German Companies Face Increasing Risks from Dependency on Foreign Digital Technologies
German companies face heightened risks due to strong dependence on digital technology imports from the USA and China, with Bitkom calling for strategic investments to enhance digital sovereignty.
Key details
- 96% of German companies depend on digital imports from abroad.
- Average resilience without imports is 16 months, up from 14 months in 2025.
- 94% see Germany as dependent on foreign digital technologies, expecting this to rise.
- 79% and 73% of companies are concerned about dependence on China and USA respectively.
A recent comprehensive survey by the Digital Association Bitkom reveals that German companies remain heavily reliant on digital technology imports, mainly from the USA and China, with significant operational risks if these imports were disrupted. According to the survey of 602 companies, 96% depend on digital technologies and services sourced from abroad. The average resilience period without these imports has improved slightly from 14 months in 2025 to 16 months in 2026. However, this limited buffer underscores vulnerabilities in critical sectors.
The survey highlighted that 94% of companies consider Germany highly or somewhat dependent on foreign digital technologies, with two-thirds expecting this dependence to increase in the next five years. Key imported technologies include electronics such as smartphones and laptops (94%), hardware components like computer chips (79%), cloud services (73%), software applications (68%), and artificial intelligence (56%).
Concerns are particularly acute regarding dependence on the USA and China, with 79% and 73% of companies respectively expressing apprehension. Bitkom President Achim Wintergerst criticized the hesitancy among German businesses to prioritize domestic digital offerings, emphasizing that "while international cooperation is important, it must not jeopardize operational capabilities during crises."
In response, companies are actively seeking to reduce risk by diversifying suppliers and boosting inventories, with 44% focusing on domestic and European sources and 41% increasing stock levels of critical components. Nonetheless, financial considerations remain the priority in partner selection for 97% of companies.
Bitkom advocates for stronger investment in key digital technologies such as semiconductors and AI, alongside enhancing cybersecurity, supply chain diversification, competitiveness, and digital education. Wintergerst states that "achieving digital sovereignty is essential for safeguarding Germany's and Europe's future economic and political stability."
The survey findings reflect a pressing need for strategic initiatives to reduce foreign dependency and strengthen Germany’s digital resilience amid a complex global technology landscape.
Source articles (2)
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deutschlandfunk.de Oct 19, 2026
Branchenverband Bitkom - Digitale Technologien: Deutsche Unternehmen weiter abhängig von USA und China
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bitkom.org Oct 19, 2026
16 Monate – so lange könnten Deutschlands Unternehmen ohne Digitalimporte überleben
Source comparison
Percentage of companies relying on foreign digital technologies
Sources report different percentages of companies relying on foreign digital technologies
deutschlandfunk.de
"94% reported a strong (44%) or moderate (50%) dependency on foreign digital technologies."
bitkom.org
"A significant majority of German companies (96%) rely on importing digital technologies and services from abroad."
Why this matters: One source states that 94% of companies depend on foreign technologies, while the other claims 96%. This discrepancy affects the understanding of the extent of reliance on foreign imports.
Concerns about dependence on the USA and China
Sources report different percentages of companies concerned about dependence on the USA and China
deutschlandfunk.de
"nearly 90% indicating reliance on these countries."
bitkom.org
"79% and 73% of companies respectively expressing worries about dependence on these countries."
Why this matters: One source states that nearly 90% of companies express concerns about reliance on the US and China, while the other specifies 79% and 73% for each country respectively. This affects how readers perceive the level of concern among companies regarding foreign dependencies.