The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation - EFI) provides scientific advice to the German Federal Government and periodically delivers reports on research, innovation and technological productivity in Germany. A key task is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the German innovation system in an international comparison. Furthermore, Germany’s perspectives as a location for research and innovation are evaluated on the basis of the latest research findings. EFI presents proposals for national research and innovation policy.
To name a few of the EFI recommendations which have impacted German politics since the first report in 2008:
- the increase in research and development (R&D) expenditure to 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product (3.5 percent target),
- the improvement of the framework conditions for venture capital and start-ups,
- the expansion of Germany's e-Government,
- a stronger orientation of the German Federal Government towards digitalization and its implications,
- the introduction of tax incentives for R&D activities, as well as
- the establishment of a German agency for disruptive innovation.