New German Government to Be Pledges Significant Increases in Support of R&D. (October 14, 2005)

    The October 14 issue of Science reports:

A "grand coalition" agreement between Germany's two biggest political parties, usually bitter rivals, lists an increase in research funding as the first point of accord. Under the agreement, Germany should invest by 2010 at least 3% of its GDP on research and development; the current figure is 2.5%. Angela Merkel, who holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, will be chancellor.

 

Annette Schavan, a former state culture minister, is expected to be named science and education minister. Schavan studied education, philosophy, and Roman Catholic theology and is thought unlikely to support loosening Germany's prohibitions on embryo research. But Horst Seehofer, expected to be agriculture and consumer protection minister, could ease strict regulations on genetically modified plants.

Nothing seems further from being accomplished than such an accord between Australia's governing Coalition and the Opposition Australian Labor Party.