Overview

• The annual gathering at Porsche Leipzig draws about 200 participants from business, politics and research, including Saxony’s economics minister Dirk Panter, and is regarded as East Germany’s key industry forum.
• Katzek says companies face a task he calls “virtually squaring the circle,” balancing rapid innovation with consumer acceptance under fixed timelines.
• He cites excessive bureaucracy along with high energy and labor costs as immediate burdens on manufacturers and suppliers.
• Katzek urges faster, tighter coordination between companies and policymakers and notes a readiness to act within East German economic ministries.
• Saxony’s cluster includes Volkswagen, Porsche and BMW, described as ahead in the shift to electromobility, alongside strong suppliers and activity in autonomy, batteries, hydrogen, lightweight construction and the circular economy.