Germany grows its catch in the contest for smart minds

Ever since the European Council’s decision in 2000 to transform the European Union (EU) into “a competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy”, Germany’s government has been pumping money into research and development, writes Gunjan Sinha for Science. As a result, not only are German research institutions forging major changes in the way that researchers teach, collaborate and advance in their careers, but they are also creating jobs.

With good long-term funding prospects and attractive salaries, Germany has become a major contender in the global competition among nations to draw in top talent. Since 2000, Germany has increased spending on research and development dramatically. Between 2005 and 2010, the number of jobs in R&D grew by 15%.

Not only has industry contributed to this growth by increasing research and development expenditure by 21% during the same period, the federal government upped R&D investment from €9 billion (US$11.6 billion) in 2005 to approximately €13.8 billion in 2012 – an increase of 53%, according to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Between 2005 and 2009 alone the number of non-German scientists working in Germany increased by a third.
Full report on the Science Mag site