Middle Powers, Real Stakes
Tuesday, 1 December 2026 · 1:30 pm (CET)
Doors open at 12:45 pm
Embassy of Canada to Germany · Leipziger Platz 17, 10117 Berlin
The Deutsch-Kanadische Gesellschaft e.V. (German-Canadian Society) and the Embassy of Canada to Germany cordially invite you to the 2026 edition of the FORUM @ Kanada Haus. Across three panels, speakers from politics, business and research will discuss how like-minded middle powers such as Canada and Germany can cooperate to protect prosperity, resilience and security in an increasingly fragmented world.
- The geopolitical context: Why middle powers matter
- Economic resilience: How can middle powers strengthen themselves?
- Defence and security cooperation: How can middle powers act together?
The FORUM will conclude with a networking reception to mark the close of the year celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Germany.
Stay tuned for program and speaker updates!
Conference Partner
A joint collaboration between the Deutsch-Kanadische Gesellschaft e.V. and the Embassy of Canada to Germany.
Past events
Since 2012, we have been holding the annual conference under its current name „Forum @ Kanada Haus“. Former conferences were devoted to:
| Jahr / Titel | Beschreibung |
|---|---|
| 2025 Canada and Germany: Partners in Securing Economic Growth through the Defence Sector | The 2025 edition of Forum @ Kanada Haus, held on November 20, 2025 at the Embassy of Canada in Berlin, focused on defence and security cooperation between Canada and Germany. Three panels covered the new security landscape, procurement pathways for defence partnerships, and industry collaboration and market access in the defence sector. |
| 2024 Geopolitics, Trade, Traceability: Critical Links in the Global Supply Chain | The 2024 edition of Forum @ Kanada Haus, held on May 28th, 2024, focused on a pressing issue for both Canada and Germany, as well as many other nations – global supply chains. Against the backdrop of a post-COVID era and swiftly shifting trade dynamics, the conference served as a platform to discuss geopolitical challenges, innovative solutions, and navigate the intricacies of the Supply Chain Act to meet sustainability targets. Read more |
| 2019 The Arts Beyond Borders. Perspectives on Cultural Diplomacy | |
| 2018 Integration at Work. Canadian-German Dialogue on Policies and Realities in the Current Migration Landscape | |
| 2017 CleanTech in Canada and Germany: Leveraging our Innovation Ecosystems | |
| 2016 Climate Change and the Renewal of Cities / A German-Canadian Dialogue | In 2016 we tackled Climate Change and the Renewal of Cities, welcoming Michael Small from the Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver as our top keynote speaker. Adelphi, a Berlin based independent think tank and public policy consultancy on climate, environment and development led its credibility to our event as our conference partner. read more |
| 2015 “Delivering the Goods”: German-Canadian Logistics and Infrastructure for Enhanced Transatlantic Trade | The 2015 Forum addressed German-Canadian Logistics and Infrastructure for Enhanced Transatlantic Trade and the implication of CETA on air freight and other forms of intermodal transport. Conference Partners were the Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft (BVMW) e.V. and EKUPAC GmbH, Cologne. |
| 2014 Workplace Diversity. A long road to corporate reality | In 2014, the Forum focused on workplace diversity and its role in maintaining productivity in countries, like Canada and Germany, with ageing populations. Conference partners were the OECD Berlin Centre and the Bonn-based IZA Institute for the Study of Labor. |
| 2013 Harnessing Disruptive Technologies. The Canada-Germany Value Chain | In 2013, the FORUM’s success story continued with a focus on fostering, financing and application of innovation, which attracted experts from the research, venture capital and industry sectors. This time, the Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) and the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK) joined us as conference partners. |
| 2012 Energy Security: National and Regional Perspectives | Re-branded as Forum @ Kanada Haus in 2012, the conference sharpened its profile as a discussion platform for highly topical economic and trade issues. Experts from the economic and political sector, as well as, from professional associations came together to exchange their views on Energy Security, with the OECD Berlin Centre as a well-established conference partner and multiplier. |
| 2011 Global Village – Calamity or Chance? |
Past speakers
Actively supporting our initiative, the Embassy of Canada has helped us throughout the years in gaining renowned speakers such as
- William Crosbie, 2010/11 Ambassador of Canada in Afghanistan
- Jochen Sanio, President, German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) 2002-2011
- Brian Lee Crowley, Founding Director of the Macdonald-Laurier-Institute, Ottawa
- The Honourable Kevin G. Lynch, P.C., O.C., Vice President of the BMO Financial Group, Toronto
- Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, President of the MaRS Discovery District Toronto
- Prof. Dr. Günther Wess, Vice President of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
- The Honourable John Manley, P.C., O.C., President and CEO of the CCCE
- Mark Keese, Head of the Division for Employment Analysis and Policy, OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs
- Wendy Zatylny, President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
- Dan Kelly, President and CEO, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
- Michael Small, Executive Director “Renewable Cities”, SFU Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver
- Dr. Vera Rodenhoff, Head of Division, International Affairs in the Field of Environment, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
- Dr. Inge Paulini, Secretary-General, German Advisory Council on Global Change
- Prof. Dr. Rainer Walz, Head of the Competence Center Sustainability, Fraunhofer ISI
- Laura O’Blenis, Co-Founder and Managing Director, AURP Canada