Cyber Security Conference - History

Rethinking Cybersecurity: A Look Back at Four Extraordinary Events

In a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies, the topic of cybersecurity is taking center stage more than ever. Comprehensive security strategies are more important today than ever before—not just for businesses, but for society as a whole.

Take a look back at our last four conferences on cybersecurity. Together with entrepreneurs and business leaders, leading experts from the cybersecurity industry, intelligence agencies, business, academia, and politics discussed the most pressing challenges and groundbreaking solutions.

That was the #CSC26

The concept of exploring the topic of cybersecurity together with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and outstanding experts from the cybersecurity industry, the business world, academia, and politics proved successful once again at the fourth Cybersecurity Conference. Through numerous engaging presentations and discussions, current developments were outlined and solutions for a free digital world were developed. Answers were found to the most pressing questions:

Digital sovereignty under pressure. How can companies and government agencies assert themselves in cyberspace?
How do we secure critical communications infrastructure?
What strategic consequences does an increasingly interconnected society face?

The message of these two days was clear: Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue. It is a prerequisite for economic viability, national sovereignty, and social trust.

The experimenta in Heilbronn, Germany’s largest science center, has proven to be an excellent venue. Visually stunning program highlights on the massive dome screen, accompanied by state-of-the-art technology, make for a truly unique atmosphere.

Through all of this, we aim to raise public awareness. Cybersecurity is a key issue of our time. The threat is not diminishing. AI acts as an accelerator here. But there are effective countermeasures. We highlight them. The focus is on people. Because the security of our digital world requires a holistic approach—from technical infrastructure to the human psyche.

Cem Özdemir

Former Federal Minister
BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN

Manuel Hagel

MdL, Member of the State Parliament
CDU State Parliamentary Group State Chairman of the CDU Baden-Württemberg

Dr. Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer

Inaugural NATO CIO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Sinan Selen

Director General
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Holger Münch

President
Federal Criminal Police Office

Claudia Plattner

President
German Federal Office for Information Security

Major General Dag Baehr

Vice President and senior officer
Federal Intelligence Service

Brigadier General Bernd Stingl

Commander
Bundeswehr

Thomas Berger

President
Chief of Police Headquarters for Technology, Logistics, Service Baden-Württemberg

Lars Kukuk

Chief Information Security Officer
Federal Employment Agency

Carsten Meywirth

Head of Division Cybercrime
Federal Criminal Police Office

Julian Nagelsmann

National Coach
German Football Association

Gerd Chrzanowski

General Partner
Schwarz Group

Christian Müller

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Rolf Schumann

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Harald Mannheim

Managing Director
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Jens Meier

Chief Executive Officer
Hamburg Port Authority

Jost Lammers

President & CEO
Flughafen München GmbH

Bernie Wagner

CSO
Schwarz Digits

Ilhan Scheer

Co-Chief Executive Officer
Aleph Alpha GmbH

Prof. Dr. Achim Kempf

Professor for the Physics of Information and AI
University of Waterloo / Perimeter Institute

Dr. Yasser Jadidi

Chief Research Officer
Aleph Alpha Research GmbH

Dr. Sven Körner

VP Evangelist
Aleph Alpha GmbH

Dr. Alexander Schellong

Managing Director / Member of Executive Board Cybersecurity
Schwarz Digits

Prof. Dr. Herfried Münkler

German political scientist

That was the #CSC25

On March 12 and 13, 2025, around 150 high-ranking decision makers from the economy, politics, science and the public sector came together to discuss cybersecurity and digital sovereignty in particular: two topics that are essential for a future-proof Europe. The event highlighted the most pressing challenges from different perspectives, and demonstrated how companies and states can reinforce their digital independence.

Digital Sovereignty: Strengthening Europe’s Technological Ability to Act

A central topic was how Europe can purposely expand on its digital independence.
Important approaches:

Sovereign cloud and data infrastructures: Companies are increasingly relying on European solutions, which fulfill data privacy and regulatory requirements.
Resilient IT and chip supply chains: Increased proprietary manufacturing and diversified sources are essential for a secure digital future.
Regulation as a driving force: Initiatives such as the Cyber Resilience Act and the NIS2 set important security standards and create trust in digital systems. Of fundamental importance is the close consultation between regulation and innovation.

