topic Ministry

Aims and Tasks

We rely on the best our country can offer in order to create growth and secure it in the long term: That is to say, on the people living, teaching, learning and working in Germany. We want to improve their opportunities for participation and personal development. At the same time, we want to maintain Germany's competitiveness and create new jobs through innovative technologies and services.

Growth through Innovation

We need a new culture of innovation which embraces all areas of society. An innovation-friendly approach should become the criterion for state action. We need incentives for investments in research and development as well as framework conditions which promote research and development and enable innovations. Innovative technologies and services are the only way to succeed in the global competition. We are therefore aiming at a seamless innovation policy.

First concrete steps:

• Development of a high-tech strategy for Germany by summer 2006
• 6 billion Euro programme for research and development from 2006 to 2009
• Strategies for future-oriented technologies, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology and communication technology
• Pooling excellence by beacons of cutting-edge research

Germany as a Research Location

We want to strengthen Germany by establishing an efficient, world-class science system. We are therefore investing more and using the funds efficiently. Institutions of higher education and research institutions are developing unique profiles based on the quality of their research and teaching, their cooperation with industry and international networking.

First concrete steps:

• Implementation of the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation this year
• Selection of the winners of the first round of the initiative for excellence in autumn 2006
• Talks on a "Higher Education Pact 2020" with the Länder in 2006, including the start of the full financing of research projects
• Beginning of the construction of the large-scale research facilities - X-ray laser XFEL and accelerator centre FAIR - in 2007
• Regular presentation of an independent report on "Research, Innovation and Technological Performance" from 2008 onwards
• Launch of a technology foresight process
• Introduction of an initiative to internationalize German research by the end of 2006
• German presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2007 with the priorities of promoting top-class scientists and basic research

Germany as a hotbed of talent

An innovative society must clear the way for the brightest minds. The common objective of industry, science and politics must therefore particularly be to promote excellent young scientists and to attract outstanding experts to Germany. We therefore see the growing number of school leavers who want to take up training or courses of study as an opportunity. We are working on making German lecture halls, labs and workshops internationally renowned and attractive - hotbeds for talent from all over the world.

First concrete steps:

• Continuation of the National Pact for Training and Young Skilled Staff
• Development of an initiative for structuring the system of vocational education and training in 2006
• Provision of new training places by means of the "Jobstarter" programme which was launched in January 2006
• Support for the development of talent through additional funds in the budget for 2006
• Continuous dialogue with young scientists in the "Young Scientists Forum" from autumn 2006 onwards
• New incentives for excellent young scientists in the Initiative for Excellence, in the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation

Opportunities through Education

A country of new possibilities needs better opportunities for all. This means more quality and participation in education and better opportunities through education. We are giving every generation the chance to develop its potentials -the older as well as the younger generation.

We need active, courageous and qualified women and men and we want to use and develop their talents, independent of their social origins. We therefore need reliable findings on the education system in order to be able to improve its performance.

First concrete steps:

• 1st national education report in June 2006
• framework concept to strengthen empirical education research in summer 2006 and the establishment of an education panel
• requalification of young people with no school-leaving qualifications by means of a new programme beginning in the second half of 2006
• introduction of a new programme from the end of 2006 to facilitate the transition into working life for young people with poorer opportunities and in particular to improve their training maturity
• development of models for educational savings plans

Added Value through Science

Education, science and research safeguard the intellectual vitality and radiance of our country. They must not be seen simply from the point of view of their economic exploitability. They provide us with a reliable range of values and support us in finding creative answers and making balanced decisions in a changing world. They thus have an effect on our society as a whole. We will continue to enhance the dialogue between science and society and strengthen the humanities.

First concrete steps:

• Informatics Year 2006 and Humanities Year 2007
• promotion of the dialogue between science and society
• the strengthening of the social sciences, humanities and cultural sciences from 2006 onwards and the launching of discussions on the social, cultural and ethical dimension of research and technology from autumn 2006
• establishment of a research college for the humanities

The tasks of the BMBF

The BMBF has many different tasks at national level within the framework of its responsibilities under the Basic Law. They include:

• Legislative, policy and coordination tasks for non-school initial and continuing vocational training,
• Research promotion,
• Legislation on training assistance and the funding thereof (in conjunction with the Länder),
• The promotion of gifted school students, trainees and students and the fostering of young scientific talent.
• The promotion of international exchanges of trainees, students, persons taking part in continuing education, instructors as well as scientists. 

Until responsibilities are redistributed within the framework of the Federalism Reform, the tasks of the BMBF also include

• Regulation of general policy in the higher education sector,
• Education planning (in conjunction with the Länder), and
• The extension and construction of institutions of higher education, including teaching hospitals (in conjunction with the Länder).

The BMBF supports research through:

• The promotion of basic research and the respective organizations working in this field (in conjunction with the Länder),
• The promotion of key technologies, particularly in the fields of health research, biotechnology, information technology, ecological research and mobility, research and development for employment and innovative work, transport and aerospace, and marine technology, and
• Promotion of state preventive research in the fields of the environment, climate, ecology and health, the promotion of marine and polar research, research and development to improve working conditions, research into education and training, and research in the field of the humanities and the social sciences.