idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) today presented its annual report to the German government. The deputy chair of the commission is innovation expert Professor Carolin Häussler from the University of Passau. In its report, the Commission recommends, among other things, that funds for security and defence be used in a targeted, effective and efficient manner in order to leverage them as a catalyst for innovation. In this way, they can also become a strategic lever for technological progress, resilience and economic competitiveness.
Against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions and the associated strategic and technological challenges, the EFI's new report focuses, among other topics, on selected aspects of security-related research and innovation. It sees considerable room for improvement in this area and emphasises that it is not enough to simply provide funding; important structural adjustments must also be made.
Strengthening security policy strategic capabilities
‘In Germany, security-related research and teaching, as well as the associated transfer of knowledge, should be strengthened,’ says EFI Vice-Chair Professor Carolin Häussler from the University of Passau. ‘We need institutions of excellence that address security-related issues and transfer knowledge to policymakers through appropriate channels.’ The commission emphasises their importance as a basis for informed political decisions in an environment of changing threats.
Expanding the circle of actors in security-related research and innovation
EFI Chair Professor Irene Bertschek from the ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research states: ‘New technological solutions to security policy challenges are not necessarily produced by established players. In order to tap into new scientific and entrepreneurial potential, the circle of actors engaged in security-related research and innovation should be expanded.’
Companies are definitely interested in becoming more involved in the security and defence sector. A survey conducted in September 2025 on behalf of EFI revealed that 15.9 per cent of manufacturing companies offer products or services in the security and defence sectors; a good half of them (8.3 per cent) are planning to intensify their activities in this area. Although 6.1 per cent of companies in the manufacturing sector do not yet offer products or services in the security or defence sectors, they plan to expand their portfolios accordingly.
Structures for networking and cooperation activities can help to tap into the potential of players who have not previously been active in the security and defence sector. The Bundeswehr's new innovation centre in Erding, for example, offers the opportunity to improve cooperation and exchange between players in the research and innovation system and the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr should also develop a strategy for start-ups originating from the Bundeswehr.
Harnessing the potential of innovation-oriented procurement of defence equipment
‘In view of changing threat scenarios, it is extremely important for deterrence and defence that procurement for the German Armed Forces is both rapid and innovation-oriented,’ emphasises Häussler. The EFI therefore welcomes the fact that the Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act passed in January this year not only aims to speed up procurement for the Bundeswehr, but also contains provisions on innovation partnerships, market exploration, functional performance specifications and competitive formats. ‘The task now,’ says Häussler, ‘is to actively use the procurement law options offered by the new Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act for innovation-oriented procurement.’
Promoting the emergence of breakthrough innovations
Breakthrough innovations are of central importance, especially in the defence sector. ‘Germany must be at the forefront of technology in this area,’ says Professor Häussler. According to the EFI's recommendation, the emergence of breakthrough innovations in the defence sector should be promoted outside the traditional procurement structures and processes by expanding the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations (SPRIND) or by establishing an independent agency. This agency could then enter into strategic partnerships with agencies in other EU and NATO countries or be expanded into a European innovation agency.
Leveraging the transfer potential of German universities
In addition to security-related research, the EFI Commission's new report also addresses the transfer potential of German universities and universities of applied sciences. One finding is that scientific publications are hardly inferior to those of US universities in terms of their potential as a basis for innovation. However, the commission also notes that many of the applicants for patents based on German research results come from abroad. Professor Häussler comments: ‘If value creation takes place predominantly abroad, growth opportunities for Germany remain untapped.’
About the researcher
Professor Carolin Häussler holds the Chair of Organisation, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Passau. She has been a member of the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EF) since 2019. Last year, she was elected deputy chair. Professor Häussler's research focuses, among other things, on how scientific findings provide impetus for innovation.
About the EFI Commission
The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI), based in Berlin, has been providing scientific policy advice to the German Federal Government since 2008 and publishes an annual report on research, innovation and technological performance in Germany. The EFI's main task is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the German innovation system in an international and temporal comparison. Furthermore, Germany’s perspectives as a location for research and innovation are evaluated on the basis of the latest research findings. The EFI presents proposals for national research and innovation policy.
This text was machine-translated from German.
Professor Carolin Häussler
Chair of Organisation, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship
University of Passau
Email: Carolin.Haeussler@uni-passau.de
https://www.e-fi.de/fileadmin/Assets/Gutachten/2026/EFI_Gutachten_2026_27126.pdf
Video interview with Professor Carolin Häussler on the 2026 Annual Report (in German)
https://www.digital.uni-passau.de/en/beitraege/2026/efi-annual-report-2026 English version of the interview
The EFI Commission presenting the 2026 annual report to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz: Guido Bün ...
Source: Linda Köhler-Sandring
Copyright: Linda Köhler-Sandring
Professor Carolin Häussler
Source: University of Passau
Copyright: University of Passau
Criteria of this press release:
Business and commerce, Journalists, Scientists and scholars
Economics / business administration
transregional, national
Science policy, Transfer of Science or Research
English
The EFI Commission presenting the 2026 annual report to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz: Guido Bün ...
Source: Linda Köhler-Sandring
Copyright: Linda Köhler-Sandring
Professor Carolin Häussler
Source: University of Passau
Copyright: University of Passau
You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.
You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).
Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.
You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).
If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).
