Igniting Ideas!

For the first time ever, the German government has developed a comprehensive national strategy for all its ministries with the aim of putting our country at the top of the world's ranks in tomorrow's most important markets. All political sectors that affect research and development will be geared to a clearly defined goal. This strategy puts innovation policy front and center in government activities.

1. Germany's High-Tech Strategy establishes objectives for 17 cutting-edge fields of the future - fields that will generate new jobs and prosperity in Germany. A schedule and concrete campaigns have been set up for each of these objectives: For the first time ever, each area covered by innovation policy will have a clear timetable that takes into account both research funding and prevailing conditions. The focus here will always be on opening up new markets or developing existing markets into lead markets. Logistics, security and health are examples of areas where this could be done within a short time.
2. We will also create more freedom by fostering more competition along the interface between industry and science. Co-operations and common projects will be supported as never before. Examples are research grants for universities and non-university facilities that win research contracts from small or medium-sized businesses, the support for clusters of excellence, or a competition to single out outstanding examples for the exchange between science and industry.
3. The Federal Government gives with its High-Tech Strategy new impulses for a faster transfer of research results into products, services, and processes. As part of Germany's High-Tech Strategy, new funding instruments will be developed for determining the applicability of ideas in unbureaucratic ways. These instruments will make it possible to ascertain quickly whether research findings are marketable. Germany's High-Tech Strategy will help industry establish such standards faster and thus make its products and developments more competitive. The High-Tech Strategy additionally provides for reorganizing the public procurement system so that it systematically takes new products and technologies into consideration - not only in requests for bids but also in procurement activities.
4. The Federal Government will improve the conditions for funding new High-Tech companies and for innovative small and medium-sized businesses. One important step will be the streamlining of government funding policy for small and medium-sized businesses. The High-Tech Strategy helps companies establish contacts with the scientific community and turn their own research findings into products. It also facilitates market entry for start-ups. Measures that will be taken to help start-ups and small businesses include a reform of Germany's corporate tax system and the further dismantlement of bureaucracy. Financing for research projects that is provided by banks or investors will be facilitated and the conditions for venture capital will be improved.

15 Billion Euros to Strengthen Innovation

The German government is investing an additional €6 billion in research and development during the current legislative period. A total of some €15 billion will be allocated for cutting-edge technology through the year 2009. This will bring Germany's federal government, Länder (state) governments, trade and industry closer to achieving their common goal: Boosting research expenditure to three per cent of gross domestic product by the year 2010.

Documenting Successes

The progressive development and concrete implementation of the High-Tech Strategy will incorporate all important players from the political sector, industry, research and - most particularly - Germany's Länder. The "Forschungsunion Wirtschaft-Wissenschaft" (industry science research alliance) established by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will serve as the pacemaker here. Experts from both science and industry represent the individual cutting-edge fields in the Research Alliance. Together with the respective ministries, they will supervise the implementation of the High-Tech Strategy. The progress made will be documented in annual reports, starting in 2007. From 2008 on, the "Federal Report on Science and Innovation" will document the progress.

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  We are taking on the challenges of the 21st century

  We are feeling the effects of globalisation today more than ever before: On the one hand, Germany is the world's leading export nation, on the other hand however, many companies are moving their headquarters or production facilities to other countries. Germany cannot compete on cost. Which is why we have to be better than the competition. However, competitive advantages and concomitant growth opportunities can be tapped only through innovation - with new products, processes and services.
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  We are generating new impetus - Our cross-section activities

  In implementing our objectives, we will take action in five key cross-cutting fields and co-ordinate them with one another: (1) The interface between research and industry, (2) private R&D and innovation work, (3) the dissemination of technology, (4) the internationalisation of research, development and innovation and (5) the fostering and advancement of talent. All of these areas - and their respective measures - are aimed at streamlining and shortening the path from idea to innovation. Competition and co-operation will be the guiding principles in our efforts here.
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  Full steam ahead - The individual innovation strategies

  Innovation policy is more than just research policy. Many conditions have to be right in order for new ideas from science and research to be able to develop their potential for benefiting mankind:
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  Our implementation of the High-Tech Strategy

  With its High-Tech Strategy, the German government is kicking off a process for the entire legislative period. This process will be both long-term and involve all ministries. A wealth of new programmes will be launched during the first year. A list of the government's key initiatives in the coming 12 months can be found at the end of this section.
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