Scientific findings and ideas must spark progress. They must be translated into marketable products. The better we manage to do this, the higher the level of innovation skills in our society. The spin-off is new jobs and increased prosperity.

The key to improving Germany's ability to innovate is closer cooperation between industry and universities and research institutes.

For 17 fields considered critically important for the future, the German government has devised innovation strategies. One-off cooperation agreements have given way to longer-term strategic partnerships.

Some of the most important fields covered by the High-Tech Strategy include climate, health, security and energy research. Key technologies too, such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and information and communication technologies are important and integral parts of the strategy. In these fields German research and German industry have particularly good cards for the future.

New impetus through cross-sectoral activities

In addition to promoting these promising high-tech fields the German government is also supporting overarching cross-sectoral measures.

The German government will thus be according an unprecedented level of support to cooperative ventures and joint projects that bring together the academic and business communities.

Research bonuses will be introduced and outstanding facilities will receive special support. The best projects involving cooperation between industry and research will be spotlighted, for instance in the form of the competition "Exchange processes between universities and businesses".

The paths from development to the market are to be shortened and speeded up. This too is an important cross-sectoral task. New promotion instruments will make it possible to check the economic relevance and applicability of ideas and research results more rapidly and with less red tape.

Finally, the High-Tech Strategy will have the back-up support of the "Forschungsunion Wirtschaft - Wissenschaft" (Research Alliance of Industry and Research). This body is made up of prominent representatives of the business and research communities. Relevant federal ministries too are involved.

The independant Experts Commission on Research and Innovation provided a positive assessment of accomplishments under the Strategy and encouraged the Goverment to further create gross via research an innovation.