VSHN @ Smart Country Convention 2025 – Recap from Berlin

The Smart Country Convention 2025 (#SCCON25) has come to an end – and what an inspiring three days it was. From September 30 to October 2, hub27 at Messe Berlin became the central meeting point for everyone driving the digital transformation of government and public administration in Germany and beyond.

SCCON25 in Numbers and Highlights

• Thousands of participants from government, politics, research, and technology
• Numerous keynotes, panels, and workshops on topics such as digital government, AI and cloud, cybersecurity, smart cities, mobility, energy and sustainability, digital inclusion, and international cooperation
• International delegations from over 140 countries took part in the matchmaking program
• Startup competitions, awards, and best practice showcases

Among the most important political and industry voices were:

• Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation
• Karin Prien, Federal Minister for Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth
• Andrea Nahles, Chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency
• Bernd Wagner, CEO of STACKIT (the sovereign cloud of the Schwarz Group)
• Dr. Markus Noga, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at IONOS
• Philipp Amthor, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation

Other ministers, political leaders, and technology experts helped shape the program and made SCCON25 a key milestone on Germany’s path toward a digital future.

Day 1: Opening, Smart City Index, and Political Impulses

The event was officially opened under the patronage of the new Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and State Modernisation. In a video message, Dr. Karsten Wildberger emphasized:
“The Smart Country Convention has long been the hotspot for the digital state and our digital society – an innovation hub, think tank, and networking platform in one.”

A highlight of the first day was the presentation of the Smart City Index 2025, where Munich successfully defended its position as Germany’s leading digital city.

On the Plaza Stage, State Secretary Dr. Markus Richter and Bitkom CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder made it clear that digitalization has now reached the core of political strategy – it is not just about technology, but about the future viability of the state.

Day 2: Digital Government in Focus and Startup Energy

The second day focused on leadership, inclusion, and innovation:

• Andrea Nahles opened with a keynote emphasizing that digital administration must be a leadership priority – not just a technical task for IT departments
• Karin Prien called for stronger digital inclusion, highlighting the connection between public services, education, and trust in democracy
• In the evening, the Smart Country Startup Award was presented – GovIntel won the competition, showing how agile innovation is essential for modernizing public administration

Day 3: Keynote and Outlook

The third day featured one of the most anticipated highlights:

• At 13:30, Dr. Karsten Wildberger delivered his closing keynote outlining Germany’s digital priorities – from interoperable platforms to secure infrastructures and citizen-oriented services
• Numerous workshops and sessions explored topics such as the Germany-Stack, AI in public administration, cybersecurity, and digital participation
• During the international matchmaking sessions, more than 140 delegations engaged in targeted exchanges – a clear sign that digital government is a global topic

VSHN at SCCON25: GA-Lotse in the Spotlight

For VSHN, SCCON25 was the perfect opportunity to showcase our collaboration with the Public Health Authority of the City of Frankfurt am Main (Gesundheitsamt Frankfurt) and the open-source project GA-Lotse.

At the A1 Digital booth (Hall 25, Booth 100G), Aarno Aukia presented how GA-Lotse is helping to digitally transform the public health sector:

• Created during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the need for secure communication and scalable infrastructure
• EU-funded and live since 2024 – already supporting several districts in the state of Hessen with modern, efficient digital services
• Built on cloud-native infrastructure, zero-trust security, and DevOps practices provided by VSHN
• Modular, sovereign, and open source – ensuring long-term reliability, data protection, and trust

👉 For more information about how VSHN supports the Frankfurt Health Department, read our success story.

Our presence at SCCON25 also highlighted the strength of our partnerships with A1 Digital and Exoscale, which enable us to deliver sovereign, cloud-native services for public institutions across Europe.

Key Takeaways from SCCON25

• Digital transformation is a leadership responsibility – it must be driven from the top, not left to individual departments
• Sovereign, open infrastructures are essential – especially for sensitive areas such as health and government
• Startups are key partners – GovIntel’s success shows how agile innovation can strengthen the public sector
• Education and inclusion go hand in hand – digital services must be accessible, trustworthy, and inclusive
• International cooperation is becoming increasingly important – with over 140 delegations, it is clear that digital administration must be approached globally
• Cities are the drivers of digital innovation – the Smart City Index shows where municipal transformation is already happening

Looking Ahead

SCCON25 was more than just a conference – it was a showcase of how Germany and Europe are shaping the digital state. For VSHN, it was a strong confirmation of our mission: to provide open, secure, cloud-native managed services that empower public institutions and citizens alike.

Our next steps:

• Expanding GA-Lotse to additional regions and use cases
• Strengthening partnerships with public authorities, governments, and technology providers
• Applying the lessons learned to new public sector projects

A big thank you to everyone who visited us, joined Aarno’s talk, or connected with us at the booth. We are already looking forward to SCCON26 and to continuing the digital transformation together.

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