Markant Members’ Congress 2026

The world is changing. At the Markant Members’ Congress at Munich’s Bayerischer Hof, renowned experts from the worlds of business, academia and politics discussed the key challenges of our time. The clear message was that the future is shaped where people are prepared to question certainties and forge new paths together.

Right from the opening of the Markant Members’ Congress, which took place from 11 to 12 June at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich, the two managing directors of Markant AG, Dominik Scheid and Markus Tkotz, made clear what this year’s event was all about. The theme «Understand. Connect. Change.» meant much more than a guiding principle. It described the demands of an era in which markets, technologies and political conditions are changing at a rapid pace. «Crumbling structures always offer the chance for something new,» said Dominik Scheid. Europe, in particular, has the opportunity to realign itself in a changing world – becoming more cooperative, more united and stronger.

For Markus Tkotz, cooperation is the key to success. Difficult times highlight the value of collaboration particularly clearly. Markant’s role, he explained, is to connect retail and industry, pool knowledge and create tangible added value from it.

With around 230 guests from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Eastern Europe, the Bayerischer Hof once again became the meeting place for a European family of cooperation. The programme for the two-day congress was hosted by the journalist, presenter and physicist Kristina zur Mühlen. The event offered a wide range of opportunities for exchange, networking and new impetus for international cooperation.

The future needs innovation 

The economic policy session was opened by the Chair of the German Council of Economic Experts, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Monika Schnitzer. In her presentation ‘Left behind or competitive? Germany and Europe under pressure’, she painted a nuanced picture of the current situation. Germany is under considerable pressure. Growth forecasts have fallen once again due to geopolitical crises and global uncertainties. At the same time, structural problems are becoming increasingly apparent. The competitiveness of German companies is being challenged by high costs, bureaucracy, demographic trends and growing international competition. Schnitzer was particularly clear on the subject of innovation. Germany must not rely on the success models of the past to secure its future. «We must use the crisis as a catalyst to shape the economy of tomorrow,» she stated. She sees artificial intelligence as a key driver. It will fundamentally transform productivity, business models and labour markets. Companies must be prepared to make consistent use of these opportunities. At the same time, education, skills development and investment in digital infrastructure are indispensable. Social security systems, too, must be reformed. In view of demographic change, changes to pension, long-term care and healthcare systems are inevitable. Politicians must show courage in this area and develop solutions that are sustainable in the long term.

Europe at a Turning Point

Dr. Claudia Major then shifted the focus to the geopolitical perspective. In her presentation «The Dream of World Peace Is Over», the security expert and Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund painted a picture of a world in which conflicts, power politics and strategic competition are increasingly shaping the international order. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, the growing rivalry between the US and China, and the US’s changed strategic posture have fundamentally altered the security landscape. Major made it clear that Europe can no longer take security and stability for granted. «Failure to act also has consequences,» she emphasised on several occasions. She described in particularly vivid terms just how closely interconnected the world has now become. Conflicts in other regions of the world have direct impacts on Europe – economically, technologically and in terms of security policy. For Europe, this means one thing above all: more responsibility. Military deterrence, defence capabilities and societal resilience must be considered as a whole. At the same time, a «mental paradigm shift» is needed. Europe must learn to actively shape the future, rather than merely reacting to developments. «Be a player, not a pawn,» was her appeal to the worlds of politics, business and society.

Gentle Radicalism

Writer, journalist and podcaster Jagoda Marinić brought a completely different perspective on processes of social change to the stage with her speech on the topic of «Gentle Radicalism – how future issues can find majority support in diverse societies». She addressed the question of how social cohesion can be achieved in times of increasing polarisation. The starting point for her reflections was the observation that debates are increasingly characterised by division, outrage and negativity. It is not a question of avoiding conflicts or glossing over problems. Rather, she argued, we must have the courage to bring people together in dialogue despite their differing positions. Using a successful integration project in Heidelberg as an example, she demonstrated how even deadlocked conflicts can be overcome. The key, she said, lies in highlighting resources, strengthening common ground and developing visions for the future around which different groups can rally. «We underestimate the power of the stories we tell ourselves,» said Marinić. Those who constantly speak of decline and crisis only reinforce uncertainty and resignation. Those who, on the other hand, highlight new prospects, make change possible. For her, social renewal begins with a new culture of dialogue – a culture that identifies problems but, at the same time, focuses on solutions.

Lessons from the cockpit

Philip Keil kicked off the second day of the conference with his presentation on the topic «Leading like in the cockpit: making clear decisions, landing safely». Drawing on a dramatic flying experience, the pilot and management thought leader described how, shortly after take-off in Egypt, he encountered a life-threatening wind shear situation and was only able to save the aircraft by taking decisive action. From this experience, he derived key leadership principles. He argued that companies today, much like aeroplanes, find themselves in turbulent conditions. What matters is not whether mistakes happen, but how organisations deal with them. Keil emphasised the importance of a culture of trust. Teams are successful when people can speak openly about mistakes and share information that needs to be heard – not just the information that is pleasant to hear. Trust is the real fuel for successful collaboration. His description of modern cockpit culture was particularly striking. There, it is not a person’s rank that counts, but their specific role. Responsibility is assumed on a situational basis. This understanding of roles facilitates learning, a change of perspective and a culture of mutual accountability. His message to the participants was: anyone who wants to shape change must build trust, share responsibility and give others the opportunity to gain experience for themselves.

