Blog Category

Supply-Chain Management

September 04, 2025 5:00am

Could the defense industry serve as a stabilizing anchor for German industry?

With the special fund of €500 billion through 2036, enormous resources are being directed into infrastructure and defense. Many companies are sensing opportunities—especially as traditional sectors such as automotive and machinery are struggling. There are indeed synergies: from transitioning to serial production to dual-use technologies like drones. However, entering the defense sector is not a given. Lengthy security clearances, established industry networks, and the politically and socially sensitive nature of the field are hurdles that especially mid-sized companies find difficult to overcome. Conclusion: Not a quick lifeline, but a long-term playing field. Companies venturing into defense need patience, substance, and a certain “military DNA.” This is the conclusion Boris van Thiel draws in his contribution today to our joint specialist blog “Boardroom Geopolitics”, following the 58th Security Policy Information Conference of the Clausewitz Society last week in Hamburg.

August 21, 2025 5:00am

What should a company do if its trading partner fails due to geopolitical disruptions?

Switzerland is currently facing a critical situation: since August 7, 2025, the United States has imposed punitive tariffs of 39 percent on Swiss exports. A shock for the pharmaceutical, machinery, and watchmaking industries. While politicians and associations are still debating, companies have no time to waste. In our specialist blog ‘Boardroom Geopolitics,’ Boris van Thiel shows today that resilience is not a theory—it is mandatory. Companies that want to be prepared need scenarios, action plans, and clear responsibilities across procurement, production, and sales. For German companies, this means new competition in the domestic market, more Swiss investments in the EU, and possibly even in the U.S. Waiting is not an option. The ‘homo resiliens’ is replacing the ‘homo oeconomicus’: prioritizing preparedness over pure profit maximization.