Berlin’s Kraftwerk, a former power station, became the backdrop for a high-stakes conversation about artificial intelligence and industrial might when Chancellor Friedrich Merz met NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang. Their discussion centered on positioning Germany as a global leader in weaving AI into the fabric of its manufacturing economy.
The meeting unfolded during the Invest in Germany Summit, where officials signed a Joint Declaration of Intent. The agreement binds the Chancellor’s office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space to a formal partnership with NVIDIA. That collaboration targets fusing Germany’s deep manufacturing heritage with cutting-edge AI capabilities.
Huang pointed to a relationship with German industry stretching back to the early 2000s, beginning with gaming and automotive design. Today, that work spans autonomous vehicles and digital twin simulations for factory floors. The challenge, he noted, lies in helping Germany’s small and medium-sized enterprises adopt these tools at scale.
Merz made clear his government wants Germany at the front of the AI race, not just within Europe but worldwide. He called on the Mittelstand, the backbone of the German economy, to embrace AI and exploit the data already flowing through their operations. “This is a real secret and a real advantage for Germany,” Merz said.
Huang echoed that optimism, citing Germany’s manufacturing expertise and strong math and science education. He framed AI as a force multiplier for human skill, not a substitute. Both leaders agreed Germany’s edge in physical technologies could drive economic growth if AI integration succeeds.
Huang described the current moment as a new industrial revolution. He urged Germany to seize the opportunity to re-engineer its production systems. Merz proposed annual meetings with Huang to measure progress and boost Germany’s investment appeal.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA announced stakes in four German startups: Agile Robots, Avelios Medical, Mirelo, and Reflex Aerospace. The move forms part of a nearly $10 billion commitment across Europe targeting companies, universities, and research institutions.
Siemens separately unveiled a collaboration with NVIDIA focused on autonomous manufacturing. NVIDIA also reported a record-breaking simulation of a fault-tolerant quantum computer, a European computational milestone.
The announcements underscore Germany’s push to treat AI as an industrial catalyst, setting the stage for a future defined by innovation.
