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Gunter Grittmann
Head of Information and Communication
E-mail: grittmann@zew.de
Phone: +49 (0)621-1235-132
Fax: +49 (0)621-1235-255
Kathrin Böhmer
Public Relations Officer
E-mail: boehmer@zew.de
Phone: +49 (0)621-1235-103
Fax: +49 (0)621-1235-225
German firms carrying out research both in Germany and abroad realise considerably higher profits. They experience a return on sales ratio that is almost two per centage points higher than in firms without own research and development (R&D) activities, and still one per centage point higher than in firms with only domestic research. These are the findings of a current study conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. read more
In spite of the severe economic crisis, German businesses have maintained their levels of innovation. Although innovation expenditures declined in 2009 for the first time in thirteen years, the decline was lower than the sales collapse and therefore innovation intensity increased. Innovation intensity is a measure of innovation expenditures as a percentage of total turnovers in all businesses. For 2010 and 2011, businesses are already planning higher innovation expenditures, which will almost return to the pre-crisis levels of 2008. These are the findings from the recently published Innovation Survey 2010 for Germany. The survey is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim in collaboration with Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research and infas (Institute for Applied Social Sciences) by a mandate of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. read more
Firms in Germany curb expenses for innovation due to the economic crisis. After the innovation expenditures increased to a high level of 128.1 billion euro in 2008, a decline by ten percent in 2009 and stagnation on this considerably lower level are to be expected in 2010. Good news is, however, that firms have largely spared the investments for Research and Development as they are especially important for the long-term competitiveness. These are the findings from the recently published Innovation Survey 2009 for Germany. The survey is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim in collaboration with Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research and infas (Institute for Applied Social Sciences) by a mandate of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. read more
Driven by the relatively strong economic climate in 2007, German businesses increased their investments in innovation. In 2007, the German economy added more than six percent to its innovation expenditures. Altogether businesses invested 122.7 billion euros. However, in view of the cooling down of the economy, companies have budgeted for smaller innovation investments in the years 2008 and 2009. In 2008 the increase in innovation expenditures was limited to 0.9 percent rising to a total of 123.8 billion Euros. In 2009, businesses expect to reduce their spending for future industrial development in Germany to 122.5 billion Euros. This represents a one percent cutback in the innovation budget. These are the findings from the recently published 2008 German Innovation Survey conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim with a mandate from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research as well as the infas (Institute for Applied Social Sciences). read more
Driven by the good economic situation, German companies have increasingly invested in innovation. In 2006, the innovation expenditures of the German economy saw a strong six per cent growth and amounted to 115.5 billion euros. For 2007, businesses are planning a further increase in their innovation budgets of over 5.5 per cent. Yet for 2008, companies only expect a relatively moderate increase of around 2 per cent. read more
The innovation expenditures of the German economy in the year 2004 have risen by two percent to 100 billion Euros. For 2005 and 2006 the firms plan further increases to their budgets of one (2005), respectively two percent (2006). In the year 2006 the innovation expenditures would accordingly reach 103 billion Euros. read more
A trend reversal is likened regarding the German industry's innovation behav-iour. The share of industrial firms investing in new products or processes has once again increased a great deal in the "year of innovation" 2004 from 59 to 65 percent after it had already gained in the year 2003 for the first time in three years. read more