through constant innovation and inform consumers and, in the case of precursors and intermediate products, industrial customers accordingly using customised instruments

German industry want to use its innovative potential optimally for the benefit of the environment under competitive framework conditions.

Investments in German industrial locations must be promoted. Maintenance and development of existing industrial locations and realisation of new projects are a precondition for competitive businesses, secure jobs and meeting high environmental standards.

The availability of raw materials is the basis for industrial value creation and hence for jobs, growth and the competitiveness of companies. Against the background of ever increasing demand for raw materials around the world, there is no escaping the need for sustainable use of raw materials.

Under the heading of technology law, BDI deals with thematic fields such as the safety of industrial products, the operational safety of industrial installations and the technical aspects of occupational safety and health. Under the heading of substance policy, BDI is active in the regulation of chemical substances.

The success of the major energy transition project will be evaluated over the years ahead. The key to this, alongside the area of renewable energies and network development, is in particular an increase in energy efficiency in the buildings sector, the largest energy consumer in Germany and the EU: it accounts for 40 % of primary energy consumption.