I.EVENT INTRODUCTION
The 2025 BVMW Future Day will take place on April 9, 2025, in Berlin, Germany, to mark the 50th anniversary of the German SME Association (BVMW). Over 8,000 guests and 150 exhibitors will gather to discuss the future development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Attendees will include foreign dignitaries, German federal ministers, state secretaries, state governors, presidents and CEOs of top German associations, renowned corporate leaders, and ambassadors, making this the largest event of its kind in 2025.
The Future Day will focuse on economic and political themes related to the future of SMEs. Participants will gain valuable suggestions on securing business growth of their enterpirses. Heavyweight speaker experts from field of economics and politics will share their valuable opinions and recommendations of action from technological leadership and innovation to global market opportunities, and competition, helping guests build future-oriented businesses. Inspiring keynote speeches and panel discussions will provide exclusive perspectives on trends shaping the future of SMEs.
II.EVENT AGENDA
(1)Impact Stage
09:20 - 09:40 Welcom Address
Present Guest: Christoph Ahlhaus, President of the Federal Executive Board, German SME Association (BVMW)
09:40 - 10:00 Partner Address
Present Guests:
Andreas Storm, Chairman of the Board of DAK Gesundheit
Ute Wiedemann, Board Member of DAK Gesundheit
Klaus Werner, Deutsche Telekom
Jochen Bethscheider, Deutsche Telekom
Peter Robejsek, Country Manager Germany of Mastercard
Jochen Knecht, CEO of International Free Zone Authority
Nicolas Treschan, Vice President of Mastercard German-speaking region
Melanie Kramp-Gerstner, Chief Customer Officer of Generali Deutschland AG
Oliver Gültler, Microsoft Germany
Agnes Heftberger, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of Microsoft Germany
10:00 - 10:20 Keynote Speech
10:20 - 10:30 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Jochen Knecht, CEO of International Free Zone Authority
10:30 - 10:55 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Markus Söder, Minister President of Bavaria
10:55 - 11:40 Panel Discussion: Corporate Responsibility & Social Commitment—How Can SMEs Drive Public Welfare?
Speaker:
Timo Fojkar, Chairman of the Board of Internationaler Bund
Andreas Hopp, Deputy Inspector General of German Armed Forces
Barbara Gruner, Board Member of SOS Children’s Villages
11:40 - 11:50 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Andreas Storm, Chairman of the Board of DAK Gesundheit
(2)Break
12:30 - 12:40 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Peter Robejsek, Country Manager Germany of Mastercard
12:40 - 13:05 Political Keynote Speech
13: 05 - 13:50 Panel Discussion: Favorable Investment Climate or “Less is More” ?—Reducing Bureaucracy and Taxes to Boost Economic Growth
Speaker:
Melanie Kramp-Gerstner, Chief Customer Officer of Generali Deutschland AG
Norman Goldberg, CEO of Tesa Group
13:50 - 14:00 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Jochen Bethscheider, Senior Vice President SME Clients of Deutsche Telekom
14:00 - 14:10 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Florian Arndt, Director & CEO of Sons of Motion Pictures
14:10 - 14:35 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Hubertus Heil, Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
14：10 - 14：35 Panel Discussion: Unlocking Labor Market & Productivity Potential—Addressing Demographic Shifts
Speaker：
Christina Böhm, Managing Director of SR Painting GmbH
Melanie Baum, Managing Director of Baum Precision Engineering
Christiane Benner, President of German Metalworkers’ Union
15:20 - 15:30 Keynote Speech
15:30 - 15:55 Political Keynote Speech
15:55 - 16:40 Panel Discussion: Technological Leadership & Innovation—How Can German SMEs Regain Global Prominence?
