Europe: “Finding a common language”

VDE dialog: Electrical engineering is a German flagship discipline. Why is international networking so important?

Markus B. Jaeger: Electrical engineering was a quintessentially German discipline 130 years ago. Today, electrical engineering and the increasingly important field of information technology have long been international, and the discipline’s prevailing language is English. Global standards and certifications are needed. That’s why it’s also important for us to be globally connected, to be heard and to pay attention to our partners outside Germany.

How important is political work in this context?

Technological topics are not always communicated in a way that politicians can understand. That’s why my credo is very clear; we have to find ways to talk to each other in a language that works for both sides. Communicating successfully requires personal chemistry. This communication is important, because engineers play a decisive role in shaping future technologies. Politicians work on the assumption that laws can be changed by a majority decision. But engineers have to work with the laws of nature. Getting politics out of its bubble is therefore immensely important for us. We can only achieve this if we communicate across national, age and gender boundaries. This applies to both national and international politics.

What are the aims of the EUREL umbrella organization?

Twelve electrical engineering, electronics and information technology associations from eleven European countries are currently working together closely at EUREL. The common goal is to promote the exchange of information and to tell people – including politicians – what is happening in our field. As a pan-European umbrella organization, we have an influence that is very difficult for a merely national association to achieve. What is special about EUREL is that our understanding of Europe goes beyond just the European Union; for example, Israel is also a member. Talks are currently underway with the Turkish association.

What role does VDE play in this?

VDE stands not only for technology, but also for standardization, testing and certification as well as for expertise in renewable energies. This is of particular interest for the relevant associations in Eastern Europe, as politicians there too have a great need for information on electrical engineering. VDE has an excellent international reputation, partly thanks to its many decades of networking. VDE has been the co-founder and leading organization of EUREL since 1972. As the largest member organization, VDE must be represented on the Board of Directors in accordance with the statutes.

Markus B. Jaeger, Global Head of Political Affairs at VDE and EUREL Chairman

| VDE

The Polish association SEP has been a close partner of VDE for decades. How do the two benefit from each other?

Cooperation agreements with VDE are enormously important for other organizations. EUREL enables us to establish a basis of trust. I can truly say that we have become best friends with SEP. The first cooperation agreement dates back to 1978. This was followed by others in 1983 and 1995. In the summer of 2024, we signed the fourth cooperation agreement in Poznan. It fills me with great pride that I can make my contribution to this historic friendship. I am currently working on a cooperation agreement with the Hungarian association.

What challenges do the European electrical engineering associations face?

Basically, they all have one problem in common: attracting young talent to the organization. VDE Young Net is an exemplary role model. At EUREL, we support each other, and we would also like to visit the different countries with young talents in the future. The example of the Romanian association AIEE, which was founded in 2022 by young people as an alternative to the existing structures, shows how it can work. A particularly amazing fact about AIEE is that the proportion of women is over 50 percent.

What does the future hold for international cooperation?

Many electrical engineering developments have shifted to Asia. But we mustn’t bury our heads in the sand. There are still great things coming out of Germany and Europe. It’s important that we promote the German market leaders, but also accept failures if, for example, a start-up idea does not get off the ground at the first attempt.

What role does politics play in this?

We have to start getting children involved in our field at an early stage. The countless measures for STEM funding must be evaluated. More is not always better. Measures must be the right fit and tailored to the target group. Electrical engineering, electronics and information technology are fascinating subjects with huge opportunities. As a society we have to be prepared to put in the work.