Dr. Ralf Wintergerst

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.

Registration

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

Only in German

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.