Cybersecurity as the Basis for Digital Sovereignty

Cybersecurity was highlighted as being the decisive success factor for digital independence. The focal points discussed:

Zero-trust approaches for higher security standards in companies and authorities.
Artificial intelligence as a protective shield and challenge – it offers new defense mechanisms but is also being increasingly used for cyberattacks.
Stronger cooperation between state and the economy to recognize threats in a timely manner and avert them.

Inspiration, interaction and networking: In addition to the substantive discussions, the event offered a multifaceted supporting program, which combined exchange and experiences in a unique manner. During interactive breakout sessions, the participants delved deeper into specific aspects of cybersecurity and digital sovereignty and developed new problem-solving approaches together. A showcase of innovative exhibits offered exciting insights into future-oriented technologies and best practices. This year’s 360-degree fulldome movie and a one-of-a-kind stage enactment once again proved in an impressive manner that the experimenta in Heilbronn is exactly the right location for our event.

Cooperation as the Key to a Future that is Digitally Sovereign

The Cyber Security Conference by Schwarz Digits has once again shown that digital sovereignty and cybersecurity require concerted action from the fields of politics, the economy and science. Europe has the potential to assume a leading role in these fields - now it is vital to consistently pursue the course adopted.

Three is Not Enough.

The threat level will continue to grow - in cyberspace and beyond: Targeted attacks on critical infrastructures, economic dependencies in the IT supply chain and the challenges posed by AI-supported cybercrime show that digital sovereignty is not a long-term goal, but rather an acute necessity. Companies and states are now faced with the challenge of strengthening their security without compromising on the power to innovate and on competitiveness. One thing is clear: Digital sovereignty will not come about by waiting, but rather by taking decisive action. That is why we shall continue the exchange in 2026. The next Cyber Security Conference by Schwarz Digits will once again offer a decisive platform to create strategies for a secure and independent digital future - from Germany for Europe.

Dr. Volker Wissing

Federal Minister
Federal Minister of Justice and Federal Minister for Digital and Transport

Claudia Plattner

President
German Federal Office for Information Security

Dr. Ralf Wintergerst

President
Bitkom e.V.

Gerd Chrzanowski

General Partner
Schwarz Group

Andrea Nahles

Chair of the Executive Board of the Federal Employment Agency
Federal Employment Agency

Sinan Selen

Director General
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Major General Dag Baehr

Vice President and senior officer
Federal Intelligence Service

Thomas Berger

President
Chief of Police Headquarters for Technology, Logistics, Service Baden-Württemberg

Dr. Thomas Daum

Chief Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIDS)
Bundeswehr

Carsten Meywirth

Head of Division Cybercrime
Federal Criminal Police Office

Chris Robbins

Cyber Assistant Legal Attache
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Günther H. Oettinger

Former vice-president and member of the european commission, former Prime-Minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg
Oettinger Consulting GmbH

Christian Müller

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Rolf Schumann

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Dr. Daniela Gerd tom Markotten

Member of the Management Board for Digitalization & Technology
Deutsche Bahn AG

That was the #CSC24

Another Extremely Successful Event!

The Second Cyber Security Conference

Together with entrepreneurs, business leaders and prominent experts from the fields of cyber security, economics, science and politics, we were once again successful in shedding light on the topic of cyber security at the second Cyber Security Conference. Numerous exciting talks and discussions saw current developments outlined and solutions for a free digital world developed.

Scientists gave talks on the possibilities and dangers of artificial intelligence and quantum computing and the impact on the economy.
Business leaders subjected cyber security to a reality check and discussed the threat level in the age of digital transformation.
Decision-makers from the political sphere emphasized the importance of digitalization in Germany and its consequences for the security of the country.
Security experts demonstrated defense strategies against cyberattacks and gave helpful tips on how to act in the event of a crisis.
Dr. Wladimir Klitschko, an internationally known voice from Kyiv, gave shocking firsthand insights into the ongoing war in Ukraine and described technological warfare in everyday life.

