Germany renews its high technology strategy, focusing on selected future projects

Submitted by Stefan Lilischkis on 27 July, 2010 - 18:44

Country:

Germany

In July 2010 the German federal government renewed its high technology strategy, setting new emphases while continuing the overall approach that was defined in 2006. The objective of the renewed high tech strategy is to create lead markets, to deepen cooperation between science and business, and to further improve framework conditions for innovation.

According to the German government, the high tech strategy approved in August 2006 for the first time gathered the country’s most important innovation actors behind a common idea. The new emphases which were now defined are as follows:

Germany is meant to be a precursor in scientific and technical solutions related to climate/energy, health/nutrition, mobility, security and communication. The high tech strategy is being focussed on these five fields, fostering growth and employment. According to the German minister for education and research, Mrs Annette Schavan, “these are the fields where the most important issues of mankind in this century are decided”.
Future projects are meant to focus on selected missions, supported by forthcoming research and innovation policy activities. Such future projects pursue concrete objectives of scientific and technological developments targeting a period of ten to 15 years. Related to concrete cases, innovation strategies are developed and steps for realisation are planned. Among the agreed future projects are, among others, the “CO₂ neutral, energy-efficient and climate-adapted city” as well as “one million electric vehicles in Germany by 2020”.
National and European research and innovation policy are to be closely intertwined. In its “Europe 2020” agenda, the European Commission and the European Council launched an ambitious process which moves education, research and innovation into the centre of the European policies for growth. On this basis, Germany will contribute to a coherent research and innovation policy in Europe.
The framework conditions for innovations in Germany are meant to be further improved. This relates particularly to the conditions for starting a company, the specific situation of small and medium-sized enterprises, sufficient funding for innovation as well as access to venture capital.
Last but not least, research and innovation depend on an intensive dialogue in society. Therefore, new platforms for dialogue will be established, allowing citizens to more intensely discuss future technologies and research results which contribute to solving the big global and societal challenges.