NLND Berlin + Digital Sovereignty + Brazil’s Industrial Diplomacy + Hybrid War with Russia + France’s Deadlock + Africa’s Youth Media + OECD on Germany
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Diplomacy Berlin Newsletter.
This week, we begin with a conversation with Jobst Schumacher, Head of the Innovation Hub and General Lead for the NLND Berlin project at Philip Morris Germany. With NLND, Europe’s largest innovation campus for industrial transformation, Berlin is turning a former cigarette factory into a 150,000 square meters hub for AI, robotics, and Industry 4.0, a powerful symbol of how cities can reinvent themselves for the future.
Alongside this, we look at how Europe is pushing for digital sovereignty with new rules on tech platforms, how Brazil is using Hannover Messe 2026 to showcase its industrial diplomacy, and how the OECD’s latest survey calls for deep reforms in Germany’s economy. We also follow the political drama in Paris as President Macron reappoints Sébastien Lacornu amid deadlock, and hear EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis warn that Europe is already locked in a hybrid war with Russia.
And before we dive in, we warmly welcome the newly accredited ambassadors in Berlin: H.E. Abir Ali, Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic; H.E. Ahmed Ebrahim A. Rahman Ahmed Alqarainees, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Vicente Albornoz, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador; and H.E. Ohene Adjei, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana. We wish them success as they begin their missions in Germany.
As always, thank you for joining us. If you would like to contribute articles, event coverage, or press releases for upcoming editions, please reach out at editorial@diplomacy.berlin.
With best regards,
Sigrid Arteaga
NLND Berlin: Building Europe’s Largest Innovation Campus
Jobst Schumacher is the Head of the Innovation Hub and General Lead for the NLND Berlin project at Philip Morris Germany. With over 20 years of experience at Philip Morris International, including leadership roles as Head of X Communication and Head of Brand Experience, he brings extensive experience in innovation, brand development, and transformation.
NLND, with 150,000 square meters of space, is Europe’s largest innovation campus for industrial transformation. The campus is located on Neuköllnische Allee, right in the heart of Neukölln.
150,000 square meters of space in the production halls of a former cigarette factory in Neukölln that’s NLND. Or, as you might put it, “Europe’s largest innovation campus for industrial transformation.” Why is Philip Morris entering real estate development?
NLND is designed as a connected innovation ecosystem focused on Industry 4.0 technologies, including AI, robotics, sensors, and automation. The goal is to create a space where research institutions, startups, and established industries collaborate directly, driving forward practical innovation.
Developed jointly by Philip Morris GmbH and Green City Development GmbH, the project follows a sustainable operator model rather than a conventional real estate approach. It’s built around the needs of its community, prioritizing revitalization, inclusivity, and long-term value creation over demolition and short-term gains.
Now in its implementation phase, the campus aligns closely with Berlin’s urban development goals, contributing to the city’s vision of renewal through innovation.
Berlin hasn’t always had the best reputation for attracting innovative companies. A few years ago, Google faced local opposition in Kreuzberg. How has Philip Morris experienced working with Berlin’s administration and political decision-makers?
From the start, collaboration with Berlin’s authorities and policymakers has been constructive and solution-oriented. Rather than rigid master plans, the district favors flexible, functional solutions. Through close coordination with the Neukölln district and the Berlin Senate, we found ways to transform a classic industrial area into a hub for innovation.
Support from political figures at both state and federal levels, including Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, who highlighted NLND’s significance for Berlin’s and Germany’s economic future at the campus opening, underlines the project’s societal relevance.
What’s your favourite place in Berlin-Mitte, and why?
Berlin offers incredible diversity, making it hard to choose a single favorite spot. As an international city with a world-famous club culture, it attracts people from across the globe. Berlin has a unique vibe: creative, innovative, and constantly evolving, always bringing people and ideas together.
We leverage this energy for the NLND Campus, designed as an open, inclusive space. Public areas such as cafés, restaurants, a sports park, and cultural events bring the campus to life and foster connections.
European Market - European Rules
The article „European Market – European Rules“ by Prof. Dennis-Kenji Kipker argues that the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) embody European digital sovereignty, not anti-American sentiment. These laws promote fair competition, transparency, and accountability in digital markets by regulating powerful tech platforms, primarily U.S.-based firms. Kipker criticizes U.S. claims of “digital discrimination,” noting that compliance with European laws is the cost of accessing a market of 450 million consumers. He highlights the hypocrisy of U.S. complaints, given the CLOUD Act’s extraterritorial reach, and stresses that Europe’s aim is not isolation but strategic autonomy – ensuring open, interoperable ecosystems and protecting citizens’ digital rights through responsible, democratic regulation.
