Utilizing the Full Potential Research

05/24/2004
On May 24, 2004 the Humboldt Institution on Transatlantic Issues held a work-shop on the subject of „Utilizing the Full Potential of Research - a Comparision Between Germany and the USA.” 18 European and American experts from academia, government and business came together to compare the German and American research and innovation systems, with the goal of formulating proposals to improve the research and innovation process in Germany. As a result of this workshop, a report was prepared which presents a range of conclusions and recommendations discussed during the workshop. However, it does not necessarily reflect a consensus among all participants.

Summary
Innovation is decisive for the competitiveness of a nation, especially in a developed economy such as Germany. Innovation is more than just scientific progress; it is the creation of new economic advantages from new ideas, often through cooperation between business and academia.

Germany has clear weaknesses in the utilization of its research system when compared with the United States.

• The US is strong in the fields of scientific innovation and in the development of new products, services and business concepts. The economic environment, characterized by intense competition, regionally specialized clusters and innovative enterprises, contributes a great deal to this strength, as does the research and education system, which benefits from high public and private sector investments and a high degree of differentiation and competition. Universities, a core element of this system, encourage the broadest possible utilization of their research, for example through technology transfer.
• Germany’s research performance is quite strong, despite growing weakness in certain areas. However, the lack of economically relevant innovation is disconcerting. Reforms are necessary in the research system itself, especially in universities, which suffer from over-regulation. In contrast, private sector research and research outside of universities in the publicly funded research institutes are internationally competitive.

The German research system is in need of structural reform, especially where universities are concerned. Only then will an increase in financial resources lead to real improvement in innovation and performance.

• A core element of this reform is the development of individual univer-sity mission statements, which include a targeted research and education profile for each institution within a wider environment of open and transparent competition among universities. The success of an individual university will be dependent upon attracting researchers, students and partners in academia and business who fit this profile.


• To implement and spur the development and implementation of such profiles, it is necessary to reform a long list of government regulations which stand in the way of the modernization of decision-making processes. To a large degree, this requires the creation of more autonomy for universities. However, it is also necessary that competitive pressures between universities be increased, so that this freedom is used responsibly.


• For example, more autonomy could be provided by more flexible wage agreements, an end to the investiture system for civil servants at universities, and autonomy in the appointment of professors and in internal budgeting. In university governance, the powers of the executive should be strengthened relative to that of the legislative – i.e. relative to the governing boards of the universities.


• More competition could be promoted through a more results-oriented system of public funding for universities, equal treatment for public and private institutions of higher learning, more differen-tiation among the German Länder and more transparency in re-spect to the performance of the universities in teaching and research.

Location:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät I
Mohrenstraße 41

Download for this Workshop:
Policy Paper: "Utilizing the Full Potential of Research"

Participants:
Dr. Kristina Böhlke
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

John Decker
Senat von Kalifornien

Anne Forde
Science's Next Wave Magazine

Prof. Christer Garrett, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Thomas Gawlitta
berlinpolis

Dr. Janko Jochimsen
m2 Consulting

Dr. Christian Ketels
Harvard Business School

Dr. Stefan Kooths
Münster Institute für Computational Economics (MICE)

Dr. Marion Müller
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Dr. Petra Mühlbrett-Jung
SPD Fraktion im Deutschen Bundestag

Dr. Thomas Multhaup
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

Joern Pelzer
3i Investments plc

Prof. Phillip Phan, Ph.D.
Haniel Gastprofessor, Institut für Entrepreneurship/ Innovationsmanagement, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

Dr. Margrit Seckelmann
Deutsche Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer

Dr. Tim Stuchtey
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Christian Tomuschat
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Prof. Bernd Widdig Ph.D.
MIT International Science & Technology Initiative

Ralf Baumann
Deutsche Telekom