The National Innovation System in GermanyMatthew M.C. AllenUniversity of Manchester, U. K.

What is National Innovation System (NIS)?

National Innovation System is the flow of technology and information among people, enterprises and

institutions which is key to the innovative process on the national level.

According to innovation system theory, innovation and technology development are results of a complex set of

relationships among actors in the system, which includes enterprises, universities and government research

institutes.

Brief History and description of the National Innovation System of Germany Rooted in the 19th and 20th centuries

Origins of important research institutes (Max Planck Society) and large innovative industries (BASF, Daimler, Hoeschst and Siemens) companies can be traced back to the first half of 20th century and indeed, in many cases to the latter half of the 19th century and beyond.

Germany innovative strengths often still lie in these industries that came to fame in the 19th century

Germany continue to have strengths in vehicles, mechanical engineering, and certain electrical and chemical-related industries

The area of pharmaceutical provided impetus to the establishment of successful companies

Brief History and description of the National Innovation System of Germany The relatively recent unification of Germany in 1990

has meant that many research institutes and industries, on the whole, less well embedded in eastern Germany than they are in western Germany.

However, exceptions as, for example, the Länder of Saxony has managed to focus on promoting the establishment of innovation-oriented organizations within its borders.

Current institutional structure and its evolution In terms of policy coordination and channeling of

research resources into certain institutes or areas, the German Science Council and German Research Foundation occupy key positions.

The most important research institutes are the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of Research Centers, the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the Leibniz Science Association, and the Centre for Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR) Foundation.

The GERMAN SCIENCE COUNCIL

Established in 1957.

It has the coordination and advisory function with regard to the development of institutions of higher education, science, and research.

It has the task of evaluating research institutes and accrediting, where warranted, newly established private institutes of higher education.

It provides guidance within the overall system. It monitors and helps to ensure high research

standards within universities, an important element of NIS.

The GERMAN SCIENCE COUNCIL

The GERMAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION

In Germany, it is called Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). It is the largest organization in Europe. It is the central, self-governing organization for science and

research in Germany.

Its task are the following: to select the best research projects by scientists and

academics at universities and research institutions on a competitive basis and to finance these projects.

It promotes research into all branches of the sciences and humanities at, primarily, universities, and, secondarily, other publicly financed research institutes

It seeks to facilitate cooperation among researches to support the development of early-career researches

To promote links between German research centers and those abroad.

The GERMAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The GERMAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION

This can trace its roots back to 1920 when its predecessor organization, the Emergency Association for German Science was established.

It has 69 institutions of higher education, 15 non-university research establishments, 7 academics, and 3 industrial associations.

The HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH CENTERS

This was created from 18 research centers that focused on various aspects of biomedicines, science and technology in 2001.

It is the largest research organization in Germany.

The namesake of the association is the German physiologist and physicist Hermann von Helmholtz.

Solarthermal Power Station

Scientists at Helmholtz focus research on complex systems which affect human life and the environment.

Helmholtz Centres perform top-level research in strategic programmes in six core fields: energy, earth and environment, health, key technologies, the structure of matter, aeronautics, space and transport. The Association’s research centers provide the most modern scientific infrastructure, particularly large-scale facilities and instrumentation that are also used by the international scientific community.

Seeks to link researches and technology development with measures both to prevent medical ailments and to apply innovations in various areas all over the world, including countries such as Russia, the USA and China.

The HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH CENTERS

THE MAX PLANCK SOCIETY for the ADVANCEMENT of SCIENCE It was founded in 1948 as an independent,

not-for-profit research organization. Its name was in honor to the great German

physicist Max Planck (1858–1947), the originator of the quantum theory.

Its roots can be traced back to before WW1, as it is the successor organization to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, which was established in 1911.

The common goal of the various Max Planck Society research institutes in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, arts and the humanities is to perform basic research in the interests of the general public.

By conducting such research, these institutes seek to pursue innovative research agendas that German universities may lack the resources in terms of both finances and personnel to carry out.

In many areas, Max Planck Society institutes complement research performed elsewhere.

Moreover, some institutes make their equipment and facilities available to a wide array of researches.

It has 78 research centers and institutes in Germany as of 2007.

The FRAUNHOFER Society It is named after Joseph von

Fraunhofer who, as a scientist, an engineer, and an entrepreneur, is said to have superbly exemplified the goals of the society.

It is founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer Society initially undertook a largely advisory and administrative role to channel public funds to researchers who were conducting research projects that could benefit industry.

It is the largest organization for applied research in Europe.

It works on different areas of research such as information and communication technology, life sciences, microelectronics, surface technology, photonics, production, defence and security, materials and components.

It conducts contract research for those in the private and public sectors.

One of its most famous inventions is MP3, which was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS). MP3 is the most widely used method for encoding and decoding digital audio data.

The LEIBNIZ SCIENCE ASSOCIATION It is the umbrella organization

for 89 research institutes which address issues of national importance.

Leibniz Institutes conduct research, provide scientific and research infrastructure and perform research-based services for the public, for policymakers, for academia and for businesses

The Leibniz Association was named after Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who remains the epitome of a great universal scholar.

The Leibniz Association has a decentralized organizational structure. Each institute is a legally and financially independent organization and autonomously determines its research programme in consultation with its boards only.

Leibniz research institutes cover the humanities and social sciences, economics, spatial and life sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, engineering and environmental research.

The Center for Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR) Foundation

Established as part of the Bonn Berlin Compensation Law of 1994. It is closely associated with the Max Planck Society (MPG). It is a non-profit foundation under German private law.

It does research in the field of Neurosciences, Cell Biology, and Biophysics.

The research focuses on signal processing in cells, in particular neurons or neuronal networks.

CAESAR uses modern photonic, molecular biological, and chemical methods as well as methods of microtechnology.

The focus is put on kinetic, microscopic, and spectroscopic methods to study and control cellular activity.

Summary of output trends

Summary of output trends

Technology policy in Germany has three main strands:

1. The government focus on establishing objectives for researchers in both public and -- through the use of incentives – the private sectors.

2. Concentrates on improving the research and development “infrastructure” (research institutes and equipment that requires major capital outlays).

3. Technology policy seeks to improve the skills and capabilities of scientists and researchers who either work in Germany or may be about to embark on a career in an innovation field.

National Technology Policy

In order to gain leading positions in markets that are both technologically advanced, the Federal Government announced in August 2006, a High-Tech Strategy for Germany.

It is reaffirmed by the Federal Government in 2009 and expanded into the High-Tech Strategy 2020 in 2010.

Its goal is to enable Germany to maintain its international competitiveness and continue its successful development into a knowledge-based society, thereby securing the basis for future prosperity.

Innovation Strategy

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