A modern administration increasingly determines the competitiveness of German companies. The Germany-Stack, planned by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization (BMDS), is expected to provide a unified technical foundation - across federal, state, and local governments. The DIHK expressly supports this goal: Digital sovereignty, open standards, interoperability, and reusability are essential to make administrative processes more efficient and to leverage innovation from industry. However, for the Germany-Stack to be effective, clarity is needed: clear responsibilities, binding standards, transparent procedures, and a federally coordinated overall strategy.
Key Points at a Glance
- Ensure efficient administration: The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) calls for seamless, federal-spanning digital administrative processes for businesses.
- Germany Stack as the platform core: DIHK supports a sovereign, interoperable infrastructure with reusable basic services and open standards.
- Establish clear governance: DIHK demands binding responsibilities, robust legal foundations, and transparent control structures.
- Promote innovation and market openness: Open interfaces, test environments, and transparent rules should ease access for businesses.
- Make purposeful use of data: DIHK emphasizes the utilization of data-sharing and analytics to enable AI, digital twins, and efficient services for the economy and administration.
Background
The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization (BMDS) plans a common technical basis for public administration with the Germany-Stack. The DIHK was asked for a statement.
Key message: A unified technical foundation can advance administrative modernization - but only if strategy, responsibilities, legal framework, and standards are clearly defined.
What is important for companies now
- Uniform digital processes
Companies want media-break-free processes across state and local government borders. The Germany-Stack aims to create uniform interfaces and significantly simplify administrative processes.
- Reliable standards & base components
Businesses need clarity on identity, payment, and data standards as well as stack conformity of their technologies. The draft gives more orientation in the revised version 2.0.
- Security
Cybersecurity requirements must be binding for all federal levels and be automatically met through the specs and components of the stack
- Innovation & market access
Open interfaces, test environments, and transparency are needed to enable companies and start-ups to develop and contribute digital solutions early.
- Legal & planning security
It remains unclear which legal bases make the stack binding, when conversions will take place, and what requirements apply to IT service providers - this complicates long-term digital investments.
DIHK demands
- Clear strategy & delineation
The stack must be part of a comprehensive national digital strategy, and the interplay with Germany Architecture and federal architecture guidelines must be clear and communicated transparently.
- Binding standards & base components
Initially define an manageable core set of binding standards and base components (particularly identity, payment, data transport), anchor open standards and interoperability as mandatory,
- Strong governance
Clearly regulate responsibilities: IT planning council decides, FITKO controls operationally. Project management with KPIs, milestones, and monitoring secures binding implementation at all administrative levels.
- Innovation-friendly architecture
Open ecosystems, easy access for companies, transparent criteria for stack conformity, test environments and prototyping, supplemented by software bills of materials (SBOM) for cybersecurity.
- Legal & funding basis
Federal guidelines allow for adjustments to procurement law, ensure sustainable funding for open source and central base components.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about the Germany Stack
What does the Germany Stack concretely offer businesses?
Simplified processes, standardized interfaces, and reduced bureaucracy—provided it is clearly defined and binding.
Why is the DIHK critical about it?
Because essential framework conditions are lacking. The DIHK calls for clear responsibilities, reliable legal bases, binding standards, and consistent governance.
Is the Stack mandatory?
Not yet—the legal basis for it is unclear. The DIHK sees a need for reform here.
Are only open-source solutions planned?
No. The DIHK calls for "Best-of-Breed": Open Source first, yes, but proprietary solutions should also continue to be possible.
When will the Stack be launched?
Currently, there are no binding schedules. This is another point criticized by the DIHK.
Downloads
Statement by DIHK dated February 13, 2026 on Germany-Stack 2.0 (PDF, 110 KB)(only available in German)
Statement by DIHK dated November 26, 2025 on Germany-Stack 1.0 (PDF, 148 KB)(only available in German)
- Relevant in topic:
- Innovation
- Key areas:
-
- Digitalisierung
Released 16.02.2026
Modified 16.03.2026
Contact
Dr. Katrin Sobania
Director Department for Information and Communication Technology | E-Government | Postal Services | IT Security