The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has published a strategy paper entitled “Eckpunkte und Leitlinien zur Weiterentwicklung der Energieforschungspolitik der Bundesregierung (Cornerstones and guidelines for the continued development of the German federal government’s energy research policy)”. The detailed analyses and suggestions were developed as a result of the cooperation between a number of institutes in the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres as part of a broadly based consultation process.

The scientists made numerous technology-specific recommendations, and also offered suggestions for the political control and organisation of research work, the further development of research infrastructure, and for integration into international frameworks. They explicitly recommend a uniform approach to energy research policy.

Background

The German federal government’s current energy research programme is to be continued at the start of the next legislative period. The federal government defines the goals and focal points of its energy research policy and the associated support mechanisms in its energy research programme for the coming years. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology currently plays the leading role here. As part of their areas of responsibility, other federal ministries are also involved in supporting research and development of modern energy technologies.

The currently valid 5th energy research programme, entitled “Innovation and new energy technologies”, came into force on 1 January 2006. It was prepared by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Download

The strategy paper can be downloaded as a PDF file from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology’s website.

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

The Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres is the largest scientific organisation in Germany. This association involves 16 research centres in the areas of science, technology, biology and medicine with around 28,000 employees in total, and its goals include “pursuing the long-term research goals of the state and of society”.