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Germany risks losing €155bn a year under tighter AI data rules, new study warns. * Published * October 14, 2026 * 11:03 am * News Researchers estimate that restrictions on training data could wipe out more than a third of the potential economic gains from artificial intelligence, as European policymakers review copyright rules. Germany could miss out on €155 billion in additional annual economic value by 2034 if tighter restrictions on artificial intelligence training data are introduced, according to a new study by the ifo Institute. The Munich-based economic research institute estimates that generative AI could contribute an extra €440 billion a year to the German economy by 2034. But making it harder for developers to access the data needed to train AI models could reduce that potential gain by more than a third. The largest projected loss, €75 billion annually, would come from less capable AI models, while slower adoption of the technology across businesses could account for another €45 billion. Reduced research productivity could cost €25 billion, with a further €10 billion lost through lower levels of AI development in Europe. The figures, published yesterday, come from new research conducted by Implement Consulting Group in cooperation with the ifo Institute, commissioned by Google and industry association CCIA Europe. The study identifies widespread business adoption of AI as the largest source of potential economic gains, accounting for €330 billion annually. Improvements in AI-led research productivity could contribute €65 billion, while AI development within Germany could generate another €45 billion. But the researchers warn that these benefits depend partly on developers having access to sufficiently large and varied datasets to build competitive AI systems. Oliver Falck, director of the ifo Center for the Economics of Innovation and Digital Transformation, said that policymakers risked undermining Europe's technological ambitions by making the development of advanced models unnecessarily difficult. He said: "Anyone who wants a top-tier European AI model cannot at the same time make access to training data needlessly complicated. You can't have both." The researchers highlight the disparity between the amount of freely available training material in Europe and the datasets used by leading international AI developers. According to the study, AI Potential at Risk, Europe's largest copyright-free dataset contains between two trillion and three trillion tokens - the individual units of text and other information processed by AI models. Leading international models, by comparison, have already been trained using between 15 trillion and 36 trillion tokens. The researchers warn that additional restrictions could widen that gap, reducing the performance of European AI models and their commercial usefulness to businesses. The findings come as the European Commission reviews the EU's copyright framework, including provisions that allow text and data mining for commercial purposes. These exemptions permit the automated analysis of digital material, subject to conditions including the ability of rights holders to reserve certain uses of their works. The European Commission launched a review of the EU's Digital Single Market Copyright Directive in May 2026, creating a fresh debate over how to protect intellectual property while allowing European technology companies to develop advanced AI systems. The ifo researchers have urged policymakers to preserve the existing commercial text-and-data-mining exemption, accompanied by proportionate transparency requirements, workable mechanisms for copyright holders to opt out and voluntary licensing agreements. They also propose considering rules governing what AI systems produce, rather than imposing further restrictions on the material used to train them. The authors of the new study say that uncertainty over future regulation is already discouraging investment in Europe. German AI companies have also raised concerns about the consequences of restricted access to training data. Ilhan Scheer, chief executive of German AI developer Aleph Alpha, told Reuters that companies needed both access to suitable material and regulatory certainty to develop internationally competitive technology. "Access to diverse, high-quality training data is essential for competitive AI. Unnecessary restrictions and legal uncertainty make its development harder," he said. "Europe should make full use of its existing legal framework." READ MORE: Bumble shares soar 50% amid $1bn takeover talks. Dating app once worth more than $14bn could be taken private by technology investment firm Ithaca after years of falling users, revenue and share price. Do you have news to share or expertise to contribute? The European welcomes insights from business leaders and sector specialists. Get in touch with its editorial team to find out more. [Main Image: The Reichstag building in Berlin, home of Germany's Bundestag. Credit: Norbert Nagel/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)]

Implement Consulting Group acquires thyssenkrupp Management Consulting. 18 September 2026 Consultancy.eu The consulting business of thyssenkrupp is joining forces with Implement Consulting Group, a Danish-origin consultancy with more than 2,000 employees. Founded 17 years ago, thyssenkrupp Management Consulting is the internal consulting unit of thyssenkrupp, a German industrial engineering and steel production company. Since its inception, the consultancy has supported more than 400 projects spanning the entire value chain, from strategic advisory engagements to industrial transformation programmes, technology-led initiatives and change management. "For thyssenkrupp Management Consulting, becoming part of Implement Consulting Group marks the beginning of a new chapter," said Carolin Heck, Managing Director of the firm. "With this transition, our employees will become part of a global and growing management consultancy, opening up new perspectives for collaboration and professional development." A key aspect of this new opportunity for its people is the ability to broaden their experience by working with a wider range of clients. "This journey will take our people from an in-house consulting environment into a consultancy that serves diverse clients across industries. We will gain access to new industries, a broader client base and the wider consulting market." "At the same time, we will continue to support thyssenkrupp on important projects and transformation initiatives, with the added expertise and capabilities of Implement Consulting Group," she continued. Heck, who previously worked for McKinsey, said Implement Consulting Group brings additional expertise in areas including leadership transformation, change management, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and operational excellence. "Combining our strengths will create new opportunities to support clients more comprehensively in addressing complex challenges and to drive transformation effectively across all phases." Growth in the German market. For Implement Consulting Group, meanwhile, the deal will significantly strengthen its German business, which is its most important market outside of its homebase Nordic region. Around 70 consultants from thyssenkrupp Management Consulting will join its ranks. "This is an important step for us in Germany, where we have been building our presence carefully over a number of years, developing local capabilities, strong client relationships and a consulting model that fits the market," said Niels Ahrengot, Founder and CEO of Implement Consulting Group. "We were not looking for an acquisition in the German market. But through the conversations with thyssenkrupp Management Consulting, it became clear that the people, the capabilities and the long-term fit were unusually strong. They have built deep expertise inside one of Germany's most demanding industrial environments - we are delighted to welcome them into the family." The transaction is expected to close on 30 September. Financial terms and conditions have not been disclosed.