Read the full article on Heise Online.
Brazil at Hannover Messe 2026: Industrial Diplomacy for a New Global Order
At Hannover Messe 2026, Brazil plans to showcase its industrial ambitions not just as an exporter, but as a strategic partner in global value chains. The article argues that Brazil’s pavilion will emphasize sectors like green hydrogen, agritech, and digital manufacturing, sending a message that it wants to be more than a resource exporter: it aspires to shape industrial norms and partnerships. This isn’t just trade promotion; it’s industrial diplomacy aimed at repositioning Brazil within a changing global order where technological standards, energy transitions, and sustainability commitments matter. Germany, as the host and a global manufacturing powerhouse, plays a pivotal role in how Brazil’s diplomatic push is received. The event offers Brazilian and German firms a chance for direct industrial collaboration, and for Berlin, it’s an opportunity to influence the design of emerging supply networks, standards, and sustainable industrial practices.
Read the full article on Diplomacy Berlin.
EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis: “We are already in a hybrid war with Russia”
In a recent Talking Europe interview, EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis discussed France’s growing debt, Europe’s defense readiness, and rising tensions with Russia. He stressed the need for France to reduce its deficit and follow through on its medium-term fiscal plan, while highlighting EU flexibility to increase defense spending amid current security threats. Dombrovskis warned that Russia’s expansionist ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, describing the situation as an ongoing hybrid war involving disinformation, sabotage, and airspace incursions. The EU, he noted, is boosting its defense industry through the Rearm EU Readiness 2030 plan and phasing out Russian energy as part of Repower EU.
Read or listen to the full podcast on the France 24 channel on Apple Podcast.
France’s political crisis deepens: deadlock at the heart of Europe
France’s government has been thrown into renewed turmoil after yet another Prime Minister, Sébastien Lacornu, resigned within weeks of taking office. His departure follows a string of failed leaders unable to pass a budget through the National Assembly, leaving President Emmanuel Macron politically cornered. Since losing his majority in 2022, Macron has relied on Article 49.3 to push laws through, provoking protests, no-confidence votes, and repeated deadlocks. Snap elections in 2024 worsened fragmentation, with gains for both the far left and far right. In a move that underscores both his lack of options and the depth of the crisis, Macron reappointed Lacornu despite the resignation, an act that signals paralysis as much as continuity. With just 18 months until the presidential election, the opposition has no incentive to compromise, making France appear nearly ungovernable. For Berlin, instability in Paris is more than domestic drama. Germany relies on the Franco-German axis to drive EU reforms, manage eurozone stability, and align on defense and industrial policy.
Watch the full analysis on TLDR News EU YouTube channel.
- US moves to cancel one of the world’s largest solar farms. ft.com
- Phase One of Gaza Deal Nears End: What to Know. Newsweek.com
- Portugal’s local election poised to be another win for Europe’s far right. politico.eu
- How Trump’s Upside-Down Diplomacy Delivered a Major Foreign-Policy Victory. wsj.com
- How Russia Recovered – What the Kremlin Is Learning From the War in Ukraine. foreignaffairs.com
The 77 Percent - The Magazine for Africa's Youth
In the latest episode, The 77 Percent spotlights influencers and content creators in Lagos, asking whether influencing is purely a business opportunity or a platform for social impact. Through interviews and a lively Street Debate, young creators reflect on how digital voices shape public opinion, culture, and identity across Africa. The episode also addresses misinformation, debunking the myth that clubfoot is caused by a curse and shows how cultural beliefs have real consequences for health.
What makes this show relevant beyond Africa is how it connects local perspectives to global conversations on media, youth, and digital culture. The challenges faced by African creators navigating misinformation, shaping gender norms, and using digital platforms for both business and social change echo debates happening worldwide. This shows how African youth are not just part of the conversation but helping define its future.
Watch more on The 77 Percent via DW’s website.
OECD Econimic Survery: Germany 2025
The OECD’s 2025 Economic Survey on Germany stresses the urgent need for structural reforms to overcome challenges posed by global events and long-term issues. Key to this is guaranteeing medium-term fiscal sustainability by enhancing spending efficiency, reallocating funds, and broadening the tax base. Crucial attention must also be given to reforming the pension, health, and long-term care systems to address pressures from population ageing. To bolster economic growth, it is vital to tackle skilled labour shortages and reduce significant administrative burdens and regulatory barriers that impede business dynamism and innovation. The report further recommends improving regional development through better coordinating „place-based“ policies with industrial, infrastructure, and innovation strategies, while concurrently boosting the financial and administrative capacity of local municipalities.
