National Strategies

BMBF-Aktionsplan Künstliche Intelligenz (Action Plan for Artificial Intelligence)

The BMBF Action Plan for Artificial Intelligence outlines efforts to increase the prominence of “Made in Germany” or “Made in Europe” in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Germany has significantly expanded investments in AI since 2018, with the BMBF currently supporting 50 ongoing initiatives in research, competency development, infrastructure building, and application transfer. The plan introduces at least 20 additional initiatives, reflecting a commitment to invest over 1.6 billion euros in AI during the current legislative period. The primary goals include translating Germany’s strong foundation in research and expertise into tangible economic success, identifying unique features for “Made in Germany” AI, addressing risks, and aligning AI activities with European collaboration efforts. The plan also serves as a precursor to further developing the overall AI strategy of the German government in collaboration with various stakeholders.

Fortschritt durch Datennutzung (Progress through data utilization)

This surge in data plays a crucial role in healthcare, science, education, industry, government, and sustainability. With the rapid advancement of digital technologies like AI, access to high-quality data is essential for pattern recognition and informed decision-making. This paper outlines the German government’s new data strategy, aiming to promote responsible, effective data use. It emphasizes data’s role in innovation, transparency, and societal progress, advocating for data literacy, accessibility, and control. The strategy supports research, a productive workforce, a digital economy, and sustainability goals while addressing data quality and diversity issues, including gender and age-related data gaps.

Strategy Paper Robotics and Automation 2028: Key Technology for Germany

The strategy paper discusses the significance of robotics and automation as a central technology for Germany’s future development. It describes how these technologies drive innovation, productivity, and competitiveness across various industrial sectors. The paper highlights how automation can assist in addressing demographic challenges and create opportunities to establish new production capacities and bring back foreign production.

Strategy on China

The “Strategy on China” is an approach by the German Federal Government in dealing with China in light of the changes in the country and the challenges arising from it. The strategy encompasses three dimensions: bilateral relations with China, strengthening Germany and the EU, and international cooperation. The goals of the strategy are to effectively assert Germany’s values and interests in the complex relationship with China, enable cooperation with China without jeopardizing Germany’s free and democratic way of life, sovereignty, prosperity, and security, and provide a framework for enhanced coordination on China with stakeholders in Germany, Europe, and beyond.

Integrated Security for Germany - National Security Strategy

The first National Security Strategy of Germany is based on a comprehensive understanding of security. The document is guided by the principles of “resilience, strength, and sustainability.” It emphasizes that living in peace, freedom, and security is not taken for granted. Strengthened defensibility, resilience and sustainability are the three dimensions of German security policy and the central parameters of the strategy.

Future Research and Innovation Strategy

The German government is restructuring its research and innovation policy with the “Future Strategy for Research and Innovation” to take more risks and strengthen Germany’s innovative power, while securing Europe’s technological sovereignty. The strategy sets the path to enhance Germany’s innovation capacity by creating better conditions for the development of urgently needed innovations through the advancement of science, research, and transfer.

Digital Strategy of Germany

Creating Digital Values Together. The new digital strategy for Germany is ready. It is intended to be a “signpost for a comprehensive digital transformation“. All ministries and the Chancellery have worked together to develop it – coordinated by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport. The strategy aims to advance Germany digitally and formulates goals by which the government wants to be measured. The strategy pools the Federal Government’s policy priorities for the digital transformation as a cross-cutting issue. Accordingly, it forms the overarching framework for digital policy in the period until 2025.

Startup Strategy of the Federal Government

The Startup Strategy of the Federal Government focuses on promoting and supporting startups in Germany. It aims to create a favorable environment for startups to thrive, stimulate innovation, and drive economic growth. The strategy includes various measures and initiatives to facilitate access to financing, foster entrepreneurial culture, provide support services, and enhance the startup ecosystem.

