Future National Research Policies Within the Industrialized Nations Report of a Symposium (1992) / Chapter Skim
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Germany
Germany
Pages 29-43
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From page 29... ...
The federal government funds mostly through the Ministry of Research and Technology but also through other Ministries mainly the 13 large National Research Centers (Grossforschungseinrichtungen) , other national laboratories, and the better part of the Max Planck Society, the Germany 29 I believe strongly that we will only be able to cope with future challenges if we do not just assicinouslyfollow preconceived trends and plans but are always open to surprises and unexpected opportunities
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From page 30... ...
The flow of financial resources through the many different channels of the German federal political organization and through the many subsidiary autonomous bodies in charge of funding and/or performing research makes the German R&D system exceedinglypluralistic, frustratingly complicated, and fortunately resilient against one-sided influence from pressure groups of whatever kind. At times, however, the system also is dangerously uncoordinated, conservative, and slow moving.
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From page 31... ...
Closer and closer cooperation, with flexible exchange of R&D personnel, common use of research facilities, and joint funding schemes also will characterize the relationship between industrial research and research in universities and public research institutes. With every year it will be more natural to host and exchange researchers throughout Europe and beyond, especially with the Anglo-Saxon industrial nations.
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From page 32... ...
· Ecological constraints, coming, as elsewhere, often more from the psychological problems of the people (as fostered through a multimedia industry in this field) than from actual physical conditions, will relentlessly drive innovative technologies in resource exploitation, energy use, manufacturing processes up to the final stages of waste-use technology, and recycling in almost every industrial sector.
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From page 33... ...
German Unification What will be the consequences of German unification? As you probably know, the GDR had an active R&D system of the typical East-bloc type, with most of the research concentrated in central academy institutes rather isolated from the advanced educational system of the universities and with much of the development performed in university laboratories in the service of industrial combines, making university research institutes in many cases into little more than prolonged scientific work benches of these combines.
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From page 34... ...
During the 42 years since the foundation of the FRG a diverse research structure has evolved that, on the whole, is considered an optimum research environment and a basis for successful future-oriented science policy in Germany, even after its unification on October 3, 1990. The German research environment includes the differentiated higher education system with its traditional research-based universities, the proven technical universities, and the practice-oriented Fachhochschulen; it includes DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/German Research As ~Minict~rR i~c`^nkilh~ r^~..~^l~ .
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From page 35... ...
· On the one hand, we have to secure the basic necessities of life for a permanently growing world population, reduce the exploitation of natural resources, and provide the people of the Third World, if at all possible, with an increasing share of public wealth. · On the other hand, bearing in mind our responsibility for future generations, we must counter the overexploitation of the Earth's ecosystem and stop the destruction of the genetic heritage.
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From page 36... ...
In addition, it is a particular challenge for research policy to bring about international coordination between research strategies in areas that were, until recently, considered to be "little science." The urgent problems-such as the securing of the basic necessities of life for a growing world population; the organization and the handling of the ethical consequences, of such megaprojects as human genome mapping and human brain research; and the attempts to arrive at an understanding not only of the evolution of the cosmos after the big bang but also of the evolution of life, which is still going on on this Earth call for a new readiness to engage in international cooperation, for which new global instruments have to be developed. In contrast to the situation in big science, no inherent structure has as yet evolved in "little science" so that a new task has evolved for international science policy, which has to be developed and optimized.
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From page 37... ...
Numerous countries have realized that the development of technologies for exploiting the international knowledge potential, for overcoming language barriers, and for processing information is a major task for technology policy. Great efforts are made and considerable funds provided for tackling relevant issues; cooperative activities have assumed hitherto un Germany The development of new technological solutions that enable a still grounug humankind to live in dignity and prosperity is a tashfor the community of nations, with the large industna~izedt nations bearing a special responsibility.
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From page 38... ...
Thus, finding a comprehensive and sustainable solution for the final disposal of radioactive wastes and other substances that are hazardous to the Earth's biosphere is an immediate goal to be pursued by all industrialized nations, fully aware of their responsibility for future generations. Research in Unified Germany Owing to the reunification on October 3, 1990, the territory of the FOG has become larger, and the number of people who can nowlive, learn, work, and do research in the free democratic German system has increased by about 25 percent as compared with the situation before unification took place.
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From page 39... ...
The research environment of the ERG in its boundaries before October 3, 1990, will serve as a model. Through action in the new German Lander and beyond, the FRG hopes to continue to be a reliable partner for the in ternational research community.
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From page 40... ...
For instance, there is at present a big debate on whether we will be able, with all the other exigencies we see now in the national and international scene, to fund manned space research as previously planned and agreed. The German Society of Physicists has brought out a very strong statement against Gennan involvement, or expanded involvement, in manned space research.
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From page 41... ...
The major engineeringprofessors from electrical engineering, production technology, and so on are very proud to have been leading executives in research in some of the major industries. When they are called back to the universities, they get the professor's title and a lot of freedom to do contract work, which gives them, actually, much more freedom than they had while they were working in industry.
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From page 42... ...
In Britain the problem was handled by cutting back the public funding to produce a lower percentage; this was declared a success. But in West Germany we convinced industrialists to increase their share so that, overall, we have reduced public participation but have more money altogether.
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From page 43... ...
We should together provide funding for scientists from countries who cannot participate because they are not well enough off, as in those from developing countries. But to enter into international programs in order to relieve funding stresses on the home front I think is a poor strategy, for if everyone pursues it, it will not work.
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