Security as a Location Factor: Impressions from the IHK New Year's Reception in Oldenburg
January 6, 2026
The New Year's Reception of the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) was a successful start to the new year for me – strong in content, excellently organized, and characterized by many intensive discussions. This year, the panel topic Security was particularly in focus – a subject that moves business, the state, and society alike.
A highlight of the evening was the panel discussion with Daniela Behrens, Lower Saxony's Minister for the Interior and Sport. The discussion made it clear:
Security has long ceased to be a niche topic and is now a decisive location factor for companies, investments, and innovations.
The topics discussed included:
internal security as a foundation for economic stability
the protection of critical infrastructures
digital threats and cybercrime
the responsibility of the state and the economy for resilient systems
My impression: It was not about abstract risks, but very specifically about the question of how security can be practically guaranteed – today and in the future.
Especially from my entrepreneurial perspective, this part was particularly exciting. Security is trust – and trust is the basis of every sustainable business relationship.
At Spargold, it is a matter of course for us to work with the most up-to-date security technology:
modern system architectures
high technical and organizational security standards
consistent orientation towards current threat situations
The exchange at the New Year's Reception confirmed once again that this standard is correct and necessary. Today, customers rightly expect companies to take responsibility – not only economically, but also technologically and structurally.
In addition to the official program, it was primarily the many conversations on the sidelines that made the evening so valuable for me. I met numerous interesting people from business, administration, and institutions – with a noticeable interest in current topics such as:
security and digitalization
economic resilience
new business models in uncertain times
The interest in innovative, secure solutions was clearly palpable. It is precisely this open exchange that makes events like the IHK New Year's Reception so important: they connect perspectives, create understanding, and provide new impulses.
The New Year's Reception of the IHK Oldenburg impressively demonstrated how closely security, the economy, and future viability are linked. The clear positioning of the panel, the impulses from Minister Behrens, and the many personal conversations provided me with important food for thought for the new year.
For me, one thing is certain:
Anyone who wants to be economically successful today must incorporate security – strategically, technically, and socially. This is precisely the path we are taking.
Stay farsighted!
Yours, Helge Peter Ippensen