Calls for sustained R&D investment in Germany in face of economic slump

Brussels, 11 Apr 2003

Distinguished German researchers have called for action to ensure that the current economic slowdown does not affect research and education, following a recent report revealing the full impact that the economic climate has had on spending.

The report on Germany's technological performance was prepared by the Fraunhofer Institute for systems and innovation research (ISI) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Coordinator of the report, Hariolf Grupp, said that cracks in Germany's technological superiority are beginning to show. Although the country's technological capability is still high, there is a real slump in information and communication technologies (ICT).

The report is critical of the tendency of investments in research and development to mirror the budgetary situation, and Professor Grupp called for the government to send a signal via an anti-cyclical research policy.

CORDIS RTD-NEWS / © European Communities