On Hie Threshold to the Future : Germany

In proportion to its gross domestic product, Baden-Wiirttemberg’s expenditure for research ranks near the top worldwide; endeavors presently focus on information technology as well as energy and environmental technologies. Biotechnology and especially genetic engineering are likewise playing a key role today: Baden-Wurttemberg supports the establishment of production centers for these forward-looking technologies. A high-speed data transmission network has been put into operation which links the state’s nine universities, 39 Fachhochschulen and approximately 130 research institutions (including the Research Centre in Karlsruhe, the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg, and several Max Planck and Fraunhofer institutes).

Roughly 240,000 students receive instruction from more than 65,000 dentists and academic staff. In the field of the humanities, special mention must be made of the German Literature Archive in Marbach on the Neckar ‘er, which among other things conserves the literary legacy of most German writers. Scholarship and research have a long tradition here: The University of Heidelberg, founded in 1386, is the oldest university in Germany; the first technical college was founded in Karlsruhe.