Government and Public Procurement in the Digital Age

Even before the AI revolution, digitalisation and the procurement of necessary IT posed significant challenges for the state. Public procurement is often viewed from a national and, in Germany, a particularly legal perspective, even though it is fundamentally an economic issue shaped by EU law since the 1990s. In a globally connected world facing challenges to freedom, security, social justice, and the climate, the administration must remain capable to preserve trust in democracy and the rule of law. The "Government and Public Procurement in the Digital Age" conference seeks to contribute by fostering interdisciplinary and cross-border dialogue between practitioners, academia, business, and public administration, ensuring that government action remains effective, efficient, and legitimate in the digital age.

08:30 a.m. Reception, Snacks

09:00 a.m. Introduction, Keynote

Prof. Dr. Pünder (Bucerius Law School), M. P. Greitens, Dr. Schellenberg (HEUKING Lawyers)

09:15 a.m. Public Procurement of IT

• Preliminary market consultations for the procurement of IT - Lessons learned from Denmark - M. Krogsgaard (Poul Schmith Kammeradvokaten)
• Public procurement of Cloud services under EU and German Data protection law - Dr. M. Schuchert, BLOMSTEIN Lawyers

10:30 a.m. Coffee Break

11:00 a.m. Legal & organisational challenges to modernisation and digitisation

• Dr. M. Karg, Digital Sovereignty – Strategic and Legal Considerations from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany’s frontrunner State”, Head of Section/Deputy Head of Department, Digitalisation and Central IT Management of the State Government (Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein)
• Procurement Organisation, Professionalisation and Training, Prof. Eßig (Universität der Bundeswehr München – requested)

12:00 p.m. Lunch Break

01:00 p.m. Security and Defence

• Legal challenges to rearming Europe - Viewpoint from the Netherlands - Dr. N. Meershoek (University of Utrecht)
• Legal frameworks for US Government procurement - Prof. Dr. J. Tilipman (George Washington University)

02:30 p.m. Coffee Break

03:00 p.m. AI and Innovation in Public Procurement 

• AI Risks and the EU AI Act - Prof. Dr. A. Sanchez-Grealls (University of Bristol)
• Procuring Innovation and supporting IT Startups - Y. Brigger (Pandektes), S. Soyk (GovRadar)

05:00 p.m. Pretzels & Wine

Date & Location

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 8:30 a.m.
 

The event offers a physical and a virtual attendance option.

On-site participation 

Campus Bucerius Law School

Jungiusstraße 6, 20355 Hamburg, Germany

Online participation

Your login details will be send to you 2 weeks bevor the event.
 

REGISTRATION