This thesis deals with the National Innovation System from Germany. Germany’s reputation as innovation driver is however not only rooted in the achievements of the past. The country has seen drastic changes within its industries whereby some of the former flagship industries disappeared and new ones gained more importance. Especially in today’s times, the challenges of globalization, a growing amount of (digital) interconnections and the emergence of new national and international players put pressure on the German NIS. It is therefore important to maintain the focus on the most important and economically sustainable industries by creating new knowledge and innovation and by assuring the directed and speedy diffusion of both.
The nation has properly assessed the current challenges and acts in accordance with the fast changing environment by investing more than 100 billion US-Dollars in research and development (R&D) per year, securing their place as the nation with the fifth most patents worldwide and eventually turning Germany into one of the most important actors on the global economic landscape. Here, the country is especially characterized by its highly innovative industries with the automotive sector leading the way in terms of innovation spending. The successful German NIS however is not only achieved through its national industries but moreover roots in other factors like the interactions of public and private research efforts. These factors and characteristics of the German NIS are multifaced and will therefore be examined more closely during the following to provide a comprehensive overview of Germany’s approach to innovation and its subsequent diffusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The creation and diffusion of innovation within the German NIS
2.1 Joint industry activities in Germany
2.2 Public and private interactions
2.3 The diffusion of technology
2.4 Education system and personnel mobility of German researchers
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of the German National Innovation System (NIS), examining how industrial activities, research institutions, and the educational system collectively foster innovation. The study explores the interplay between public and private sectors and evaluates current policies designed to maintain Germany’s competitive edge in the global economy.
- Analysis of industrial R&D collaboration and clusters.
- Evaluation of key public research bodies like Max Planck and Fraunhofer.
- Investigation into technology transfer and government high-tech strategies.
- Assessment of the German educational framework and vocational training.
- Review of the mobility of academics and researchers within Germany.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Joint industry activities in Germany
Joint industry activities play a crucial role in the overall NIS since most R&D and therefore innovation derives from the business sector. Here, a major contribution to the overall creation and flow of innovation is achieved through formal and informal cooperation and collaboration within actors, originating from the same or a differing industry. Generally, those collaborations are divided into two parts, namely formal and informal. While the first mentioned focusses on the actual practical creation of innovation, the latter emphasizes the creation of informal linkages and connections between companies and industries which are necessary to diffuse the created knowledge and innovation. This informal part of collaboration also includes the end-users and the competitors, turning both into an important source for innovation (OECD, 1997).
Joint activities or R&D collaborations between actors of a common or different industry are gaining rapidly momentum worldwide, especially in relatively new and cost-intensive research fields like information and communication technologies as well as biotechnologies. The major aims of the involved collaborators are the pooling of technical, human or financial resources, the achievement of scale effects and the overall generation of synergetic results (OECD, 1997). The authors Becker and Dietz (2004, p. 211) fittingly stated here that the “exchange of information and resources with different partners are important factors in the innovation process.” Research efforts by industries contribute approximately 70% to Germany’s total yearly spending on R&D, making the joint activities to a major driver for the overall national innovation, accelerating and promoting the total competitiveness of German-based industries (FMER, 2017). As stated above, the historical founded and developed core industries like the automotive and electrical industries are forming clusters of joint activities (Allen, 2015). These manufacturing sectors provide therefore a suiting impression of joint industry activities in Germany and reflect their importance for the overall German NIS.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical roots of German innovation and sets the context for the current national innovation system (NIS) challenges within a globalized market.
2. The creation and diffusion of innovation within the German NIS: Examines the multifaceted components of the NIS, including industrial collaboration, public-private research interactions, technology diffusion programs, and the educational landscape.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the effectiveness of the German NIS, acknowledging strong performance in traditional high-tech sectors while identifying the need for improvement in emerging technological fields.
Keywords
National Innovation System, NIS, Germany, Research and Development, R&D, Automotive Industry, Technology Diffusion, Vocational Education, Higher Education, Innovation Strategy, Public-Private Partnership, Competitiveness, Knowledge Transfer, High-Tech Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper provides an overview of the German National Innovation System, analyzing the structures and actors that enable Germany to maintain a strong position in global research and industrial innovation.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the work?
Key themes include industrial R&D collaboration, the role of public research institutes, government-led technology policies, and the German education and vocational training system.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of how Germany creates, diffuses, and manages innovation across different sectors of its national system.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a descriptive and evaluative approach based on a literature review of academic sources, government reports, and institutional data.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body details industrial cooperation, profiles major research associations like Max Planck and Fraunhofer, explains government innovation programs, and analyzes the German school and university systems.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include National Innovation System, R&D, industrial collaboration, technology diffusion, and vocational training.
How does the dual education system impact innovation in Germany?
The dual vocational system ensures a highly skilled workforce, providing standardized practical and theoretical knowledge that allows employees to contribute effectively to their companies' innovation departments.
What role does the automotive sector play in the German NIS?
The automotive industry serves as a core cluster for innovation in Germany, characterized by intense collaborative R&D efforts and high levels of investment in new technologies like autonomous driving.
What specific high-tech strategy did the German government launch?
In 2006, the government introduced a high-tech strategy to promote leading positions in 17 technology areas, foster R&D infrastructure, and increase cooperation between science and industry.
What critique does the author provide regarding Germany’s future competitiveness?
The author notes that while Germany excels in traditional manufacturing high-tech, it demonstrates a relatively weak performance in emerging digital sectors, such as data processing and communication technologies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, National Innovation System (NIS) from Germany. An Analysis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1030207
