EFI Report Presented to German Chancellor

Today, the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) presented its annual report to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär. Each year, the Commission submits a report to the federal government on Germany’s research, innovation and technological performance and brings forward recommendations for national research and innovation (R&I) policy.

Professor Irene Bertschek, head of the “Digital Economy” Research Unit at ZEW Mannheim, chair of the EFI Commission and professor at Justus Liebig University Giessen, comments: “The German R&I system is facing major challenges. We need to focus on key and future technologies, create an innovation-friendly environment and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. The black–red coalition government has already taken decisive initial measures: The High-Tech Agenda for Germany sends a clear signal that R&I is a priority and places a particular emphasis on key technologies such as artificial intelligence. In addition, the establishment of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation underlines the government’s serious commitment to advancing digitalisation in Germany and systematically reducing administrative barriers.”