Germany's Digital Association
Thanks to Bitkom’s well-established presence at all levels, our positions are heard far beyond the digital industry. This matters to us because it enables us to work together to shape the policy and regulatory environment in Germany and strengthen the country’s international position.
Stefanie Valdés-Scott (Head of Policy and Government Relations EMEA, Adobe)
The digital transformation has created new challenges and opportunities that we can address proactively through our membership. At Bitkom, we are driving this transformation in the workplace while also helping to shape the regulatory framework.
Sebastian Lange (Public Affairs Manager, REWE)
Within the Bitkom network, we don’t just advocate for telecommunications issues. Working closely with other members, we fulfil our social responsibility in a coordinated manner, are committed to equal opportunities and inclusion, and work together to develop solutions for greater digital inclusion.
Marike Mehlmann-Tripp (Cluster Lead Social Engagement, Telekom)
The input from the various industries represented in Bitkom greatly enriches our planning for the future. We gain insights that enable us to think ahead and deploy technologies such as artificial intelligence effectively and reliably at an early stage.
Martina Flatscher (Strategist Artificial Intelligence, ZF)
Bitkom is a valuable partner for us in actively shaping the policy framework for e-commerce and the digital industry in Europe. As a growth- and innovation-oriented company, we benefit from the association’s in-depth expertise and strong network to advance digital innovation successfully.
Darija H. Bräuniger (Leiterin Digitalpolitik DACH, Zalando)
As a key player in the automotive supply industry—which is undergoing significant change—we have found a strong network in Bitkom, where the focus is on the exchange of knowledge and information among companies, as well as dialogue with policymakers. The exchange of ideas on data and digitalization related to vehicles provides us with valuable insights that enable us to actively tackle challenges and develop solutions that deliver lasting success.
Hannes Christoph Bächle (Büroleiter Berlin, MAHLE)
The Bitkom working groups offer us, as a bank, the opportunity to actively help shape aspects of legislation that are essential to our processes and business but often fly under the radar. Through its commitment to digital identities, among other things, Bitkom fills an important gap and offers significant added value compared to other associations.
Wiebke Drescher (Product Owner Digital Identity, ING)
FAQs about your Bitkom membership
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
Bitkom forms a large, high-impact network and brings together the best minds and companies across the digital economy. We facilitate continuous dialogue between specialists and executives and connect providers with users of digital solutions. We offer our members a platform for collaboration with one another and for connecting with key customers and partners.
How much is the membership fee?
We calculate the membership fee annually in accordance with the Bitkom Membership Fee Regulations - based on the previous year’s revenue and headcount figures.
To do this, we conduct a survey among our members at the beginning of each year.
Payment of the membership fee covers all participation by all of a member’s employees in the meetings and other activities of our working groups and committees (committees).
What information does Bitkom need from us?
We require the following information:
- The previous year’s revenue
- The number of employees
- Contact details for your designated contacts
What is a “group membership”?
Membership of an association such as Bitkom is always linked to a single legal entity. It is therefore personal to that entity (see § 38 of the German Civil Code, on which the provisions governing membership in the Bitkom’s Articles of Association are based).
Membership of a parent company or holding company therefore does not include membership for the group’s subsidiaries. Under Bitkom’s Articles of Association and Membership Fee Regulations, “group membership” does not mean that a parent company can be registered with Bitkom and that all employees of its subsidiaries automatically have access to Bitkom’s working groups and committees (committees). For employees of a subsidiary or subsidiaries to have direct and unrestricted access to Bitkom’s platforms and activities, the subsidiary or subsidiaries must hold their own Bitkom membership.
For this reason, Bitkom’s Articles of Association and Membership Fee Regulations - which apply to companies with an affiliation of at least 50 percent, typically offer a significant financial incentive for multiple companies within a group to become members — in effect, a form of volume discount.
How long does membership last?
Membership itself is established for an indefinite period, but may be terminated annually with six months’ notice to the end of the year. The relevant deadline is therefore 30 June. For details, see Section 5, Paragraph 4 of the Bitkom Articles of Association.
Which companies are members of Bitkom?
You can find an overview of all current Bitkom member companies here.
What special terms are available for startups and scaleups?
Through our Get Started initiative, we offer special terms and benefits for young companies. Membership for startups and scaleups costs €100 per year and is available to young companies that:
- were founded less than 6 years ago,
- have no more than 50 employees subject to social security contributions,
- generate less than € 10 million in revenue per financial year,
- have their headquarters in Germany,
- are not spin-offs, and
- do not have a majority stake held by third parties.
Over 700 startups and scaleups are already members of Bitkom.
