ZVEI: Daniel Hager is the association’s new president

• New ZVEI President: Focus on performance, innovation and competitiveness
• Industrial AI: Association calls for further reduction of double regulation
• New microelectronics study: European demand for microelectronics is rising rapidly

Daniel Hager was elected ZVEI President by the Executive Board today for a three-year term. “The electro and digital industry is one of the main economic pillars of our country,” Hager emphasised immediately after his election. In his opening speech at the eSummit, he stated his intention to anchor the sector’s vital importance for technological progress and social prosperity in Germany even more firmly within the political dialogue. At the industry’s most important event, he called on Chancellor Merz to overcome the political deadlock and in-troduce long-overdue reforms regarding pensions, working hours and social security costs. Hager: “We must once again focus more closely on what truly underpins our economy: performance, innovation and competi-tiveness.”

Even more so because Germany and Europe are facing major challenges in terms of transformation, according to Hager. This applies, for example, to the development and use of artificial intelligence. Whilst the US and China are pressing ahead, here we are debating rules that are holding back innovation. “One of the strengths of the German electro and digital industry lies in the development of AI for industrial applications – for robots, the process industry, power grids, buildings and much more. To make the most of this, we need more freedom to shape the future.” Every regulation must be judged against a simple question: Does it help industry and the economy – or does it stand in the way of innovation? The compromise reached recently in the trilogue on the AI Omnibus Directive is a significant improvement, but it does not yet cover all relevant applications: “Dupli-cate regulation must also be eliminated for medical devices,” said Hager.  

In addition, efforts should be made to strengthen Europe’s resilience in a targeted manner. “In difficult geopolit-ical times, Europe is our ‘life insurance’. Only a strong Europe can keep us in the game in a world that barely follows recognised rules anymore. We must expand the single market and turn the EU into an industrial accel-erator that focuses on innovation and entrepreneurial initiative and creates a level playing field.” Technological excellence plays a key role in this regard, and Europe must possess such expertise, for example in microelec-tronics. It is a key sector that must be supported. According to a new ZVEI study, the demand for semiconduc-tors in Europe will double by 2040. “Europe must respond quickly to rising demand and strengthen its microe-lectronics ecosystem,” Hager urges. “When it comes to key technologies, Europe must not slip into one-sided dependencies.” 

Dependencies must also be reduced on the energy side. “The future is electric – whether in cars or in build-ings,” Hager is convinced. The public shares this view. ZVEI surveys show that the appeal of electric mobility and electric heating is closely linked to the price of electricity. From the ZVEI’s perspective, there is no alter-native to reducing the electricity tax to the European minimum, as announced in the coalition agreement and called for by the European Commission.

Long-standing commitment to the ZVEI

Daniel Hager (54) has been active in the ZVEI for 15 years. Among other roles, he has served as Chairman of the Electrical Installation Systems Section and Chairman of the Buildings Platform. Hager is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Hager Group.

The following have been newly elected as Vice-Presidents: Dr Peter Körte (Siemens), Dr Frank Meyer (Bosch), Dr Peter Weckesser (Schneider Electric). The Executive Committee comprises: Dr Markus Bergholz (Kostal), Christian O. Erbe (Erbe Elektromedizin), Philip W. Harting (Harting), Tim Holt (Siemens Energy), Ulrich Leidecker (Phoenix Contact), Philipp Steinberger (Wöhner), Andreas Urschitz (Infineon). 

Further information and press photos are available at www.zvei.org.​​​​​​​