Outstanding, innovative and open-minded – research in Germany has a superb reputation all over the world. It is a research community shaped by universities, research institutions and extensive research by industry. The research covers a broad range of different fields with a special focus on future-oriented topics. Germany is one of the countries worldwide that invest the most in research and development.
Record investments in research
The massive sum of 105 billion euros was invested in research and development (R&D) in Germany in 2018 alone. Part of this funding goes to projects in universities, non-university research institutions and government research labs.
However, the German private sector is the main investor when it comes to looking for new methods, products and applications. In fact, it contributes more than two thirds of total R&D funding in Germany. 2018 saw over 72 billion euros invested, a record sum. The most important client: the German automotive industry.
Broad range of research
Higher education institutions are further important players in German research. They spend 18.4 billion euros to this end, conducting research across the entire spectrum of science. Basic research plays as important a role as applications-oriented research. This also applies to collaborative projects with companies and research institutes.
Interdisciplinary and international
One special characteristic of R&D in Germany is the involvement of large non-university research institutes. These mainly belong to the four major, internationally renowned research organisations, namely the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association.
Together with the federal and state (Länder) research institutions and other research institutions such as archives, libraries and specialist information centres, publicly financed non-university research organisations commit about 14.2 billion euros annually to R&D.
Key facts
Over 1,000 public and publicly funded institutions for science, research and development
708,000 staff in R&D including 434,000 R&D researchers
Over 400 research and innovation networks and clusters
Approx. 46,600 patent registrations worldwide (5th place)
Expenditure on R&D: 105 billion euros (2018)
Research budget
Source: destatis 2020
In 2018, gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) was approx. 105 billion euros, with more than two thirds of this total spent by industry. Higher education institutions account for 18% of this spending; public and publicly funded non-university research institutions, for example the Helmholtz Centres or the institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, invest 14% of the R&D total.
Statistics and reports
Official statistical data
In Germany, the Federal Statistical Office is responsible for compiling official statistical data, which it makes available to the public on its destatis website. Here you will find facts and figures about the economy, society and government, as well as links to more detailed databases and (online) publications.
www.destatis.de > Themes
Federal Report on Research and Innovation 2020
The three-volume Federal Report on Research and Innovation 2020 provides comprehensive information about the research and innovation policy of the federal and state governments. The main volume and three supplementary volumes (only in German), as well as the shorter English version, can be downloaded from its website.
www.bundesbericht-forschung-innovation.de
Data on the international nature of higher education and teaching
Important information about the international nature of higher education and teaching in Germany is provided by the "Wissenschaft weltoffen" website. This includes statistical data on the international mobility of researchers and international students in Germany and German students abroad.
www.wissenschaftweltoffen.de
Education and Research in Figures 2020
Education and Research in Figures is an annual brochure that provides an overview of education and research policy in Germany. In addition to concrete information on different fields of education and research, the brochure also includes details of expenditure by federal and state governments, as well as an international comparison of Germany’s position.
www.datenportal.bmbf.de > Education and Research in Figures 2020 (PDF, 2.14 MB)
National Report on Junior Scholars
The 2017 National Report on Junior Scholars publishes important statistical data and research findings on the academic qualification of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in Germany. It also examines the professional prospects of holders of doctorates:
www.buwin.de > Overview of Key Results BuWIN 2017 (PDF, 458 KB)