A New Culture Innovation for Germany

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A New Culture Innovation for Germany

The German government wants to make 2004 a year of innovation. " We

want to see Germany in a leading position with regard to inventions

and other innovations in research and technology," Chancellor Gerhard

Schröder said in his New Year's address. In an interview granted to

the weekly news magazine "Spiegel" Schröder noted that there are too

many restrictions on research in Germany.

A country such as Germany, which is poor in raw materials and has a

wage-intensive economy, can guarantee and increase its prosperity only

by making innovative products based on knowledge and competence. Now

that necessary reforms of the social security systems have been passed

the German government wants to devote more of its attention to the

second side of the Agenda 2010 program, i.e. to an offensive on

innovation. It is only by means of innovation that growth and

employment can be guaranteed in Germany on a sustainable basis.

Innovation, the second side of Agenda 2010

In an interview published in "Spiegel" on January 5 Chancellor

Schröder noted that two things are meant by innovation: investments in

research and development by government and industry, on the one hand,

and the creation of a competitive educational system, on the other.

Schröder criticized the fact that stronger investments in

biotechnology are being called for in Germany on the basis of the

economic potentials they hold out while, at the same time,

restrictions are being imposed on research in this area.

Schröder assumes that public debate will continue on biotechnology and

genetic engineering as well as on stem cell research. As new knowledge

is accumulated the German parliament will be faced with the need to

reassess its past decisions in the light of this new knowledge.

A new culture of innovation

In an article published in the December 30 issue of the business daily

"Handelsblatt" Schröder said Germany needs a new culture of

innovation: "This includes a need for greater public acceptance of

innovation and a broad public debate on the opportunities and risks

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