Working Towards a Strong, Innovative and Viable Research Landscape
In the run-up to the Bundestag elections, the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany is calling on politicians to work towards a strong, innovative and viable research landscape. The research sector, in all of its diversity, should be strengthened in order to quickly and effectively carry out urgent transformation processes in the face of Germany’s major challenges.
Demands of the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany on the occasion of the
2025 Bundestag elections
The Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany underscores the necessity to focus on ways to strengthen the German research sector in the face of global challenges. “To continue achieving excellence in times of geopolitical tensions and rapid technological developments, we need an environment that fosters research and innovation as well as a clear political commitment. This is the only way that the German research sector can harness its diversity to create new impetus, develop sustainable solutions and contribute to the training of tomorrow’s specialists and leaders. This not only forms the basis for social progress but also for economic innovation and international competitiveness,” emphasizes Holger Hanselka, speaker of the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany and President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
The Alliance’s specific demands include:
- Stable funding for research and teaching
- Cutting red tape and strengthening autonomy
- Promoting the diversity of the German research landscape
- Targeted reinforcement of infrastructures for research and teaching
- Enhancing the global reach of the research landscape
- A strong ministry with new responsibilities
The Alliance calls for the establishment of a ministry that combines research, teaching and innovation as an important cornerstone for managing major transformation processes in order to dovetail science and innovation policies more closely. Furthermore, the members consider an increase in research and development expenditure and stable funding to be imperative. Their demands include a sustainable increase in research and development spending to at least 3.5% of GDP, secure funding for the Excellence Strategy, the continuation and strengthening of the Zukunftsvertrag Studium und Lehre stärken (Future Pact to Strengthen Higher Education and Teaching) and and a reliable increase in financing via the Pakt für Forschung und Innovation (Pact for Research and Innovation). This includes stabilizing and increasing the program allowance provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to at least 30% through additional funding. The Alliance also calls for reliable funding for academic intermediary organizations.
What’s more, the new German government should advocate for strong European research funding and a substantial EU budget for R&D.
According to the Alliance, other key prerequisites for Germany’s future as a business location include cutting red tape, strengthening the autonomy of universities and research institutions and flexible legal and financial conditions.
The science organizations point out that it is precisely the diversity of the German research and higher education landscape that is key to the success of Germany’s research sector. This is why this diversity should be strengthened as a key success factor and not be restricted by requirements that would homogenize the respective research activities. The Alliance also emphasizes the necessity of making targeted investments in outstanding research and teaching infrastructures and of promoting the international reach of Germany’s research sector.
The demands for the 2025 Bundestag election can be found on the website of the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany: www.allianz-der-wissenschaftsorganisationen.de
The Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany is an association of Germany’s most prestigious science organizations. It regularly issues statements on important issues of science policy. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a member of the Alliance and has assumed the speaker role for 2025. Other members are the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Helmholtz Association, the German Rectors’ Conference, the Leibniz Association, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Max Planck Society and the German Science and Humanities Council.
Media contact
Monika Landgraf
Director of Corporate Communications and spokesperson for the president
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
Hansastrasse 27 c
80686 Munich
Germany
Phone +49 89 1205-1333
www.fraunhofer.de