- eco survey: 22.5% rate it as ‘poor’, 29.4% as ‘inadequate’
- Bureaucracy and regulatory complexity are by far the biggest barriers to innovation for the economy
- eco interim review shows: Of 22 initiatives assessed, 6 receive a green light, while 8 are rated yellow and 8 red
Just under a year after the German federal government took office, eco – Association of the Internet Industry has drawn up an initial interim assessment of digital policy in Germany with the eco Digitalpuls. The results show that, despite initial progress, the German federal government’s digital policy still lacks impact – many measures remain at the planning stage and have not yet had the necessary broad-based effect.
The eco analysis assesses key digital policy initiatives using a traffic light system across six areas of action: the digital state, cybersecurity, Germany as an AI hub, the digital infrastructure ecosystem, trust in the Internet, and combatting illegal content and the protection of minors in the media.
The overall picture is mixed: of the 22 initiatives assessed, 6 receive a green light, while 8 each are rated yellow and red by the association. Although measures have been initiated in many areas – such as the Deutschland-Stack, digital identities or the implementation of European requirements – overall, the implementation of many coalition initiatives still falls short of their own ambitions.
Industry gives digital policy a poor rating
The IT industry’s assessment is also stark and critical. In the eco Branchenpuls, a representative survey of IT decision-makers in Germany conducted by the market and opinion research institute Civey, a majority rate current digital policy negatively. Over half of those surveyed gave the grades ‘poor’ (22.5%) or ‘inadequate’ (29.4%). Positive ratings, at 5.2%, remain the clear exception. The impact on their own competitiveness is also viewed critically by the majority of decision-makers: 36.9% rate it negatively, while only 13.9% rate it positively.
“The German federal government has so far too often remained stuck in announcement mode when it comes to digital policy – this is also reflected in the industry’s verdict. When over half of IT decision-makers rate the policy as ‘poor’ or ‘inadequate’, that is a clear wake-up call. What is needed now is less confusion over responsibilities and more implementation: faster approvals, less double regulation and tangible relief from bureaucracy and energy costs. We in the Internet industry stand ready to help shape this path constructively – but we expect a binding and solution-oriented dialogue.”
Bureaucracy remains by far the biggest obstacle
The results of the eco Branchenpuls underline the central role of regulatory hurdles even more clearly: 74.9% of IT decision-makers see bureaucracy as the biggest challenge facing German digital policy. This factor is thus far ahead of all other areas.
Further down the list are primarily structural and regulatory aspects: IT security and compliance (38.3%), electricity costs and grid infrastructure (38.0%), and approval and planning procedures (36.0%). The results show that, alongside bureaucracy, regulatory requirements and traditional location factors in particular are perceived as key burdens.
“The biggest obstacles are not technological in nature, but political and administrative,” says Süme. “Complex procedures, unclear guidelines, overlapping regulations and excessive bureaucracy are currently hampering innovation and investment on a massive scale.”
Clear priorities, less regulation, more trust in the sector
Overall, after a year of the German federal government, there is still no consistent picture of innovation-friendly framework conditions for the digital sector. Positive initiatives exist, but are often overshadowed or even undermined by structural shortcomings and ever-changing EU requirements.
“As the world’s third-largest economy, Germany has the potential to be a leading digital hub – but this requires clear political signals now: less double regulation, more trust in the innovative strength of the digital economy, and tangible reductions in bureaucracy for companies,” emphasises Süme.
Read all the results of the eco Digitalpuls here: go.eco.de/Digitalpuls
The market and opinion research institute Civey surveyed 500 IT decision-makers online on behalf of eco between 20 March and 6 April 2026. The results are representative due to quota sampling and weighting, taking into account a statistical margin of error of 9.6–10.6 percentage points in the respective overall result. Further information on the methodology can be found here.
