Research Policy : Germany

Research and the promotion of research in Germany are governed by the freedom of teaching and research as anchored in the Basic Law, by the country’s federal structure which divides responsibility between the federal and state governments, and by the demands of industry. It is primarily the scientific institutions themselves who decide what research to undertake and assess the results, especially in the field of basic research.
In 1996 the Federal Government submitted the “1996 Report of the Federal Government on Research”, which informs the public and parliament about the aims and focuses of its research and development policy.

In a market economy, private companies are basically free to develop new technological and economical solutions for new products and procedures on their own. Government promotion of private-sector research and development is based on the principle of subsidiarity. Only when companies are unable to develop - or unable to bear the total burden of developing - certain technologies that are in the public interest does the government step in to provide incentives such as tax concessions or grants.In the years ahead, government research policy will focus on the so-called key technologies for the 21st century such as biotechnology, renewable energy sources, mobility and transport.