German voters
decided in favor of a new political course in Germany last autumn. As a result,
my government’s paramount goal is to create the conditions for higher levels of
employment. To do so, we must be receptive to new ideas and have the courage to
change our ways of thinking, because we can only succeed in international
competition through innovation and growth, high-quality products and services,
and research and education. These are the keys to the future. More emphasis
will be placed on R&D. This will include not only state expenditure but
also a greater prominence for this topic in public debate. Although we must not
ignore the fact that technological innovations can cost jobs, they also create
new employment through the development of new products and the opening up of
new markets, and I am therefore convinced that a leading position in highly
complex technologies is essential for international competitiveness and secure
long-term jobs. I am pleased that German industry’s investments in R&D are
increasing once more. Between 1995 and 1997, they increased by 11.8%. The final
numbers for 1998 are expected to show a further increase of 5.9%. Although
politicians themselves cannot guarantee the success of innovation, we must
strive to create conditions that encourage it. That is why fostering education,
science, and research is of prime importance to the German government. We are
meeting this commitment with action—the relevant budgetary funds have been
increased by nearly 1 billion deutschemarks for 1999. These resources are being
used in an initial step to improve, for example, the situation of students and
to assist our higher education institutions with urgent construction projects
and the acquisition of large-scale scientific equipment. Finally, scientific
organizations such as the German Research Foundation, the Max Planck Society,
and the Fraunhofer Society have received substantial increases in funding.
However, more money alone is not enough, important though it may be. We must
also adopt new practices in the spheres of science and research. In our
research policy, we are aiming for greater transparency, responsibility, and
competition among universities as well as other scientific institutions. We are
doing this not just to enhance the efficiency of our research system but also
to enable institutions to occupy a strategic position in global scientific
competition. Our ultimate goal is to foster new partnerships between
universities, research institutions, and the business community, for the better
the cooperation is, the faster innovations will materialize. Naturally,
research policy also involves the promotion of certain fields. In particular,
we see the key technologies as including biotechnology and genetic engineering,
new materials, physical and chemical engineering, laser research, and
microsystem technology, which are promoted through special programs. A strong research
base is indispensable. Time and again it breaks new ground in science, provides
fresh food for thought, and inspires research that is more oriented toward
practical use. Shaping the future responsibly means facing up to new
uncertainties and imponderables and requires the courage to take risks to
ensure that we do not squander our opportunities. Just as it is right to
acknowledge that modern technology has brought with it new risks, it must also
be said that there is no going back. However, let there be no mistake: There
must also be limits, lines that must not be crossed, such as the production of
human clones. It is not enough to simply leave complex ethical and social
questions to politicians; researchers and scientists also must live up to their
responsibilities. We need a code of ethics that is accepted by scientists
worldwide. I believe that today we must use our natural resources sparingly and
make “sustainability” one of the fundamental principles underlying new
technologies. That is why we also refer to the “ecological modernization” of
our economy. Through the development and widespread use of energy-saving and
resource-conserving technologies, we can reconcile economic growth with the
protection of our environment. Through such innovations we will succeed in the
future.