Son Vida, May 30 – The ‘Neu Denken’ Economic Forum, an established event initiated by journalist and media entrepreneur Sabine Christiansen and Willi Plattes, CEO of the PlattesGroup, convened again at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida on Friday. This year’s forum, strategically positioned between the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Munich Security Conference, gained significant relevance due to the numerous geopolitical and economic crises unfolding in 2026, with discussions directly addressing current global challenges.
Germany’s Economic Future Under Scrutiny
The first day of the forum saw leading decision-makers debate Germany’s future amidst global upheavals. A key discussion focused on whether Germany was experiencing a ‘reform chaos’ rather than a genuine economic turnaround. Participants included Torsten Toeller, founder of Fressnapf; entrepreneur and investor Johannes Volkmann (grandson of Helmut Kohl); and Christoph Ahlhaus, chairman of the BVMW Mittelstandsverband.
Professor Dr. Dr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner, Deputy Chairwoman of the Investment and Innovation Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry of Finance, delivered a particularly insightful presentation titled ‘The Akrasia Effect,’ under the motto ‘Germany between Insight and Implementation.’ Achleitner, who also directs the Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies at TU Munich, argued that Germany needs more strategic clarity in economic policy, rather than solely relying on a resilience strategy. She described Akrasia – the act of acting against better judgment in behavioral economics – as a leadership problem. According to Achleitner, innovation is not just about good ideas but primarily the result of combining talent and speed. She emphasized that only clear goals, swift procedures, and transparent impact monitoring can secure Germany’s future viability.
Sebastian Kurz on Post-Political Life and Geopolitics
Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz attracted considerable attention and fascination. Having transitioned to entrepreneurship in the Middle East after his political career, Kurz engaged in a candid conversation with moderator Sabine Christiansen, fielding questions from the audience with ease.
Reflecting on his past, Kurz described his early entry into politics and a decade at the highest level as a ‘great’ experience. However, he also acknowledged the limitations of political influence, noting that he couldn’t always push or achieve as much as he desired, attributing shared responsibility to former coalition partners, including the FPÖ and later the Greens.
With noticeable composure and a touch of irony, Kurz referred to himself as an ‘old chancellor’ and a ‘young entrepreneur,’ openly discussing his deliberate move into the business world as a departure from his professional comfort zone. He also offered insights into the geopolitical landscape, particularly the Middle East, which he sees as a region of immense dynamism and opportunity, expressing optimism for the future of the Gulf region. Kurz had founded an AI company based in Tel Aviv a few years prior.
Innovation and Global Perspectives
Rafael Kleinmann, Senior Manager Project Management Automated Driving and Parking at Mercedes-Benz AG, discussed ‘The future of mobility,’ while Björn Conrad, CEO of Sinolytics and Germany’s leading China expert, explored whether Trump’s policies were inadvertently pushing the world into China’s embrace.
The forum also highlighted a young German startup, Plastic Fischer, which aims to rid the world’s waters of plastic waste. Using low-tech solutions already deployed in 70 rivers, primarily in India and Indonesia, the Cologne-based social startup has removed over 2 million kilograms of plastic since its inception.
In a panel from Wirtschaftswoche, discussions centered on how Germany’s economy could regain momentum, featuring insights from Rolf Buch (former CEO of Vonovia), Jörg Rocholl (Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry of Finance), multi-supervisory board member Prof. Dr. Dr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner, and Alexander Birken (Otto Group).
A panel from the Munich Security Conference, featuring Dr. Kenneth R. Weinstein (Hudson Institute), a Trump expert and financial manager, alongside Paul Achleitner and David Knower (COO and Managing Director of Cerberus Deutschland), delved into topics such as interest rates, the dollar, the Federal Reserve, and US economic inflation.
The space industry was identified as a new growth sector by Markus Moeller (CSO of OHB SE) and Hendrik Brandis of Isar Aerospace. Subsequently, Hakan Koç, CEO of 1GLOBAL, and Apple pioneer Satjiv Chahil from Silicon Valley offered crucial insights into Germany’s future viability.
Özlem Dikmen, CEO of Philip Morris Germany, spoke about the company’s transformation, its move away from traditional cigarettes, the development of smoke-free alternative products, and the lengthy approval processes involved.
Looking Ahead: Day Two and Distinguished Guests
The second and final day of the forum, Saturday, is set to feature more high-profile speakers, with discussions focusing on topics such as Europe’s digital sovereignty and the integration of humanoid robots into everyday life. Former German President Dr. h.c. Joachim Gauck is expected as a special guest.
