The following 17 partners work together in the Alliance: the Federation of German Industries (BDI), The Metalworkers’ Union (IG Metall), the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI), the Federation of the German Construction Industry (HDB), the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), the Federation of German Employers' Associations in the Metal and Electrical Engineering Industries (Gesamtmetall), the German Chemical Industry Employers' Association (BAVC), the Association of Steel Producers (WV Stahl), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), and on the trade union side the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), the Trade Union for Construction, Agriculture, and the Environment (IG BAU), and the Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Since 2015, 17 partners from trade unions, business and employer associations, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action have been working together in the Alliance for the “Future of Industry” (hereinafter called the Alliance). Their common goal is to modernise Germany as a centre for industry, increase public acceptance of industry and strengthen Germany's industrial competitiveness. It uses its social partnership structure in particular to strengthen Germany’s position as a centre for industry and to create and safeguard jobs for the future. The Alliance is therefore a central dialogue body for industrial policy issues.
Focussing on the importance of industry
Our industry is an essential guarantor for growth, prosperity and jobs. In Germany, seven million employees who are subject to social insurance contributions work in around 100,000 industrial companies. There are also many industrial service providers. Those employed in the manufacturing industry generate a good fifth of the total gross value added and 85% of goods exports. Furthermore, industry pays the lion’s share of the money spent on research and development. Germany’s innovative industrial enterprises are leaders on resource efficiency and therefore make an important contribution towards protecting the environment and combating climate change.
Tackling new challenges
However, the industry is facing major technological and political challenges (including digitalisation, platform economy, globalisation, climate change mitigation, strategically and state-guided industrial policies of other countries, trade policy). The Alliance wishes to seize the opportunities of change, strengthen industrial output in Germany and expand the international competitiveness of industry. The Alliance has therefore also participated in a structured dialogue, the results of which have been incorporated into the revised Industrial Strategy 2030.
The Alliance for the “Future of Industry” brings together central industrial policy expertise at national level and ensures a better coordination of industrial policy interests.