1st Annual Industrial Policy Lab Conference

At the 1st Annual Conference of the Industrial Policy Lab, participants discussed the role of industrial policy in a changing global order. The discussions focused on questions of geopolitical resilience and strategic innovation, as well as the scale-up of the hydrogen economy, the role of the defense industry, and perspectives on European industrial policy and technological sovereignty. 

Program

Conference Highlights 

The conference concluded with the panel “Trade-offs in Industrial Policy”, featuring State Secretary Frank Wetzel (BMWE), Franziska Brantner (Alliance 90/The Greens), Tanja Gönner (BDI), Stefan Wintels (KfW), and Katharina Erhardt (Kiel Institute), moderated by Alexander Hagelüken (SZ).

Further contributions were presented by Philipp Barteska (University of Hong Kong), Achim Wambach (ZEW), Tomaso Duso (DIW Berlin), Oliver Falck (ifo Institute), Moritz Schularick (Kiel Institute), Florian Biniosek and Markus Albuscheit (Nuremberg Institute of Technology), as well as Enzo Weber (IAB Nuremberg).

A particular highlight was the keynote address by Nathan Lane (LSE) on “European Rearmament & Industrial Policy.”

The 1st Annual Conference of the Industrial Policy Lab marked a successful launch of a new forum for dialogue on industrial policy in Europe and beyond.

Building on this successful start, we are already looking ahead to the Industrial Policy Lab Annual Conference 2026. Details regarding the Call for Papers, thematic focus, and timeline will be announced shortly.

Organizers

Katharina Erhardt (Kiel Institute & DICE) and Moritz Schularick (Kiel Institute)

Co-organizers

Hanna Hottenrott (ZEW & TU München)
Nils Redeker (Jacques Delors Center)
Harald Fadinger (University of Vienna)
Claudia Steinwender (LMU)