Gigabit Strategy of the German Government

The Gigabit Strategy of the German government aims to promote the nationwide expansion of gigabit networks in Germany. The main objective is to make fast broadband internet accessible to all citizens. Furthermore, it seeks to establish the foundation for a sustainable digital society and fully harness the opportunities of digitalization for the economy, education, and society as a whole.

Cybersecurity Strategy for Germany 2021

The cybersecurity strategy for Germany defines the strategic framework for cybersecurity policy over the next five years. The strategy describes the fundamental, long-term direction of the German government’s cybersecurity policy. Together with the cybersecurity strategies of the German states, it forms the basis for close federal cooperation in this area. It is also part of the European cybersecurity strategy for shaping Europe’s digital future.

Open Data Strategy of the German Federal Government

German Sustainable Finance Strategy

The German Sustainable Finance Strategy 2021 is an initiative by the German federal government aimed at promoting sustainable finance and investments. It focuses on the development of sustainable financial products, improving transparency and reporting, integrating sustainability risk management, and fostering sustainable investments. The goal is to encourage the financial sector to consider environmental, social, and governance aspects more prominently and support sustainable investments. By directing financial flows towards sustainable projects and companies, the strategy aims to contribute to the achievement of global sustainability goals.

German Sustainable Development Strategy - Update 2021

The German Sustainability Strategy is a long-term strategic direction of the German Federal Government to promote sustainability in various areas such as climate protection, resource conservation, sustainable mobility, agriculture and food, and social cohesio. The further development of the German Sustainability Strategy in 2021 focuses on updating and adapting the strategy to current challenges and goals.

Data Strategy of the German Federal Government

The Data Strategy of the Federal Government aims to enhance and structure the responsible and innovative use of data provision and data usage within Germany and Europe. This includes not only the economy but also the scientific sector, the public sector, as well as civil society. Special attention is also given to the inclusion of European values, ensuring that there will not be any data monopolies or widespread data misuse.

Roadmap Quantum Technology

As a response to the potential economic consequences of the Covid19 crisis, the German government is aiming to foster innovation in the field of quantum computing. This paper lays the groundwork for successful inclusion and funding of specifically quantum technologies and computing within the economy, making recommendations for actions, as well as pointing out fundamental challenges.

Update of the German AI Strategy

With this paper, the federal government updates its German AI strategy, originally released in November 2018. New initiatives focus specifically on the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic, sustainability, and the establishment of international as well as European networks. When it comes to the topic of sustainability, the potentials of AI technology for environment and climate protection are being addressed in particular. These new additions shall contribute to the overall goal of developing and applying AI systems that are responsible as well as based on the common good. Both attributes shall thereby form an inherent part of “AI Made in Europe”.

Excerpt of Digital Topics for the German Presidency of the European Council

Digital Sovereignty constitutes the leitmotiv of the European digital policy within the Programme for Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, from the 01^st of July until the 31^st of December. Complementing the Programme for the German Presidency, the national ministries have outlined their respective priorities. An excerpt of the focus areas for each ministry can be downloaded here.

Digital Agenda for Environmental Policy

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) published its digital agenda for environmental policy in March 2020. They describe how an environmentally, climate- and nature-friendly digititalization can be envisaged. It addresses four particularly relevant fields of action: Mobility; Nature Conservation, Agriculture and Water Management; Industry 4.0 and Recycle Economy as well as Sustainable Consumption. The agenda comprises a total of more than 70 measures, many of which are already underway, some of which are newly initiated and others which are under development.

Cornerstone Paper Data Strategy of the Federal Government

The Federal Chancellery has published its cornerstone paper for a data strategy for Germany in November 2019. Four concrete fields of action have been identified in the paper: The improvement of data provision and access, the promotion of responsible data use, the increase of data competence in society and to make the state a pioneer and driver of data sharing and use. Goal of these actions is to significantly increase the provision and responsible use of data, to promote data-driven innovations as well as to prevent data misuse. The cornerstone paper was first publicly discussed by an expert committee in January 2020, which will be followed by a broad-based online consultation that starts at the end of February. In summer 2020, the final version of the data strategy is to be presented.

