Interview with Dirk Schrödter and Volker Pötzsch on “Digital Sovereignty: A Question of National Security?”
Journal
Business & Information Systems Engineering
Type
Article
Date Issued
2026-06-19
Author(s)
Brenner, Walter
;
Brenner, Barbara
;
Van Giffen Benjamin
Abstract
Digital Sovereignty1 is understood as the ability of
states, companies, and individuals to use, control, and
further develop digital technologies and infrastructures in a
self-determined, secure, and independent manner. Over the
course of 2025, the topic has evolved into a central issue –
particularly when representatives from the corporate sector,
public administration, politics, and the military discuss the
application of information and communication technology.
Against this background, we have conducted two separate
interviews to make the various aspects and perspectives
regarding digital sovereignty transparent and compiled
these interviews into a single conversation. We spoke with
Dirk Schro¨dter, Minister of Digitalization for the state of
Schleswig-Holstein and Head of the State Chancellery, and
with Brigadier General Dr. Volker Po¨tzsch, who has served
since April 2026 as Chief of Staff of the CIR (Cyber and
Information Domain Service Command), the youngest
branch of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
states, companies, and individuals to use, control, and
further develop digital technologies and infrastructures in a
self-determined, secure, and independent manner. Over the
course of 2025, the topic has evolved into a central issue –
particularly when representatives from the corporate sector,
public administration, politics, and the military discuss the
application of information and communication technology.
Against this background, we have conducted two separate
interviews to make the various aspects and perspectives
regarding digital sovereignty transparent and compiled
these interviews into a single conversation. We spoke with
Dirk Schro¨dter, Minister of Digitalization for the state of
Schleswig-Holstein and Head of the State Chancellery, and
with Brigadier General Dr. Volker Po¨tzsch, who has served
since April 2026 as Chief of Staff of the CIR (Cyber and
Information Domain Service Command), the youngest
branch of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
Funding(s)
Open access funding provided by University of St. Gallen
Language
English (United States)
Keywords
Digital Sovereignty
Cybersecurity
Digitalization
open source
IT
AI
Defence
HSG Classification
contribution to practical use / society
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Pages
4
Official URL
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
barbara.brenner@unisg.ch
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