Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic

Merkel's Last Dance: Why is Germany behind on tech? (E10)

Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic

Show Notes

Europe’s richest country is lagging behind the US and China in technology - and Angela Merkel knows it. But how much is the chancellor herself to blame? In this episode, Merkel’s top digital advisor talks to DW’s chief technology correspondent Janosch Delcker about Big Tech, digital deficits exposed by the pandemic, and what reforms are needed to get Germany out of this mess.

More from Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic

Sep 23, 2026

Why would someone risk their life for a country that's not their own? From LA Times Studios, DW, and Futuro Studios, this is a show about the thousands of Latin American soldiers who are fighting in Ukraine, for Ukraine.

Dec 18, 2025

Despite the problems we discussed in Delayland, people from many countries want to live and work in Germany. From nurses to IT specialists, skilled workers are needed, but bureaucracy is slowing things down. Write to: [email protected]

Dec 11, 2025

Waiting in line forever at city hall to register a new address – that’s how we roll in Germany. Accessing public services online is the exception, not the rule. In fact, sending a fax might speed things up (if you can believe that). But it's not as if people don't want to change. And we've found two countries that could teach us how to go digital. Write to: [email protected]

Dec 4, 2025

Big construction projects take surprisingly long to complete in Germany. It can take a decade or longer to build an airport, a train station, or a concert hall — skyrocketing costs included. What happened to the country’s love of planning and efficiency? Now, a neighboring country that's not famous for timely execution is showing Germany how it’s done. Write to: [email protected]

Nov 27, 2025

For years, German car manufacturers were convinced they built the world’s best automobiles — and the world was happy to buy from them. Then, nothing. Until a country that once was Germany’s pupil in car design sped ahead. How can Germany get back in the race?

See all episodes →