Speaker:
Konrad Grimm, CEO of Alfen Kessler Maschinenbau
Sybille Gabler, Management Team Member of German Institute for Standardization
Agnes Heftberger, Chairwoman of the Executive Board, Microsoft Germany
Moderator: Matthias Brück, Founder & Partner of embeteco
16:40 - 17:00 Oration
17:00 - 17:25 Political Keynote Speech
17:25 - 18:10 Panel Discussion: Accelerating the Energy Transition—Ensuring Sustainable Pathways for SMEs
Speaker:
Patrick Metzger, CEO of Viridi RE Group
Christina Marin, Executive Director of Kopf Holding
Max Jankowski, CEO of Lößnitz Foundry
18:10 - 18:30 Oration
18:30 - 18:55 Political Keynote Speech
18:55 - 19:15 Concluding Speech
Speaker: Christoph Ahlhaus, President of the Federal Executive Board of BVMW
19:30 onwards: BVMW 50th Anniversary Celebration
(3)Parallel Session: Globle Stage
11:50 - 11:55 Opening & Oration
Speaker: Andreas Jan, Federal Director for Policy & International Affairs of BVMW
11:55 - 12:05 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Jochen Flasbarth, German State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
12:05 - 12:40 Panel Discussion: African Market Opportunities—How Can German SMEs Seize Growth Potential?
Speaker:
Séringué Gaye Diop, Minister of Industry & Trade of Senegal
Petra Warnecke, Head of Africa Division of German Agency for International Cooperation
Edda Schöne, Board Member of Euler Hermes
Moderator: Christian Hiller, Editor-in-Chief of Africa.Table
13:05 - 13:15 Keynote Speech
13:15 - 13:50 Panel Discussion: Cooperation & Competition—The Role of German and Chinese SMEs in Global Markets
Speaker:
Oliver Betz, CEO & Owner of systec GmbH
Hans-Peter Friedrich, Chairman of German-Chinese Parliamentary Group
Moderator: Emily Richter, Editor-in-Chief of China.Table
14:35 - 14:50 Keynote Speech
Speaker: Christian Reisinger, Wackler Holding Company
14:50 - 15:20 Panel Discussion
15:55 - 16:05 Keynote Speech
16:05 - 16:40 Panel Discussion: The European Single Market—How to strengthening Global Influence & Investing in Europe’s Future
Speaker:
Christian Camisa, President of Confapi
Evelyn Schönlebe, Managing Director & Shareholder of MAC Fashion AG
Ricardo Aroja, Chairman & CEO of AICEP Portugal Global
16:40 - 16:50 Session Summary & Closing Remarks
III.Moderators of the Conference:
Christoph Ahlhaus
Senator(retired)
President of the Federal Executive Board
German SME Association (BVMW)
IV.Attending German Dignitaries
 | DR. ROBERT HABECK Vice Prime Minister & Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection |
 | CHRISTIAN LINDNER Federal Minister of Finance |
 | HUBERTUS HEIL Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs |
 | DR. VOLKER WISSING Federal Minister for Digital and Transport |
 | SVENJA SCHULZE Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development |
 | STEFFI LEMKE Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection |
 | DR. CARSTEN LINNEMANN Secretary General, CDU Germany |
 | JENS SPAHN Deputy Chairman, CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group |
 | Dr. Markus Söder Minister President of Bavaria |
 | Thiemo Fojkar Chairman of the Board, Internationaler Bund |
 | Agnes Heftberger Chairwoman of the Executive Board, Microsoft Germany GmbH |
 | Melanie Kramp-Gerstner Chief Customer Officer, Generali Deutschland AG |
 | Andreas Storm Chairman of the Board, DAK-Gesundheit |
 | Peter Robejsek Country Manager Germany, Mastercard |
The 2025 BVMW Future Day is not just a conference—it is a premier platform for networking and forging new partnerships. Guests can engage with industry leaders in dedicated business lounges and forums while enjoying world-class catering.
Join us to celebrate 50 years of BVMW and experience Germany’s largest SME event. Seize this unique opportunity to position your business at the forefront of innovation!