In recent years, the Federal Government has launched various initiatives to strengthen Germany as a location for funds and investment. The Fondsstandortgesetz (Fund Location Act) improved the legal framework for venture capital and private equity investments. The Standortfördergesetz (Location Promotion Act), which entered into force in 2026, aims to strengthen Germany as a financial centre by promoting investment in key sectors such as infrastructure and renewable energy, as well as by improving financing options for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. These were complemented by various funding initiatives to mobilise private capital and the expansion of government anchor investor programmes. Among the most recent measures is the new Startup and Scaleup Strategy, which is intended to improve access to growth capital, mobilise additional private investment and enhance Germany’s international competitiveness.
High-ranking government representatives meet investors and business leaders
Of particular interest to the fund industry is the announced review of a modernisation of the tax framework for private equity funds, as well as further measures to strengthen the venture capital and private equity ecosystem. Against this background, the Federal Government is now launching a further initiative to position Germany as a business and investment location internationally: on 19 and 20 October 2026, the first Invest in Germany Summit will take place in Berlin. The summit is spearheaded by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil and the Federal Government’s Special Envoy for Investment, Martin Blessing. The aim is to bring together international investors, business leaders and high-ranking representatives from politics and industry and to encourage additional investment in Germany.
The Invest in Germany Summit is the first event of its kind under the Federal Government’s new “Invest in Germany” initiative. The agenda covers topics including financing and investment, infrastructure, energy, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and deep tech, as well as geopolitical and security-related issues. The programme is complemented by bilateral talks between government representatives and investors and various networking formats. A particular focus of the summit are the topic-specific discussion rounds with members of the Federal Government, the so-called “Meet the Government” sessions. In these formats, participants have the opportunity to discuss investment opportunities and location policy issues directly with the responsible federal ministers.
The summit is explicitly designed as an exclusive “invitation-only” event. Participation is possible by invitation only. With this approach, the Federal Government is relying on a confidential setting for the exchange between international investors, companies and political decision-makers. However, interested parties are not left entirely out of the picture. Via the “Stay Connected” function on the event website, it is possible to register in order to receive ongoing information about the initiative, future events and agenda updates. According to the organisers, the summit is expressly not intended to be a one-off event, but part of an ongoing dialogue format with international investors.
What does this mean for fund initiators and fund investors?
For fund initiators and fund investors, the Invest in Germany Summit is primarily relevant as a political signal. The event makes clear that the Federal Government increasingly understands the mobilisation of private capital as an economic and location policy task. While many earlier initiatives focused on start-ups or individual funding instruments, the Invest in Germany Summit explicitly addresses international investors and institutional capital providers.
For fund managers, it is particularly noteworthy that the Federal Government explicitly links the improvement of investment conditions in Germany and Europe with the greater involvement of private capital. Against this background, the summit not only offers a platform for exchange with political decision-makers, but also an indication of the importance that will be attached to international investors in the future development of Germany as a location. In combination with the announced measures of the Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the ongoing discussions about the competitiveness of Germany as a fund location, the summit could therefore be a further indication that the further development of the framework conditions for funds and institutional investors will increasingly come into the political focus.
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Further information and the option to register via “Stay Connected” can be found on the website of the Invest in Germany Summit.
