China Forum 2026
China continues to evolve at remarkable speed. For industrial companies and software vendors, the country represents both a vast opportunity and a highly sophisticated business environment shaped by digital ecosystems, industrial policy, and rapid technological progress.
At the China Forum organized by the Karlsruhe Chamber of Commerce, leading experts from business, industry, and international trade come together to share insights, exchange experiences, and discuss practical strategies for operating in and with China.
The program includes keynote sessions, expert talks, deep dives, workshops, and networking opportunities with leading China specialists and industry representatives.
Wibu-Systems contributes its perspective based on more than two decades of direct engagement in the Chinese market.
Our Perspective: From Market Entry to Technology Leadership
Wibu-Systems established its first subsidiary in China in 2001, at a time when software piracy was a dominant concern and digital ecosystems were still in their infancy.
Since then, the transformation has been profound:
- Infrastructure at scale enabling highly connected industrial environments
- Rapid digitalization across manufacturing, platforms, and services
- Shift from imitation to innovation, with strong local technology players
- Highly professional enterprise leadership driving global competitiveness
For software vendors and industrial companies, this evolution fundamentally changes how intellectual property, licensing, and cybersecurity must be approached.
China’s Industrial Agenda: Digitalization Meets Security
China’s industrial strategy places strong emphasis on:
- Smart manufacturing and software-defined production
- Platform-based ecosystems and integrated digital services
- Data-driven business models and AI adoption
- Increasing requirements for software integrity, IP protection, and operational security
Cybersecurity is becoming an integral component of industrial value creation. Protection mechanisms are no longer an add-on; they are embedded directly into software architectures, ensuring control over intellectual property, usage rights, and lifecycle management.
This shift aligns closely with global developments: software is not only functionality, but a strategic asset that must be protected, managed, and monetized continuously.
Our Contribution: Lessons from Real-World Industrial Deployments
During the company pitch session, Oliver Winzenried, CEO and Founder of Wibu-Systems, will share practical insights from international projects, including:
- How software protection evolved from anti-piracy measures to business-critical infrastructure
- Why licensing is becoming a control layer for digital business models
- How industrial companies secure software, AI models, and digital assets across global markets
- What it takes to operate securely in highly dynamic and digitally advanced ecosystems
The focus is on practical lessons learned, not theory.
Why This Matters
China is not just a market; it is a driver of industrial innovation and digital transformation.
Understanding how software, data, and cybersecurity are handled in this environment provides valuable insights for shaping global strategies.
For companies operating internationally, the key question is no longer whether to adapt, but how to align business models, technology, and protection mechanisms with a rapidly evolving digital landscape.