News & Views item - December 2005

 

 

German Government to Spend Additional 6 billion (A$9.7 billion) in Research and Development Through 2009. (December 23, 2005)

Annette Schavan, German
Education and Research Minister

    Deutsche Welle reports that German Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan in announcing the additional 6 billion funding for research and development said, "We must secure Germany's future as a place of innovation where outstanding scientists are forged." It is part of the 25-billion investment program the governing coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats agreed to in forming their "Grand Coalition".

 

According to Dr Schavan, focus will be on life science, health, and nano- and automotive technologies.

 

The previous red-green government led by Gerhard Schröder had agreed with states to spend 1.9 billion over six years to improve the country's academic institutions with the federal government providing 75% of the money. That plan represented a compromise between federal and state governments after the latter had opposed a federal push for 10 elite universities throughout Germany.