Research, innovation and technological performance in Germany - EFI Report 2014

The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation addresses some of the key issues of German R&I policy in the individual chapters of its 2014 Report. The Expert Commission outlines the need for action, based on policy measures deemed suitable for securing and advancing the results accomplished to date through the Higher Education Pact, the Excellence Initiative and the Pact for Research and Innovation (Chapter A 1). The Expert Commission calls for a more efficient approach to research and innovation policy and a stronger and smarter use of evaluations (Chapter A 2). The Expert Commission stresses the competitive advantages of Germany’s functioning vocational education system and its impact on the innovation system: in this regard, innovation potential can be tapped especially at the interface of vocational and academic training (Chapter A 3). Germany can only play a leading role in the process of international knowledge intensification if it continues its efforts also in the fields of cutting-edge technology and knowledge-intensive services (Chapter A 4). A study on internationalisation trends in research and development (Chapter A 5) suggests that German businesses are increasingly conducting their R&D in cutting-edge technology abroad. In Chapters A 6 and A 7, the Expert Commission addresses current debates on electromobility and the Renewable Energy Resources Act (EEG) and reviews the effects of measures employed to date from an innovation perspective. With regard to both topics, the Expert Commission’s findings are rather sobering.