Read the full survey and executive summary on OECD’s website.
European Policy Centre (EPC)
The EPC is one of Brussels’ leading think tanks, focused on EU affairs and the continent’s role in the world. It brings together policymakers, academics, business leaders, and civil society to debate issues ranging from economic governance and climate policy to migration, security, and digital transformation. Known for its practical, forward-looking analysis, the EPC regularly publishes policy briefs, organises high-level dialogues, and provides a platform where European decision-makers engage directly with stakeholders.
To explore their work visit EPC’s website.
Falling Walls Science Summit 2025
Every November, Berlin hosts the Falling Walls Science Summit, an international gathering where leading scientists, innovators, policymakers, and thinkers converge to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges. The event showcases breakthrough research across fields like health, environment, AI, and social sciences, weaving together panels, keynotes, and networking formats designed to spark collaboration. For attendees interested in diplomacy and innovation, it’s a rare opportunity to see where science meets policy and where global agendas are shaped. To know the full details of the program and book your tickets, visit their website.
Conference on Outward Investment from Emerging Economies (OFDI)
HTW Berlin is hosting the 2025 Conference on Outward Investment from Emerging Economies (OFDI) on Thursday, October 23, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CEST at Campus Wilhelminenhof (Wilhelminenhofstraße 75A, 12459 Berlin). This full-day, in-person event will explore “Green Transition, Emerging Markets, and Foreign Direct Investment,” bringing together business leaders, educators, and experts to discuss sustainable investment strategies and opportunities in global markets. To know the full details of the program and book your tickets, please visit Event Tribe’s website.
German Indian Innovation Summit Day 2
The second day of the German Indian Innovation Summit (GIIC) 2025 shifted from the big stage to formats designed for exchange and exploration. Participants had the chance to sit down for 1:1 meetings, join guided innovation tours, and connect over a lively brunch event. These sessions gave startups, corporates, and policymakers the opportunity to dive deeper into potential partnerships and explore concrete projects. A special highlight was the program at the Indian Embassy, which emphasized the diplomatic and cultural dimension of the Indo-European corridor. Here, discussions went beyond business to highlight shared values and the political will behind building a long-term innovation partnership.
If day one at AXICA was about major announcements – the Open Innovation Initiative, the NLND India Desk, and the German Deep Tech House in Madhya Pradesh – the day two was about turning vision into practice. The energy in Berlin showed that collaboration between Germany and India is not only strategic but also dynamic, with momentum now moving from agreements on paper to relationships built face-to-face.
Berlin's Festival of Lights 2025
Berlin lit up once again with its annual Festival of Lights, transforming landmarks across the city into canvases of color, art, and imagination. From the Brandenburg Gate glowing in shifting blues and golds to the Berlin Cathedral wrapped in cosmic, surreal patterns, and Potsdamer Platz gleaming with futuristic projections, the city turned into an open-air gallery under the night sky. Even the pavements became part of the spectacle, with shadows and patterns dancing beneath the crowds’ feet. Berliners and visitors wandering together through the city is a reminder of Berlin’s ability to reinvent its iconic spaces, making familiar places feel completely new.
Verōnika: Where Art, Elegance, and Cuisine Converge in Berlin
Perched on the fourth floor of Fotografiska Berlin, Verōnika is more than a restaurant; it’s a sanctuary of visual and culinary harmony. The space greets you with historic architectural elements, velvet benches, and ambient lighting that invite conversation and lingering. Their menu leans international, with standout dishes like the cult-favorite Cauliflower Milanese, sustainably sourced seafood, and responsibly raised meat. To make a reservation, visit Verōnika’s website.
The Book Lover’s Advent Calendar
For readers who can’t resist unwrapping a new story or literary surprise, the Book Lover’s Advent Calendar is the perfect way to count down to Christmas. Behind each of the 25 windows hides a book-themed treat, think bookmarks, ornaments, greeting cards, and other little delights that bring the joy of reading into everyday life. At €29.99 with free shipping, it’s a gift that combines festive anticipation with the charm of the written word. You can explore it at Thalia.
More jobs at politjobs.com