Resilience Framework for Berlin's Economy

Power outages, cyberattacks, extreme weather, sabotage and disruptions to critical infrastructure and supply chains can severely affect business operations.  Without adequate preparation, work in offices, production facilities and stores can grind to a halt, cold chains can be disrupted and business security can be compromised. The resulting costs can be enormous.

Many businesses have already assessed these scenarios but do not yet have clear emergency plans in place.  They also want greater transparency regarding the information and consulting services available to them.   In response, the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), the Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK), the Berlin-Brandenburg Associations (UVB) and Berlin Partner for Business and Technology (BPWT), Berlin’s economic development agency, have joined forces in a collaborative initiative to serve as partners and initial points of contact for businesses seeking guidance on operational resilience.  The resulting overview brings together existing information and directs businesses to the many consulting, support and training services already available in the state of Berlin. The goal is to make Berlin better prepared for crises and help Berlin businesses become more resilient when crises occur.

Franziska Giffey, Berlin Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises:   “As Germany’s capital, Berlin must be prepared to withstand attacks on and damage to our critical infrastructure.  The same applies to our businesses.  The serious attacks on our power grid last year and this year have made one thing clear:  Operational resilience in times of crisis must now be a central part of corporate responsibility.  Our businesses want to prepare, but they need clear guidance to do so.  Knowing who to turn to and which organizations can provide support makes all the difference.  There are already many valuable resources and measures that businesses can draw on and implement.  We want to raise awareness of these resources and, by building on the commitment of many companies to strengthening their resilience, make Berlin as a business location stronger and more robust overall.”

Manja Schreiner, CEO of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Resilience comes from preparing early and carefully for potential crisis scenarios.  Especially at a time of growing uncertainty and a wide range of challenges, businesses need reliable points of contact, expert advice and access to relevant information.  The Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs’ new brochure is a good first step toward making existing resources more visible.  We need to build on that.  At the Berlin CCI, we are doing our part to help businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, become better prepared and remain operational when a crisis strikes.  With “Berliner Wirtschaft hilft” (Berlin Businesses Help), we are creating a platform that enables businesses to support one another during crises.”

CEO of the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Associations:“Resilience management is an important part of good corporate governance today. At the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Associations, our AI-powered UVB Chatbot for Security and Resilience provides businesses with curated information on energy and cybersecurity, corporate security and supply chain stability.  Businesses can use the chatbot as a digital first point of contact to quickly access reliable guidance and prepare for security threats and crisis situations.  In this way, we are helping ensure that the economy of the capital region remains operational even in an emergency.”

Jürgen Wittke, CEO of the Berlin Chamber of Crafts: “Resilience in the skilled trades is not an abstract issue.  Power outages, cyberattacks or failures of critical infrastructure can bring entire neighborhoods – and the skilled trades businesses within them – to a standstill in a very short time.  The events of January showed just how quickly such situations can arise.  That makes preparedness all the more important.  Businesses that are prepared protect not only their own operations but also the security of Berlin’s essential services.” 

Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology:“As an economic development agency, we are keenly aware of the rapid changes shaping our world and the growing uncertainty they bring.  With our comprehensive business services, clear focus on sustainability and transformation and strong European network, we are well positioned to work with our partners to provide Berlin businesses with effective support, even in challenging times.”