Sponsors Of Research : Germany

The higher education institutions are in many areas, especially basic scientific research and the humanities, the most important sponsors of research and often the prime source of innovation. Application-oriented basic research is taking on increasing importance. In fields of applied research and development, higher education institutions cooperate with other establishments and industrial laboratories, thus speeding up the practical application of their theoretical findings. The Fachhochschulen, too, play an important role in application-oriented research and are particularly useful contacts and intermediaries for small firms.

Closely linked with the higher education institutions are the six academies of science in Dusseldorf, Gottingen, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Mainz and Munich, as well as the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of the Arts founded in 1992. They are centers of scientific communication and mainly support long-term scholarly projects such as the publication oi encyclopedias, etc. Crucial support for research at higher education institutions comes from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFC), the largest sponsor after the federal and state governments. In 1996 alone it dealt with about 20,900 applications for research funds, a record number which reflects in an impressive manner the creativity and capacity for innovation of Germany’s universities. The DFG receives its funds from the federal and state governments (in 1995 approximately DM 1.9 billion).