Recent developments in innovation policy in the Federal German Republic

Since about 1960, the industrialised countries have intervened to encourage the development of the technologies having a high growth potential. The governments of OECD countries in particular have admitted that the pursuit of economic growth and the creation of new jobs depend upon the adaptation of industrial structures and innovation. Long before 1970 the West German government considered it to be clear that state intervention to help the industries of the future to grow, was a more constructive way to develop the economy, than to prop up declining ones. In spite of unquestionable results, the manner in which the State promotes innovation in West Germany has recently undergone drastic changes. The first part of this article aims essentially at explaining the bases of the new trends. The second part is devoted to studying the changes and will aim at presenting the advantages and disadvantages of the policy of innovation promotion. Finally, despite the relativity of the available indicators to evaluate the policies of innovation, the third part attempts to extract the main points in order that we might be able to decide how effective these new economic stimulants have been.