Fraunhofer welcomes German High-Tech Agenda, calls for innovation freedom

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany's largest applied research organization, has welcomed the official launch of the German government's High-Tech Agenda. The institute views the initiative as a strong signal of prioritizing innovation policy and emphasizes the critical need for rapid implementation to ensure the program's success.

The agenda aims to strengthen Germany's innovative capacity and accelerate the translation of strategic technologies from research into practical applications. Holger Hanselka, President of Fraunhofer, stated that the program is moving in the right direction by advancing technologies that build on Germany's strengths to foster long-term economic growth. He also highlighted the importance of the built-in bridge between research findings and practical implementation from the outset.

Constantin Häfner, Fraunhofer's Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer, stressed the necessity of translating innovations into measurable value and market share amidst global upheaval and competition. He positioned Fraunhofer as an ideal partner for advancing and implementing the High-Tech Agenda's goals, urging for quickly developed roadmaps and large, impactful innovation projects rather than small-scale initiatives.

However, Fraunhofer also raised concerns about a dilemma facing German innovation: despite high-quality scientific results, economically significant innovations often fail to materialize. The organization attributes this, in part, to current structural and legal conditions that slow down or prevent knowledge and technology transfer. Therefore, Fraunhofer is advocating for a legal framework that provides the necessary leeway and flexibility for modern and efficient knowledge transfer. Proposed reforms include enabling small-scale series production, facilitating software licensing, and supporting the establishment of spin-off companies.