CDR-Conference 2025 - Digital responsibility for Germany
This year's CDR Conference will take place on 6 October from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Berlin. The theme is Now more than ever: Digital responsibility for Germany, and we look forward to welcoming high-profile speakers from politics, business and civil society.
Against the backdrop of the new federal government's digital policy priorities and the resistance and barriers that are evident both nationally and internationally, including in the area of digitalisation, we want to send a clear message at the sixth CDR conference: Now more than ever: Digital responsibility for Germany. As with previous conferences, the event is primarily aimed at representatives from the business community, but it also addresses stakeholders from civil society, politics, and academia.
Background
The German Federal Government wants to strengthen digital skills in order to enable everyone to participate in society and make our democracy more resilient to disinformation and manipulation. Through the confident, secure and thoughtful use of digital tools and media, the resilience of our society, the resilience of our democracy and the competitiveness of our economy are to be increased. Digital services should be designed to be consumer-friendly "by design" and "by default". After all, consumer trust is a key factor for the success and acceptance of the digitalisation.
The CDR initiative with its members and partners have for years been demonstrating the opportunities that lie in a responsible digitalisation with practical examples. All of these activities demonstrate how technological innovations, consumer-friendly offerings, economic success and the strengthening of fundamental democratic values can go hand in hand if they are approached from the perspective of digital responsibility from the outset.
This year's CDR conference organised by the CDR Initiative aims to send a clear signal against the backdrop of the digital awakening initiated by the new German government and the resistance and barriers that are being felt both nationally and internationally: Now more than ever: Digital responsibility for Germany!
Using practical examples, the conference will show how companies of all sizes and from a wide range of sectors can practically implement digital responsibility towards their customers, employees and society as a whole and what added value this brings for companies and society. The focus here is on new findings from the participatory model of the CDR initiative's development partnership. Building on the many years of experience of our member companies, it has been supporting organisations since 2025 in taking stock and planning measures for a responsible digitalisation.
At the CDR conference, we want to explore the following questions:
- What are the added value and challenges of responsible digitalisation for companies and society? To what extent does responsible digitalisation promote consumer trust?
- In which areas can companies implement digital responsibility? To what extent is the assumption of digital responsibility currently of great social and economic importance?
- What practical examples are there for CDR in areas such as handling data, employee involvement, education, climate and resource protection and inclusion?
- How can companies take their "first steps" although they are still in the early stages of digital responsibility?
We look forward to receiving your registration.
Agenda
Keynote: Digital responsibility now: How companies can strengthen trust in technology
Janina Mütze, founder and managing director of Civey, analyst and columnist
Key questions:
- Why is digital responsibility important (especially now)?
- Why can't companies avoid being political?
- In which areas of activity can and should companies assume digital responsibility?
- How should companies contribute to ensuring or increasing consumer confidence in digitalisation?
Frank Schwabe, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMJV
Janina Mütze, founder and managing director of Civey, analyst and columnist
Isabelle Rosière, managing director of Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V.
Dr. Lena Wallenhorst, SVP Corporate Governance and General Counsel, Zalando SE
In-depth discussion of the points raised in the welcome speech and keynote speech based on the following key questions:
- Why is digital responsibility important (especially now)?
- How should companies contribute to ensuring or increasing consumer confidence in digitalisation?
- Why can't companies avoid being political?
- In which areas of activity can and should companies take on digital responsibility?
- In which areas of activity can and should companies assume digital responsibility?
- What practical examples are there in the CDR fields of action of data handling, employee involvement, education, climate and resource protection, and inclusion?
- How can companies that are still in the early stages of digital responsibility take the first steps?
You are warmly invited to join us for lunch and have the opportunity to network and find inspiration in the Market of Opportunities.
The new offering from the CDR initiative for all companies that want to implement digital responsibility
... with the participation of a development partner and member of the CDR initiative.
Find out:
- Genesis: Why do development partnerships exist? Who are they aimed at?
- Procedure: How do you proceed?
- Experience: What experience has been gained so far?
- Appeal: Use it! Give us feedback!
with participation of CDR initiative members and development partners
First steps in implementing CDR: How to get off to a pragmatic and value-adding start
Data ethics as a compass: Empowering companies to act in a value-oriented manner
50% AI adoption: How to break through the magic barrier
Empowered instead of overpowered: Corporate responsibility for a healthy youth
Moderated discussion with the CDR office and CDR theme partners ‘KompetenzZ’ and ‘Digital für Alle’
Stay for coffee and cake for further discussion and networking opportunities.
