Handelsblatt Chemical Industry Annual Conference 2026 in Berlin

Resilience, Transformation, and International Perspectives

This year's Handelsblatt Chemical Industry Annual Conference 2026 in Berlin once again demonstrated the extent to which the industry is currently undergoing change. Amid geopolitical challenges, rising energy demands, increasing innovation pressure, and shifting global markets, one thing became clear: the chemical industry is in the midst of a decisive transformation.

Our Managing Director, Cedric Schütz, attended this year's event and particularly emphasized the value of discussions with decision-makers from industry, technology, and family-owned businesses. The conference not only provided valuable insights into current developments but also delivered important strategic impulses for the future direction of mid-sized companies.

One of the conference's central themes was resilience. However, it quickly became evident that resilience is not achieved through waiting or excessive caution. Instead, it is built through decisive action, structural change, and the willingness to rethink established business models.

Particularly inspiring were the contributions from leading industry representatives, who demonstrated how companies are reshaping their organizations, scaling innovation effectively, and strategically expanding into international markets. Today, mid-sized family-owned businesses face the challenge of ensuring both stability and long-term competitiveness. In this context, international presence is becoming an increasingly important factor for both resilience and competitive advantage.

The discussions and presentations in Berlin once again highlighted that companies cannot afford to focus solely on their existing markets in the long term. Those who identify international opportunities early and leverage them strategically gain access to new growth areas while simultaneously strengthening their resilience against economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

The Handelsblatt Chemical Industry Annual Conference 2026 clearly illustrated both the significant pressure for change currently facing the industry and the opportunities that can emerge from it.

For Grünewald Consulting, one conclusion has once again been reinforced: the future belongs to companies that actively drive transformation, strategically expand into international markets, and combine innovation with strong execution capabilities.

We would like to thank Handelsblatt and all participants for two intensive days filled with valuable discussions, new perspectives, and inspiring insights.