On May 19, 2025, a special event took place in the PTA Remise in Mannheim, to which we had invited together with the Business Club of the HAAS Media Group and DATIS IT-Services. Under the provocative title “Who rules the world?”, renowned experts discussed the geopolitical and economic challenges of our time. The focus was on concrete options for companies to act confidently and sustainably in the digital age.
Global power shifts – regional effects
Moderated by Karsten Kammholz (Editor-in-Chief, Mannheimer Morgen), ZEW President Prof. Achim Wambach, Dr. Tim Walleyo (Managing Director, PTA IT-Beratung), Maximilian Münch (Business Development, DATIS IT-Services) and Florian Padberg (Managing Director, ituso GmbH) discussed geopolitical shifts and their impact on Europe and the IT industry. The starting point was a provocative question: Who is really in control in the digital age – politics, business or technology?
Between Trump, tariffs and data sovereignty
The discussion impressively demonstrated how economic policy decisions – particularly in the USA – have a direct impact on European markets and companies. Particular focus was placed on the strong dependence on US cloud providers such as Microsoft and Google. While economic fluctuations and stock market developments influence political changes of course, Europe faces the challenge of strengthening its digital self-determination.
Hybrid instead of monoculture – cloud architectures in transition
A key topic of the evening was the transformation of traditional IT infrastructures towards hybrid models. Almost all companies now rely on cloud solutions, but the issue of data sovereignty is becoming increasingly pressing. PTA IT-Beratung and its sister company DATIS IT-Services emphasized the need to strengthen European solutions and reduce technological dependencies – not as a demarcation, but as an investment in security, innovation and economic resilience.
The European way – sovereignty through know-how
“A new European self-confidence is needed,” was one of the key messages of the evening. European companies must set their own standards, not only with regard to the cloud and AI, but also in the development of strategic IT skills. PTA Managing Director Dr Tim Walleyo underlined the importance of a consistent digitalization policy that ensures long-term competitiveness – through in-house standards, qualified specialists and intelligent partnerships.
A strong network for digital progress
The event was not only a professional discourse, but also a platform for exchange and strategic networking. Customers, partners and experts took the opportunity to talk to each other and develop joint perspectives.
Photos: Michael Ruffler
