NVIDIA is pushing its nearly $10 billion European investment plan forward into Germany. At the "Invest in Germany" summit held in Berlin, NVIDIA signed a declaration of intent with the German government, announcing investments in four German startups and an AI factory partnership agreement with Siemens, further cementing its strategic position in Europe's industrial AI sector.
German Chancellor Merz used his opening address at the summit to call on the business community, urging German small and medium-sized enterprises to open their data to AI, and stressing that Germany intends to become a global leader in industrial AI applications. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, speaking on stage, said AI can only enhance human capabilities rather than replace professional expertise, characterizing it as a "new tool" available to enterprises.
Huang also expressed regret over Germany falling behind in the tech race:
"Frankly, what pains me the most is seeing a country with top-tier technical standards falling so far behind in the technology sector. I think the reason behind this may lie in the European way of doing things — overthinking everything. I believe Germany has an enormous amount of talent. Just go for it."
The collaboration spans multiple sectors including manufacturing, robotics, healthcare, and aerospace. Combined with the 4.1 trillion euro potential investment forecast released by the "Made for Germany" business alliance led by Siemens and Deutsche Bank, the summit has become a significant moment in Germany's economic transformation narrative, providing positive support for market sentiment in industrial technology and AI-related sectors.
Germany and NVIDIA Sign Declaration of Intent, Cooperation Focused on Physical AI
On Monday local time, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and NVIDIA signed a memorandum of intent for cooperation, though specific terms were not disclosed. According to NVIDIA's official blog, Merz and two federal ministries have jointly developed a plan with NVIDIA aimed at developing artificial intelligence capable of driving robots, machinery, and vehicles — what NVIDIA calls "physical AI."
The cooperation will also extend to the existing framework between NVIDIA and Germany's "Industry 4.0 Platform." The platform brings together representatives from government, industry, research institutions, and trade associations, aiming to accelerate large-scale industrial AI adoption.
Merz said at the summit, "We are fully committed to becoming one of the world's most advanced AI application regions — not just within the EU, but globally." He also noted that AI is bringing fundamental changes to Germany's economy and that cooperation with NVIDIA is crucial to Germany's future development.
NVIDIA Invests in Four German Startups, Covering Robotics to Satellites
NVIDIA announced investments in four German startups: Agile Robots, Avelios Medical, Mirelo, and Reflex Aerospace, though specific investment amounts were not disclosed.
The four companies span different tracks: Agile Robots focuses on AI robot development for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare; Avelios Medical develops AI-driven hospital management software; Mirelo works on video and audio generative AI models; and Reflex Aerospace is responsible for satellite design and manufacturing.
These investments are part of NVIDIA's overall European investment plan of nearly $10 billion, with funds earmarked to support enterprises, universities, and research institutions across Europe. A week earlier, during Huang's visit to France, he also announced investments in four French startups and held talks with French President Macron on AI development issues.
Siemens Partnership Takes Shape, AI Factory Solutions Can Cut Costs by Up to 20%
During the summit, Siemens announced it had developed a new batch of AI solutions with NVIDIA at its factory in Erlangen, Germany. Siemens said the related technology can reduce engineering workload in production preparation by up to 85%, while AI-driven production planning can cut costs by up to 20%.
The Siemens-NVIDIA partnership agreement is the latest progress in the two companies' deepening industrial AI efforts and represents one of the most substantive industry-level collaborations at this summit.
Business Alliance Projects Potential Investment of 4.1 Trillion Euros by 2035
During the summit, the "Made for Germany" business initiative jointly launched by Siemens and Deutsche Bank released a forward-looking forecast. According to Reuters, the alliance — comprising approximately 150 companies and investment institutions — estimates that Germany's potential investment in AI, energy, and defense could reach up to 4.1 trillion euros (approximately $4.6 trillion) by 2035.
The alliance also disclosed that its members completed over 200 billion euros in investments in 2025 and plan to invest more than 850 billion euros cumulatively by 2028.
Companies attending the summit included Mercedes-Benz, Bayer, Lufthansa, Deutsche Telekom, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs. The summit will conclude on Tuesday, and Huang is expected to deliver a keynote speech at NVIDIA's GTC Berlin conference on Wednesday.
Jensen Huang: Expertise Is Irreplaceable, AI Enhances Rather Than Replaces
Addressing widespread concerns among Germany's manufacturing sector about AI's impact on employment, Huang stated unequivocally at the summit: "That knowledge belongs to you. It cannot be replaced. AI can only enhance your capabilities — it will not replace your capabilities." He characterized AI as a "new tool" available to enterprises.
Huang also emphasized Germany's traditional strengths in manufacturing, mathematics, and science, stating that AI will amplify Germany's industrial capabilities on that foundation.
Merz also called on small and medium-sized enterprises in his speech to seize this window of opportunity and open their doors to embrace AI technology. "Germany's greatest strength lies in our small and medium-sized enterprises," he said. "Please open up to AI and let it use your data. This is Germany's true secret and advantage." He currently faces political pressure to boost economic growth, as German automakers, chemical companies, and engineering firms all face fierce competition from abroad.
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