"Germany now needs the courage to implement real reforms and focus on those who provide solutions every day," said Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), regarding the expansion of the initiative of the German IHKs with a combined membership of over three million companies. "Our campaign deliberately sends a positive signal in a time often marked by uncertainty. It demonstrates how entrepreneurs take on responsibility daily, seize opportunities, and drive our country forward."

The campaign features entrepreneurs from all regions and industries. The tagline "Wir unternehmen das" highlights the pivotal role of entrepreneurial efforts in tackling major challenges – from education to digitalisation and industrial innovation, global markets, and social cohesion. "We place the core values of the social market economy at the forefront: responsibility and freedom," said Adrian. "Entrepreneurship is about creating solutions, seizing opportunities, and shaping the future."

Participation Platform as the Heart of the Campaign

The central component of the campaign is the platform www.wir-unternehmen-das.de, designed as a participatory initiative. As a grassroots movement emerging from the business sector, real people from the SME sector are spotlighted here. They can even produce campaign visuals themselves on the platform in a few simple steps and publish them immediately. Thus, "The German Economy" is deliberately named as the campaign’s sender.

Regional IHKs support the campaign work locally, encouraging businesses in their regions to participate. Additionally, the IHK organisation accompanies the campaign with an economic debate on the future structure of the social market economy and a unifying storytelling approach.

Since the soft launch during the IHK-Tag in early May 2026, several hundred visuals featuring entrepreneurs have already been created and published through various channels – from social media to high-profile public actions.

Reforms Demand Entrepreneurial Freedom

The campaign is closely tied to current economic policy discussions. DIHK also sees "Wir unternehmen das" as an active accompaniment to the reform agenda. "We need to talk more about how value creation arises and the conditions businesses need to succeed," said Adrian. "Germany has the economic strength and entrepreneurial spirit to face today’s challenges. But we now need political clarity, economic courage, and quicker implementation. 2026 must not be the year of diagnoses; it must be the year of decisions."

Economy as Part of the Solution – Not Just Part of the Debate

According to DIHK Chief Executive Helena Melnikov, the campaign is also intended to enhance the reputation of entrepreneurs. Nearly half of them feel insufficiently recognised by politics and society, based on a DIHK survey conducted in summer 2025. "We must change this in the interest of our entire country," Melnikov said. "Entrepreneurs take on responsibility every day – for their employees, regions, and our nation’s prosperity. This commitment deserves greater visibility and appreciation. Especially now, as important reforms are on the horizon, we need a collaboration between politics, business, and society to turn reform debates into real progress."