“Research, education and innovation: an international perspective ”

Peter Webers and Dr. Anne Pflug

Division “Cooperation with developing and emerging countries, Africa and the Middle East“ German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

2nd Euro-Mediterranean Brokerage & Venturing Event

on Research and Innovation

25 February 2015

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Change of constitu-tional law (art. 91b)

- More possibilities for long-term cooperation in science - Strengthen Germany‘s position as excellent location for science and research

Pact for Research

and Innovation - Financial planning security to institutions that are jointly funded by the Federal Government and the Länder - 2016-2020: funding is to increase by three per cent every year

Higher Education

Pact, Quality Pact for

Teaching, Excellence

Initiative Continuation of the three pacts: - More study opportunities - Ideal study conditions - Support of cutting- edge research at institutions of higher education

Amend-ment of

the Federal Training

Assistance Act

- Offer modern training assistance - Further promote international mobility

The New High-Tech Strategy

- Goal: translate good ideas quickly into Innovative products and services - Find creative answers to urgent challenges (sustainable urban development, environmentally friendly energy, individualised medicine, digital society)

The New High-Tech Strategy Innovations for Germany

The new High-Tech Strategy – understanding what belongs together

The new High-Tech Strategy is based on five pillars

Priority challenges with regard to value creation and quality of life

Networking and transfer

The pace of innovation in industry

Innovation-friendly framework

Transparency and participation

Enhance competitiveness Increase prosperity

Increase innovative strength Enhance value creation

Provide the basis for creativity and innovation

Strengthen cooperation Support implementation

Arouse curiosity Promote forward-thinking 5

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The German Leading-Edge Cluster Competition.

Why launching the Leading-Edge Cluster Competition?

•"A cluster is a geographical proximate group of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and externalities". (Michael E. Porter, On Competition)

•To foster research and innovation

•To formulate research questions relevant for the future

•To combine strengths and create synergies

•To promote the potential of clusters

•To Strengthen cooperation between BUSINESS and SCIENCE

•To safeguard growth and employment

•To bring together companies, scientific institutions and other stakeholders in a region to form strategic partnerships

Leading-Edge Cluster Competition in Germany

Concept and selection criteria:

1. Strong scientific and economic starting position, high development potential

2. Strategy and management ensure sustainability of cluster

3. Significant financial support of 40 million euro over 5 years

4. Substantial contribution of industry (min. 50%)

5. Ambitious goals to establish the cluster in the international top league and to provide economic surplus

6. No pre-determination of topics, regional pooling along the value chain, high level, independent jury

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Strategy of the Federal Government

on the European Research Area

The BMBF‘s International Cooperation Action Plan

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Examples…

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Thank you very much.