CIONET Germany’s Flagship Event
Where AI meets strategic foresight
Now in its third year, AI Horizons 2025 brings together Germany’s top IT Executives to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence across business and society.
In a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, security challenges, and rapid technological advances, this year’s event focuses on two critical perspectives:
🔹 Panel: AI & Defence – Between Innovation and Sovereignty
Artificial Intelligence is driving transformation across industries—but nowhere is its impact more complex than in defence. Join us as we explore the dual perspective of IT and business in this high-stakes sector:
From the CIO’s lens: What unique challenges does the defence industry face in implementing AI—and what can other sectors learn from its sovereign-by-design approach?
From the business side: How is AI accelerating transformation in defence?
🔹 Debate: Global AI Strategies: How Europe, China, and the UAE compete and collaborate to scale AI value
Three regions, three distinct approaches to AI development, deployment and scaling. This interactive debate examines how Europe, China, and the United Arab Emirates shape their AI landscapes :
We want to discuss that in an “Open-Debate-Format”:
What political frameworks influence each market?
How do innovation dynamics, data privacy, and regulatory controls differ?
What opportunities and risks does Europe face in this global AI race?
AI Horizons 2025 offers IT leaders orientation, inspiration, and space for strategic dialogue — combining bold perspectives with expert insights and a high-caliber audience.
Join us to rethink the future of AI in a complex world.
Christoph von Falck ist Gründer und General Partner von Helantic, einem Anfang 2025 ins Leben gerufenen Venture Capital Fonds mit klarem Fokus auf die verteidigungspolitische Souveränität Deutschlands und Europas.
Seit über 25 Jahren ist er in den Bereichen Cyber Security und Defence tätig, mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf Corporate Development, M&A, strategischer Positionierung und Beteiligungsmanagement. Seine Laufbahn führte ihn zunächst zu internationalen Projekten bei Airbus Defence & Space, bevor er als Geschäftsführer mehrere Buy-and-Build Holdings in London und Köln aufbaute und begleitete. Parallel dazu war er in zahlreichen Aufsichtsgremien in Deutschland, Großbritannien und Abu Dhabi aktiv und bringt umfassende Erfahrung in der Führung, Skalierung und strategischen Ausrichtung technologiegetriebener Unternehmen mit.
André Scheidhammer has been the CIO of HENSOLDT AG since March 2018 and drives the company’s transformation as the person responsible for global IT, Cyber Security, and Product Security Services. His goal: to make HENSOLDT digital, scalable, and growth-oriented – with integrated processes, modern technologies, and a clear focus on resilience and sovereignty in a security-critical environment.

We would be delighted to welcome you as the newest member of our CIONET community, where digital leaders from around the world connect and exchange ideas.