German companies say they could withstand a complete halt in digital imports for 16 months, yet rising reliance on US and Chinese technology leaves supply chains exposed.
German companies say they could withstand a complete halt in digital imports for an average of 16 months, according to a Bitkom survey published on the eve of the federal government’s Digital Summit. That is up from 14 months a year earlier, suggesting a modest improvement in resilience. But the broader picture remains one of deep dependence on foreign technology, with the trade body warning that one-sided supply chains still leave the economy exposed.
Bitkom said it surveyed 602 companies with at least 20 employees. Ninety-six per cent reported buying digital technologies or services from abroad, a category that includes smartphones, notebooks, chips, semiconductors, sensors, cloud services, software, cyber-security tools and artificial intelligence. Almost all respondents, 94 per cent, described Germany as strongly or somewhat dependent on foreign digital products and services, while two-thirds expect that dependence to increase over the next five years.
The concern is sharpened by the dominance of suppliers outside Europe. According to Bitkom, 73 per cent of companies are worried about reliance on US technology, almost double the figure from 2024. The perceived dependence on China is even greater, with 79 per cent identifying it as a risk. At the same time, most importers are not sourcing solely from one region: 83 per cent said they buy digital technologies and services from EU providers as well.
Bitkom president Ralf Wintergerst said international division of labour remains an advantage, but argued that it must not become a source of paralysis in a crisis. His message was that digital sovereignty should be understood less as autarky than as resilience: reducing critical single points of failure while preserving access to global innovation and trade.
The survey also underlines that Germany is not only a buyer but also a supplier of digital technology. One third of respondents export digital products or services, most commonly software, programming and IT consultancy. Smaller shares sell digital components, hardware, devices or machinery. Europe is the main market, with 86 per cent of exporting companies selling to other EU states. The United States is the next most important destination at 61 per cent, followed by Japan and the United Kingdom, both at 54 per cent.
That balance between dependence and capability is why industry is calling for greater investment at home. Bitkom said 97 per cent of companies want more spending on digital key technologies, reflecting a wider policy debate in Germany and the EU over how to strengthen domestic capacity in software, cloud infrastructure, semiconductors, cyber-security and AI. The timing is significant: the Digital Summit has again placed supply security, competitiveness and digital resilience at the centre of the industrial agenda.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
