Top companies meet top sports – this applies to the 3rd ChampionsMEET, which the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs and the LEG are hosting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in the presence of Minister President Mario Voigt, Minister of Economic Affairs Colette Boos-John, and LEG Managing Director Andreas Krey. The venue is the Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain, and, as with the two previous editions, everything revolves around the marketing campaign „Hidden Champions – Thuringian Global Market and Technology Leaders“, within the framework of which the Ministry and LEG have honored a total of 100 high-performing Thuringian SMEs since 2023 that have achieved market or technology leadership in their market segments. This year's ChampionsMEET also offers current information about the campaign, many opportunities for exchange, as well as an honoring of the newest „Hidden Champions“. In addition to the invited member companies of the campaign and government politicians, DFB Sports Director Rudi Völler will also be participating, as in the previous year.
The ChampionsMEET is once again taking place in cooperation with the German Football Association (DFB) – back then, the meeting was held ahead of the European Football Championship at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Jena, linking top performance in business with that in sports, including a talk with DFB Sports Director Rudi Völler and a visit to the public training session of the German national team. At that time, first the German and then the English national team stayed at the Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain, and this year, the German U21 national team is currently preparing here for the U21 European Championship, which will take place in Slovakia in June.
Ministerpräsident Voigt explains: “Champions are characterized by three things: passion, performance, and attitude. That is exactly what Thuringia’s Hidden Champions embody – they act instead of just talking. They are not in the spotlight, but they shape markets and regions. With innovative strength, quality, and a clear attitude, they shape the future – from the Green Heart of Germany, with global impact. That the U21 national team is preparing right here in Blankenhain is no coincidence: in sports too, top performances arise where the conditions are right and the will to progress is palpable. Our entrepreneurs prove every day: those who take responsibility and boldly lead the way make Thuringia a center of economic strength. The future belongs to those who are visible – and our champions are visible because they are relevant.”
In the first part of ChampionsMEET, following welcome and opening statements by Minister President Voigt, Minister of Economic Affairs Boos-John, and LEG Managing Director Andreas Krey, there will be a short talk between politics and the DFB – moderated by Andreas Krey, the two state politicians will engage in an exchange with Rudi Völler. All participants will also receive further input and inspiration through a keynote speech by Marcel Aberle – the trend and future researcher, Author and start-up founder explains how companies can successfully tackle the future in today's challenging times.
"Many Thuringian companies are among the world's technological and economic elite. By now, there are exactly one hundred. With the Hidden Champions campaign, we want to make these hidden market leaders better known," says Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs, Colette Boos-John. "The campaign has multiple benefits: It makes Thuringia better known as a high-tech location; it supports us in addressing new investors; and it is the best image advertising for the companies themselves, who thereby gain better access to new customers, markets, and skilled workers. I therefore hope that in the coming years we can welcome many more top Thuringian companies into the Hidden Champions family."
The second part of the event focuses on the Hidden Champions campaign itself: LEG department head Herbert Stütz reports on the project status and the campaign's successes, followed by introductions of the new Thuringian global market and technology leaders, after which the companies are honored by the Minister President and the Minister. The event concludes with a social gathering offering ample networking opportunities and a golf taster session for those interested.
“Thuringia has many excellent global market leaders and at the same time highly innovative, high-performing companies that achieve great things behind the scenes and significantly shape the success of our federal state. We are proud to have now identified 100 such champions whose great products and services score points on an international scale. We demonstrate this with the campaign and within the framework of the ChampionsMEET.”, says LEG Managing Director Andreas Krey.
Background:
Thuringia operates at the top of the world – with strong medium-sized companies that have achieved market leadership or technology leadership through innovative products and services as well as leading technologies. Meanwhile, one hundred such Thuringian companies rank among the best in their field on the global market. The Free State of Thuringia aims to increase the visibility of these Hidden Champions through its campaign, not least to make Thuringia better known as a place to work and live.
Further information at:
https://www.hidden-champions-thuringia.de/thueringer-championsmeet
