BVDW

Germany's leading trade association for the digital economy and the country's official IAB Europe member and IAB US licensee

BVDW — Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft — is Germany's primary trade association for companies with digital business models, encompassing digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce, and related sectors. With approximately 800 member companies, it acts as the central voice of the German digital industry in policy advocacy, regulatory affairs, and public debate. It has been a member of IAB Europe since 2007 and an IAB US licensee since 2011, making it the authoritative German node in the global IAB network for digital advertising standards and best practices. BVDW plays a significant role in shaping the digital advertising and marketing landscape in Germany and Europe. It publishes market studies and industry reports, develops technical and ethical standards for digital advertising (including programmatic, data-driven marketing, and online measurement), and provides working groups and committees where member companies collaborate on shared challenges. Its activities directly serve advertisers, agencies, publishers, ad-tech vendors, and media companies operating in the German market. The association also organises and co-owns DMEXCO, one of Europe's largest digital marketing and advertising trade fairs, held annually in Cologne. Dirk Freytag serves as president and Carsten Rasner as managing director. BVDW was formed from the merger of DMMV and DDV digital activities and has operated under its current name since the early 2000s, with no parent company.