To Hell with Progress -- This is Politics. German Universities Windup as Smoked Salmon in the Bagel. (July 15, 2004)

    This past February, Edelgard Bulmahn, Germany's federal research minister, announced plans for a competition to start this summer. From 2006 to 2010, up to ten universities were to receive an extra €50 million each year for hiring top scientists, modernizing labs, and improving research and education by directing and concentrating resources to bring German academe up to international competitiveness.

By June while the plan awaited approval of a commission of federal and state government representatives before the initial implementation early next year, the federal opposition has already claimed funding is inadequate, and along the line the states (Länder) had agreed to ante up 25% of the required funds ... But at a meeting last week Länder controlled by Christian Democrats ( the federal government is a a coalition of Social Democrats and Greens) stalled demanding clarification of responsibilities and the matter has been referred to a committee which is expected to report ... no one knows quite when and each side accusing the other of playing politics.

Meanwhile a statement issued by Germany's main grant-giving agency (DFG) said, "Top university research in Germany needs extra funding to compete on a global stage," and pleaded with the politicians to get on with it.

 According to Jürgen Mlynek, president of the Humboldt University in Berlin, "It's the same old story; everyone agrees on the content, but no one is prepared to agree politically."