Germany launched its inaugural 'Invest in Germany' summit in Berlin on October 19-20, 2026, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced an industrial artificial intelligence (AI) partnership with Nvidia. The two-day event aimed to attract significant foreign investment and accelerate Germany's AI development efforts.

This partnership and the broader summit initiative signal Germany's strategy to modernize its industrial base and revive its economy amidst global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. The government seeks to strengthen its technological sovereignty and establish a leading industrial AI ecosystem within Europe.

What the records show

The 'Invest in Germany' summit, initiated by the German Chancellery, took place in Berlin from October 19 to October 20, 2026. During the summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new industrial AI partnership with Nvidia, a United States-based technology company. This collaboration was formalized through a joint declaration of intent signed by the German federal government, including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, alongside Nvidia. The discussions between Chancellor Merz and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang occurred at Kraftwerk in Berlin.

The timeline

Germany's first 'Invest in Germany' summit was held on October 19-20, 2026. The announcement of the industrial AI partnership between the German government and Nvidia occurred during this summit. Reports prior to the summit, as early as October 16, indicated that Germany planned to announce an AI partnership with Nvidia.

What changed and for whom

The new partnership aims to advance cutting-edge AI models for physical AI and to integrate industrial AI widely across German industries. Germany plans to invest hundreds of millions of euros, primarily for computing power and AI model training, while Nvidia will contribute engineering staff. The initiative will draw on Germany's manufacturing expertise and industrial data to bolster technological sovereignty. Companies like Siemens and Audi, along with AI startup Black Forest Labs, are expected to participate. The German government views this as a step to strengthen its appeal to foreign investors and to prioritize infrastructure, green energy, and defense in its modernization efforts.

What Chancellor Merz and Nvidia CEO Huang have said publicly

Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged German industry to embrace AI at the summit, highlighting the importance of the Nvidia partnership. He emphasized Germany's role as a stable economic partner amid global uncertainties. Merz stated that Germany should use its domestic industrial expertise to develop AI capabilities rather than becoming reliant on external solutions. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, encouraged German manufacturers to adopt AI, noting that digital technology would not replace heavy industry but would enhance it. Huang stressed the need for Germany to leverage its strengths in manufacturing and automotive industries by adopting AI across its ecosystem, including small and medium-sized companies.

What we could not confirm

The exact financial details of Germany's investment in the partnership were not specified beyond