GAIA-X – A Federated Data Infrastructure

Representatives of the German Federal Government, economy and science want to work with European partners to create the next generation of data infrastructure for Europe: a secure, federated system that meets the highest standards of digital sovereignty while promoting innovation. This project is the cradle of an open, transparent digital ecosystem, where data and services can be made available, collated and shared in an environment of trust.

Blockchain Strategy of the Federal Government

With its Blockchain Strategy, the Federal Government uses the chances blockchain technology is offering, mobilizing its potential for the digital transformation. A focus lays on the field of energy. At the same time, consumers and the state sovereignty should be protected. It will take action in five key areas: ensure stability and stimulate innovation, drive innovation, making investions possible, apply technologies in administrative service, spread knowledge and networking.

Digital Strategy of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research

With its digital strategy, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) seeks to bring about digital change in five key areas: strengthen digital education and training, generate knowledge and innovations from data, ensure technological sovereignty and scientific leadership, create security and trust, as well as live and work better and more sustainably. BMBF’s digital strategy is complementary to the High-Tech Strategy and Digital Agenda (2014 – 2017) and provides concrete measures on how to achieve these goals.

National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence – „AI Made in Germany“

Germany’s AI Strategy portrays the goals for the development and application of AI-based technologies for the next six years. With an allocated budget of €3 billion for the implementation of the strategy, the government seeks to create synergy between research, politics, the business sector and civil society to help Germany become a leading AI powerhouse worldwide.

Strategy on Regulatory Sandboxes – Enabling Innovation and Advancing Regulation

With the regulatory sandboxes strategy (in German “Reallabore”), the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) wants to enable digital innovations and advance regulations. In order to strengthen the regulatory sandboxes as an instrument of digitalization, the BMWi is pursuing three objectives: pro-innovation regulation and flexibility, information and networking, and launch and support.

Implementation Strategy of the Federal Government for Shaping Digital Change

The implementation strategy presents the list of challenges that are to be tackled and a set of concrete measures. Every challenge is accompanied by a detailed implementation plan, which will ensure that the right deliverables are provided in due time. The strategy covers a broad spectrum of issues – from digital competences and infrastructure to social and economic implications of digitalization.

Hightech Strategy 2025

The High-Tech Strategy 2025 stands for the aim of moving Germany forward on its way to becoming a worldwide innovation leader. The goal is for good ideas to be translated quickly into innovative products and services. Major funding is allocated for research and innovation in mobility, energy, health, security and economy sectors. The strategy has three main pillars: tackle the major social challenges, strengthen competence through education and training and develop an open, innovative culture. One of its flagship projects is the Initiative Spitzencluster which connects businesses, research institutes, universities and other relevant local actors to create synergies for research and innovation purposes.

5G Strategy for Germany

Germany seeks to become a lead market for 5G. To achieve this, the government issued the 5G strategy that stipulates the future technological and legal requirements for a successful implementation of 5G research and innovation.

Strategy Work 4.0

“Work 4.0” is a necessary extension of the debate about the development of the labor market with an emphasis on the digitalization of the economy. Germany’s “Work 4.0” roadmap is generally referred to as “Industry 4.0”. The question addressed in the whitepaper is how we can preserve or even strengthen our vision of quality jobs and decent work in an era of digital transformation and societal change.

Cybersecurity Strategy for Germany 2016

The Cybersecurity Strategy stipulates over 30 strategic goals and measures to improve security in the virtual environment and mitigate its potential risks. It seeks to boost the trust in digital technologies. The strategy also defines Germany’s role in drafting the European and international cybersecurity policies.

Digital Strategy 2025

The Digital Strategy 2025 demonstrates the priorities of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in recent years in developing capabilities and utilizing new tools to make smart Germany possible. It demonstrates which areas require immediate action. The recommendations are intended not only to enable the German economy to respond to new challenges, but also to ensure its leading position both in quality and technology for years to come, by combining traditional competitive advantages with the newest technology, modern methods and specific support programs.