Der Beitrag Young Atlantiks: Class of 2026 erschien zuerst auf Atlantik-Brücke e.V..

The Young Atlantiks Program builds on this legacy by investing in the next generation of German-Canadian leaders. Now in its seventh year, the program convenes a select group of emerging professionals from Germany and Canada for an intensive five-day exchange in Berlin, focused on current and future challenges on both sides of the Atlantic.

Participants will engage in in-depth discussions, workshops, and meetings with senior decision-makers, academics, and business leaders from a wide range of sectors. In addition, the Young Atlantiks delegation will attend the German-Canadian Conference in Berlin, held on May 18–19, 2026. Core themes of the conference will include security policy and shifting geopolitical realities, critical raw materials and industrial transformation, digital infrastructure and data sovereignty, as well as key domestic political debates in both countries.

Program Format:

• Up to 10 participants (German, Canadian, gender-balanced)
• Five days of in-person programming in Berlin, Germany (Sunday, May 17 – Thursday, May 21, 2026)
• Meetings and discussions with leaders from politics, business, academia, and civil society
• English as the primary working language
• Participation in the German-Canadian Conference 2026

Eligibility & Profile:

Successful applicants must

• Be German or Canadian citizens aged 28–35 (inclusive at the time of the program)
• Demonstrate leadership and impact in their professional careers
• Show a strong interest in the German-Canadian partnership and in political, economic, and social issues
• Be willing to actively contribute to the Atlantik-Brücke and Atlantik-Brücke Canada networks
• Come from any sector, including business, government, media, military, non-profit, finance, academia, or the arts
• Contribute to a diverse cohort, including gender minorities and individuals from all backgrounds

Program Objectives:

• Foster deeper understanding of the German-Canadian relationship among emerging leaders
• Provide first-hand insight into another country’s political institutions, society, history, and culture
• Strengthen and expand the German-Canadian alumni network
• Increase the engagement of future leaders within the Atlantik-Brücke and Atlantik-Brücke Canada networks

Costs & Logistics:

Participants will receive fixed stipends to help cover international travel to Berlin, accommodation, and group meals. Travel arrangements to and from the conference must be organized individually. Personal and incidental expenses remain the responsibility of participants.

Program Dates:

• Arrival: Sunday, May 17, 2026 (earlier arrival possible at personal expense)
• Departure: Thursday, May 21, 2026 (extensions possible at personal expense)

Program Dates:

Deadline for applications is Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Start application

• Step 1: Fill in the application form.
• Step 2: Upload your letter of motivation and CV.
• NOTE: All documents must be in English.

Contact:

Der Beitrag German-Canadian Young Atlantiks Program 2026 erschien zuerst auf Atlantik-Brücke e.V..

We are honored to introduce: 

Kendra Eyben (Canada/Germany) is a Canadian lawyer specializing in international law, democratic resilience, and public safety. As Counsel in the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section at the Department of Justice Canada, she leads cross-functional investigations pursuing immigration remedies against alleged perpetrators of international crimes and advises on international criminal law issues. Her career spans strategic and operational roles across the Canadian government, including national security litigation and review, legal advising on public safety matters, and the conduct of administrative investigations and decision-making.

Markus Iven (Germany) is a Policy Officer with the German Military Delegation to NATO in Brussels, where he represents Germany in Military Committee working groups. A former military war correspondent, he deployed to Mali and Niger. Markus holds an M.A. in Military Strategic Studies from the Netherlands Defence Academy, for which he received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Thesis Prize of the Netherlands Atlantic Association. In September 2025, he will return full-time to The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies as a defence policy analyst.

Felix Kaechele (Canada/Germany) is a seasoned technologist with a foundation in software engineering. He currently serves as the Technical Lead at Cisco’s Innovation Labs in Toronto, where he supports government and enterprise partners in leveraging cutting-edge technologies — including AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. His work and career spans multiple sectors, with a particular focus on digital health and life sciences. Originally from Leverkusen, Germany, Felix has also lived in San Francisco and New Jersey before settling in Canada in 2019.

The Young Atlantics program is organised in cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke Canada.

Der Beitrag Young Atlantiks: Meet the Class of 2025 erschien zuerst auf Atlantik-Brücke e.V..

May 11- 15, 2024

The Young Atlantiks Program, organized with the support of the Embassy of Canada to Germany, the Embassy of Germany to Canada, Atlantik-Brücke Canada and Atlantik-Brücke e.V., seeks to cultivate the next generation of young leaders to foster the German-Canadian transatlantic partnership. From May 11-15, 2024, ten young Canadian and German professionals, with diverse backgrounds and expertise, met to discuss current and future transatlantic challenges and to attend the 37^th German-Canadian Conference in Berlin. The program’s goals include deepening the understanding of Canadian and German politics and culture, fostering connections between the two countries, and enhancing future leaders’ involvement in transatlantic networks.

