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Research - Germany

Updated 12/2010

Legal requirements

The EU is aiming to invest 3 % of GDP in research and development by 2020. With this in mind, the Federal Government is encouraging businesses to invest in research and innovation and is keen to improve the climate for research and innovation.

The Federal Government has brought all the research, technology and innovation activities together in the high-tech strategy for Germany.

The new high-tech strategy focuses the research and technology support programmes on the major challenges of the future, such as: new requirements in terms of mobility, a climate-friendly energy supply, individuals’ increased requirements in terms of health and safety, and new electronic forms of communication. To this end, future projects are defined, with which selected missions will be at the core of future research and innovation policy. They make clear to people the objectives that are to be achieved with research and development in the coming 10 to 15 years. At the same time, they set out innovation strategies and plans showing how we can achieve these objectives in manageable gradual steps. The objectives include 1 million electric vehicles by 2020.

  • High-tech strategy Deutsch

As far as businesses are concerned, constant improvement of the general conditions is also important. This particularly concerns effective protection of intellectual property and cost-effective organisation of the patent system. The Federal Government has been campaigning for several years for a low-cost EU patent that is valid in all the countries of the European Union. Other topics include tax measures, e.g. to support venture capital, the modernisation of the state through increased procurement of innovative products and services or the promotion of standardisation processes.

Alongside R&D, innovation is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage research.

Resources

  • Support database: Federal Government, federal state and EU support programmes and financial aid Deutsch
  • The Federal Government’s funding advisory service Deutsch

The ERP start-up fund provides support funding in areas such as setting up and consolidating a business, research and innovation (all fields) and economic activities.

The fund is open to small commercial technology firms whose main offices are in Germany. Firms must meet the EU’s defined criteria for small businesses (fewer than 50 employees and an annual balance sheet or turnover of no more than EUR 10 million).

  • ERP start-up fund Deutsch
  • Research and innovation support from the federal states Deutsch

Programmes

In addition to the technology-specific specialist programmes, there are technology-neutral support programmes for SMEs in particular:

  • Research funding/knowledge sharing between industry and science Deutsch
  • Promoting technology for SMEs through the ZIM and KMU-innovativ programmes Deutsch
  • Innovative business start-ups Deutsch
  • Innovation advice for SMEs Deutsch
  • Technology transfers for SMEs Deutsch
  • Research infrastructure for SMEs Deutsch
  • Technology-specific support measures Deutsch
  • Eurostars funding programme Deutsch

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

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Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

The Federal Government’s ‘Research and Innovation’ funding advisory service is the first port of call for all questions regarding help for research and innovation. It offers support in the allocation of project ideas and briefs colleges, research bodies and businesses on the Federal Government’s research structure, support programmes and partners. It also provides information on current support initiatives. A free telephone helpline is also available.

  • Federal ‘Research and Innovation’ Funding Advisory Service Deutsch

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local partners.

The EUREKA/Cost Bureau (ECB) manages the EUREKA funding programme Eurostars. Eurostars is a funding and support programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that wish to lead joint research and development projects with partners in other member countries as part of the EUREKA European research initiative.

  • Eurostars flyer pdf [1 MB] Deutsch