Democracy under pressure

In the subsequent panel discussion, the former Minister-President of Hesse, Prof. Dr. h. c. mult. Roland Koch, the sociologist Prof. Dr. Armin Nassehi and the President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Moritz Schularick, discussed the state of democracy and the economy. The focus was on the question of how trust in political institutions can be restored. The panellists agreed that Germany faces not only economic challenges but also a crisis of confidence. Roland Koch emphasised that, above all, citizens expect determination. People want to feel that political leaders know where they want to guide the country. Uncertainty and public disputes within political camps, on the other hand, only serve to heighten mistrust. Armin Nassehi pointed out that the loss of trust does not affect politics alone. Elites, institutions and social authorities, too, are increasingly under pressure to justify their actions. This makes it all the more important to provide direction and make transparent decisions. Moritz Schularick painted a nuanced picture of Germany’s economic situation. Whilst Germany remains one of the world’s largest economies, he said, it must not rest on its laurels. The real challenge lies in structural problems. Germany is strong in the technologies of the past century, but must invest more heavily in future technologies. Robotics, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology and modern mobility solutions were cited as key growth areas. The discussion made it clear that economic success will depend more heavily on the ability to innovate and a willingness to take risks in future. An excessive focus on security could slow down innovation processes.

More courage to take risks 

A recurring theme at the congress was the German mindset towards risk. The panellists pointed out that, in many areas, Germany prioritises security and stability – often at the expense of speed and innovation. It became clear that a willingness to take risks does not mean acting recklessly. Rather, it is about creating framework conditions that enable experimentation and do not penalise failure excessively. Successful innovations almost always arise from trial and error. Anyone wishing to create something new must also accept that not every idea will be successful.

Artificial Intelligence

Another key focus was on the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. The experts agreed that AI will fundamentally transform the economy and society. The focus was less on threat scenarios and more on the question of how Germany can make productive use of the technology. AI has the potential to make public administration, industry, research and services significantly more efficient. At the same time, it was emphasised that education, skills development and flexible labour markets are necessary to ensure that the benefits are embedded as widely as possible throughout society.

Incentives rather than appeals

The economist Prof. Dr Christian Rieck used numerous interactive examples to explain the mechanisms of strategic decision-making. The key insight from his lecture «This is how it will be!.... Or will it? Future scenarios through the lens of game theory» was that people often cling to existing systems, even when better alternatives exist. The reason for this is that individual risks often appear greater than the potential collective benefit. Rieck demonstrated how cooperation can emerge and what conditions must be met for people to act collectively. He emphasised that hard-won trust, transparent rules and appropriate framework conditions are crucial. His call was less to try to change people and more to focus on adapting the rules of the game and the framework conditions.

Europe’s role in the balance of power 

Political scientist Prof. Dr. phil. Herfried Münkler shifted the focus to the geopolitical perspective. In his presentation «The Reorganisation of Powers – Options for Peace in a World in Chaos», he described a world in which traditional international rules are coming under increasing pressure. The global order is becoming increasingly shaped by power politics. Russia, China and the USA are acting more and more in their own interests. Europe must therefore strengthen its political and strategic capacity to act. Münkler called for greater European unity, faster decision-making processes and greater autonomy in security policy. The European Union must learn to act as an independent player in a world of growing competition.

Responsibility rather than resignation 

The emotional highlight of the congress was provided by former Federal President Dr. Joachim Gauck with his closing speech «Freedom entails obligations: responsibility as the core of democracy». Gauck drew a parallel between the experiences of his generation and the current challenges facing Europe. He warned against wishful thinking and a culture of hesitation. Politics, business and society must be prepared to acknowledge realities and draw conclusions from them. His plea for personal responsibility was particularly forceful. Freedom should never be taken for granted, he said; it must be secured anew time and again through responsible action. Gauck recalled the historic achievements Germany had made in recent decades. Instead of allowing itself to be paralysed by problems, the country must develop confidence in its own abilities. His conclusion: the future is not created by waiting, but by people who are prepared to take responsibility. 

Summary 

The 2026 Markant Members’ Congress impressively demonstrated that business, politics and society are facing profound changes. At the same time, it became clear that the necessary answers have long been available: building trust, taking responsibility, enabling innovation and strengthening cooperation. The participants left the Bayerischer Hof with plenty of  thought-provoking ideas, but also with a clear message: the future will not be shaped by those who wait for better times, but by those who are prepared to shape it actively and cooperatively.