The experimenta in Heilbronn, Germany’s largest Science Center, has also proven itself as a venue. The ambience was one of a kind: The agenda was complemented by powerful visuals on the huge dome screen and state-of-the-art technology. Innovative exhibits and an unprecedented stage production on the topic of cyber security rounded off the program.

With all of this, we are striving to raise awareness. The topic of cyber security is a key issue of our time. The threat is not going anywhere. But there are effective countermeasures. We bring them to light. Our focus is on people: To keep our digital world secure, we need to take a holistic approach – from technical infrastructure to the human psyche.

Dr. Volker Wissing

Federal Minister
Federal Minister of Justice and Federal Minister for Digital and Transport

Wolfgang Schmidt

Head of the Federal Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Tasks
Federal Chancellery

Claudia Plattner

President
German Federal Office for Information Security

Gerd Chrzanowski

General Partner
Schwarz Group

Dr. Wladimir Klitschko

Company Founder, former Boxing World Champion

Arye Sharuz Shalicar

Writer and former Spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces

Major General Jürgen Setzer

Vice Chief CID Service & CISO
Bundeswehr / Cyber and Information Domain Service

Jonas Andrulis

CEO & Founder
Alpeh Alpha

Prof. Dr. Achim Kempf

Professor for the Physics of Information and AI
University of Waterloo / Perimeter Institute

Dr. Rainer Dulger

President of Confederation of German Employers Associations
Confederation of German Employers Associations

Dr. Theodor Weimer

CEO
Deutsche Börse AG

Mathias Döpfner

CEO
Axel Springer SE

Christian Müller

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Rolf Schumann

Co-CEO
Schwarz Digits

Dieter Lange

Managing Director & Trainer
dieter lange, coaching training consulting GmbH

Wiebke Thelo

Senior Vice President, Head of SAP Quality, Security & Production
SAP SE

Paul Kaffsack

Co-Founder & Managing Director
Myra Security GmbH

Dr. Nadine Sengül-Stritzelberger

Managing Consultant
UBS Switzerland

Dr. Ulrike Franke

Senior Policy Fellow
European Council on Foreign Relations

Niklas Finken

AI Engineer
Aleph Alpha

That was the #CSC23

A Highly Successful Event!

That Was the First Cyber Security Conference
Together with entrepreneurs, business leaders and prominent experts from the cyber security industry, intelligence services, economy, science and politics, we explored the topic of cyber security from perspectives that had never been seen before:

Intelligence and law enforcement agencies provided exclusive insights into the international investigation and prosecution of cybercriminals.
Concerned business leaders authentically demonstrated how attackers broke down their walls and revealed the consequences that still affect them today.
Scientific experts shared alarming insights on the future challenges of cyber security.
Decision-makers from the political sphere gave impressive presentations on the tools that policymakers are using to act.
Dr. Vladimir Klitschko, as an internationally known voice from Kyiv, reported on the current war situation and contrasted the impact of virtual attacks on a state from cyberspace with Ukraine's fight against the Russian aggressor.

The venue was Germany's Largest Science Center, the experimenta in Heilbronn. The ambience was one of a kind: The agenda was complemented by powerful visuals on the huge dome screen and state-of-the-art technology. Innovative exhibits and an unprecedented stage production on the topic of cybersecurity rounded off the program.

With all of this, we want to achieve one thing: Cybersecurity concerns all of us and must be made the top priority in order to advance the security of our society. For, we do not wait, we act.

Dr. Volker Wissing

Federal Minister
Federal Minister of Justice and Federal Minister for Digital and Transport

Gerd Chrzanowski

General Partner
Schwarz Group

Dr. Bruno Kahl

President
Foreign Intelligence Service of Germany

Dr. Gerhard Schabhüser

Vice President
Federal Office for Information Security

Chris Robbins

Cyber Assistant Legal Attache
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Prof. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Ischinger

President of the Foundation Council
Munich Security Conference Foundation

Dr. Markus Richter

State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community and Federal Government Commissioner for Information Technology
Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland Affairs