During the five-day program, the Young Atlantiks engaged in dialogues with a variety of transatlantic actors to discuss key issues on the international policy agenda, including climate change, defence and security cooperation, as well as digitalization and artificial intelligence. These sessions were complemented by a well-curated cultural and historical program, which took the Young Atlantiks to museums in addition to civil society and art initiatives. The participants took the opportunity to learn not only from speakers but also from one another on a peer-to-peer level, sharing different perspectives and experiences from various fields. All discussions were held under the Chatham House Rules. Outlined below, are three key takeaways from the Young Atlantiks’ discussions in Berlin: the uncertainty of geopolitical changes in the upcoming super-election year, the benefits of generational collaboration across transatlantic allies, and the need to implement concrete joint projects to enhance the Canada-Germany bilateral relationship.

 Super-election Year: Uncertainty in a Geopolitical Polycrisis

A shared underlying theme in most discussions during the Young Atlantiks Program was the looming uncertainty of geopolitical change with upcoming elections in many countries, including the European Union (“EU”), Mexico, India, and, most notably, the United States (“US”) this fall. The US policy under a possible second Trump administration would greatly impact many policy areas discussed, including environmental, foreign, and trade policy. The consequences for the transatlantic relationship of new and re-emerging aggression from China and Russia, respectively, were also discussed. Finally, while climate change was a set agenda item for multiple sessions, it frequently featured in many others as well. As one of the conference speakers captured, “climate change is an ‘everything’ issue,” with intersectional impacts across all sectors. While Germany and Canada share generally similar approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, additional emphasis was placed on the countries acting together in supporting the world’s transition to net-zero, including Global South actors. The group learned about possible impacts of the EU election on the European Green Deal as well as ongoing debates in the Canadian context, which has a resource-based economy. Many speakers shared how domestic policy areas, such as inflation, employment, and immigration, link to the current geopolitical situation, highlighting the complexities foreign policy needs to consider.

Fostering Collaboration Across Generations, the Atlantic and Beyond

[related] When discussing the geopolitical challenges during the super-election year, most speakers stressed the importance of fostering collaborations between Germany and Canada across generations. While of particular importance in this context, building these relationships would serve both countries well regardless of election outcomes. Many guests during the Young Atlantiks program showed their appreciation for bringing together the next generation of transatlantic leaders and were  seeking the Young Atlantiks’ input as much as the Young Atlantiks sought theirs. Speakers collectively stressed a focus on being more agile, increasing collaboration, engaging other young people, and emphasizing what unites Germany, Canada, and other partners, rather than what divides them. To strengthen collaborations and partnerships, it is crucial to engage with the different cultures and populations of Germany and Canada, as well as to seek and maintain conversations with those who are not necessarily like-minded to find common ground and build trust. In a constantly changing world, the forces of government, industry, and civil society need to pull together in order to secure peace and prosperity for and with future generations. This can only be achieved through cooperation and collaboration.

Moving Beyond Rhetoric: Building a Concrete and Reliable Transatlantic Partnership

The Young Atlantiks Program highlighted that bilateral relations are currently at an all-time high, reflecting a strong and vibrant partnership. It is, however, imperative that this positive diplomatic climate is translated into concrete actions and initiatives. Instead of simply acknowledging the success of current bilateral relations, decisive steps need to be taken to initiate specific projects, advance particular issues, and ensure these relationships can weather the coming potential geopolitical instability. A prominent example is the trade agreement with Canada, which Germany has ratified, but other EU member states, such as France, have not yet. This situation highlights a critical challenge: if universal ratification of a trade agreement with a close and like-minded partner like Canada cannot be achieved, with whom can the EU successfully negotiate such agreements? While the United States will naturally remain Canada’s most important partner, the EU and Germany must elevate their commitments and take the Canadian relationship more seriously. Given the growing notion of isolationism in the US political debate, this would benefit both Canada and Germany. Strengthening the transatlantic relationship involves not only economic and trade matters but also addressing broader geopolitical, security, and environmental challenges together. By moving beyond rhetoric and focusing on tangible outcomes, the Canada-Germany relationship can be strengthened, contributing to a more resilient and prosperous future for both countries and partners.

Der Beitrag 2024 Young Atlantiks Program Report erschien zuerst auf Atlantik-Brücke e.V..