Dr. Ralf Wintergerst
Dr. Ralf Wintergerst
About the speaker
Dr. Ralf Wintergerst is the CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), a leading company in the SecurityTech sector. In addition to his responsibilities as CEO, he oversees corporate strategy and development, mergers & acquisitions, corporate communications, legal affairs, compliance, data protection, corporate governance, and internal auditing. As Labor Director of the company, he is also responsible for human resources. Beyond his role at G+D, Wintergerst serves as the President of Bitkom, the digital association representing over 2,200 member companies and 1.4 million employees. He is also Vice President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
Additionally, Wintergerst is Chairman of the Supervisory Board at secunet Security Networks AG (Essen) and Chairman of the Administrative Board at netcetera AG (Zurich).
He holds degrees in Business Administration, two master's degrees in Management and PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics), and earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Ludwig Maximilian University with a dissertation on "Corporate Governance and Management."
![[Translate to English:] Dr. Ralf Wintergerst](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/5/csm_KK_Bild_Wintergerst_2024_2025_ab761810a5.webp)
Cybersecurity: The Dark Side of Technological Advancement
Lecture on January 31, 2025
The question of how we can keep up with the pace of technological revolutions has many answers and perspectives, but much remains unresolved. The growing gap between societies, countries, and companies that control digital technologies and those dependent on them widens every day. Ultimately, how do we, as individuals, citizens, and users of digital technologies, deal with the darker sides of these conveniences? What impact does artificial intelligence have on the digital world?
This lecture offers insights into the digital realm, the threat posed by cyberattacks, and the influence of artificial intelligence on our digital infrastructures. It also explores the question of what we can do to protect ourselves in this digital age.
Recording of the lecture on January 31, 2025
Review of the evening lecture with Dr. Ralf Wintergerst
This talk focuses on the pressing issues of digital security, geopolitical challenges and the need for mental change in Germany. Dr. Ralf Wintergerst, a cybersecurity expert, calls for a focused strategy for technology and innovation to secure Germany's digital sovereignty and strengthen the country's economic future. The lecture sheds light on the geopolitical tensions between the USA, China and Europe and shows how important it is for Germany to regain its leading role in the digital transformation in order to remain globally competitive.
Business Relations with China
Lecture on March 11, 2022
Business Relations with China Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow
Like hardly any other country, China has undergone rapid economic development uninterruptedly over several decades. These changes also affect German companies operating in China. In brief sketches, we take a look at the past, the current situation and some recent trends in relations with China from the practical perspective of a (German) company. Like hardly any other country, China has undergone rapid economic development uninterruptedly over several decades. In 2021, there will be a new milestone: For the first time, China will invest more in innovation and technology than the USA. As a result, technological capabilities will also increase (even) further. This economic and technological development - combined with China's political ambitions - is changing economic relations. These changes also affect German companies operating in China. The business relations of the 1990s and 2000s are no longer the same business relations at the beginning of the new decade starting in 2020. And this new decade is already setting new accents.
In brief sketches, we take a look at the past, the current situation and some more recent trends in relations with China from the practical perspective of a (German) company.