"We must redefine Germany's defense concept and we can learn everything from Israel"

“Mankind does not learn, the world does not improve, and unfortunately we must redefine our defense concept. To do this, we can learn everything from Israel,” said Marcel Otto Yon, founder of the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, the digital innovation unit of the German army, at the Mind the Tech Berlin 2025 conference organized by Calcalist and Bank Leumi.

Yon added in a conversation with Calcalist journalist Yarden Rozanski: “Israel has been in complex political situations throughout its existence. It has resilience, innovation, and is a small country with very strong enemies. We can learn from all of this, and also from good humor, good laughs, and great parties. I experienced this in Ukraine as well. You wonder how, with everything happening, people keep a good spirit. But that's life. In Ukraine, you hear how everything is positive and how everyone is looking forward to the future.”

“The relationship between Israel and Germany is excellent, especially on the political level. I wish we would do more on the operational level, from a military and entrepreneurial perspective. Every country looks at its defense from a national standpoint, but we can’t afford this more isolated approach. It’s very expensive. People ask why it's easier to be an entrepreneur in the U.S. It’s not because of bureaucracy, it’s because the market is much bigger. That’s why we need more cooperation and competition between Israel and Germany.”

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, former Commander of the Israeli Air Force and Managing Partner at Ace Capital, spoke about the close relationship between the Israeli and German air forces. “At the end of 2020, I sat next to the commander of the German Air Force, and together we led a flight over Dachau. That flight was a memory for the future,” he said. “Now, as we sit here in Berlin, we need to think about our history, but also build a future together.”

He continued: “Together with the German Air Force, during my five years as Air Force Commander, we decided to deepen our cooperation and train together. They came to Israel, for the first time the Luftwaffe landed in Israel. In 2020, for the first time, the Israeli Air Force landed on German soil. We sent 60 captains to train with the German Air Force and learn about German society. Germany sent 20 officers and their families to Israel to spend a weekend with the Israeli Air Force. That’s how we built our relationship.”

“If we look at this on a national level, Germany has supported Israel for many years. During the last war, Germany supported us, and the commander of the German Air Force came to Israel and donated blood to wounded Israelis. For the past ten years, we have also supported Germany. Today, there is a German squadron at an Israeli Air Force base, and a German pilot operates German drones from that base. We remember history, but together we are building a shared future. Today, defense-tech is a critical issue. Israel has a lot of experience in this field, unfortunately, and we can help accelerate German industry and support Germany’s readiness in the near future. I am sure German industry will meet all its goals and be fully prepared within ten years.”

Norkin also offered advice to Israeli entrepreneurs entering the European market: “First, you need to understand that cultures differ. In Germany, they talk about thinking outside the box. In Israel, I have to ask entrepreneurs to think inside the box. Second, you need a local partner who will support and guide your company here. It is very important to enter the market when your product is mature. To sell it, it must be ready for large-scale deployment by German industry.”

Yon also addressed the importance of technology in creating a safer world. “There will always be people who choose to use force against others,” he said. “That will always be a reality of humanity. For decades, we believed nuclear power was the most alarming threat. Now, nuclear powers are at war. I’m not sure it is a deterrent anymore, because there are other ways to wage war, such as cyber. If you don’t stay up to date, you become very vulnerable. If you drop out of the loop, others will remain in it and take advantage of the opportunity.”