"It's time for a transatlantic space for science and research"

Interview with Dr Georg Schütte, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Research

BMBF-online: Dr Schütte, science and innovation policies also played a role in America's last election. Is it true that people are increasingly looking towards Europe in this respect?

Schütte: Yes, in general, this is increasingly the case. Take one example: North Virginia, which borders the capital city of Washington, has developed into a laboratory for transatlantic learning. Whether it's about saving energy or processing rain water, about control systems for public transport or vocational training - the Northern Virginia Regional Commission maintains a close exchange in all of these fields with European and German partners, with experts in Stuttgart and Mannheim. Virginia wants to learn from Europe in all things sustainable. And Virginia is not alone. Many people in America are looking towards Germany when it comes to finding answers to the challenges of our time. At the top of the list are questions about energy and environmental technologies. They are interested in seeing what kind of science and research the old continent has to offer, in businesses, universities, and politics. We could see this during President Obama's re-election campaign when he praised Germany's shift toward greener energy.

BMBF-Online: And yet, America also has much to offer in this field.

Schütte: Of course. This is an interest that goes both ways. German businesses and consumers alike are impressed by California and Silicone Valley - the birthplace of the "cluster" concept, which develops networks of research and businesses in the high-tech sector. And even today, the United States is the worldwide leader when it comes to investing in research and development. American research institutions and universities are at the fore in terms of generating knowledge. And the recently re-elected President Obama also views science, technology and innovation as the crucial factors for economic growth, for the creation of sustainable jobs, and for the continuation of America's ability to compete internationally.

BMBF-online: But do Americans and Germans really have common priorities when it comes to research and science?

Schütte: America and Europe share a similar line of thought: we need growth in the kind of innovations that precipitate new products and services. For this reason, Germany's Federal Government has been working with science and industry in recent years to develop its High-Tech Strategy - a strategy that focuses on the great social challenges and thus the research fields of climate/energy, health/nutrition, mobility, security and communication, in order to develop solutions based on scientific findings. We know what positive effects smart research investments produce. With 2.82 per cent of the 2010 gross domestic product going to R&D investments, Germany is in the top sector of European countries. In the United States, R&D investments reached 2.9 per cent. There is an upward trend in both countries. And in both countries, those who are responsible for policy decisions are convinced: The key to sustainability and the preservation of our prosperity lies in science and education.

BMBF-Online: Then why aren't Americans and Germans working together more closely?

Schütte: A good question. The next years will determine whether or not we in the West are in a position to work together to develop a concept for prosperity and the capacity to compete. This is why we must lend new impetus to our transatlantic partnership. It is high time we created a common transatlantic space for science and research. Certainly the transatlantic agenda has changed significantly in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and following the attacks of September 11. America is looking increasingly towards the Pacific region - in terms of both economic and security policy. And Europeans are primarily concerned with themselves - especially now in times of financial or economic crisis. But this is precisely our chance to enliven the broad transatlantic dialogue with new issues in the interest of both sides. We have the opportunity for an academic partnership which will fill the vacuum that has developed between our countries in other areas: a partnership that will offer solutions for the future of our energy supply, for dealing with the results of climate change, for demographic changes, for questions of health, mobility and civil security. It would be a partnership that does not live in the past but that derives its vitality from the challenges of the future. The remark that Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel made before the United States Congress is just as true now as it was then: There's no better partner for Europe than America, and there's no better partner for America than Europe. In terms of science and research, we can break new ground with this partnership on the basis of common values.

BMBF-online:  That sounds like a passionate plea! What does this mean in concrete terms?

Schütte: You can see what opportunities close cooperation offers in everyday research: American scientists are working at the Deutsches Elektron-Synchrotron (DESY) and at the large Particle Accelerator of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Researchers from Germany and the USA are working on the satellite mission GRACE to generate a new model of the Earth's gravitational field with previously unattained precision. They want to know - are the polar ice caps melting? Are sea levels rising? German research and development know-how is also in demand in the USA: Fraunhofer USA, the subsidiary of Germany's Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft, Europe's largest institute for applied research, currently has several research centres in America which cooperate with a great number of American research institutes, including elite universities. Here new production techniques, medications or software concepts are being developed together with industrial clients. It's about biotechnology, solar energy and laser technology. And it's also about market access opportunities for German businesses.

BMBF-online: And the people?

Schütte: Research cooperation is based on trust and personal contacts. 1737 German scientists moved to the USA in 2010 - more than to any other country. In the same year, there were 1539 Americans conducting research at German universities. The number of foreign students is also increasing. The United States too is becoming increasingly aware of the significance of international study experience.

BMBF-online: That makes sense. But do you also have a concrete kick-off project in mind?

Schütte: Once again, now is the right time to provide new impetus. We have the unique opportunity to expand our innovative lead and work together to strengthen our capacity to compete in the globalized world. There are clearly enough possibilities. The American-German Framework Agreement on Research Cooperation, which was signed two years ago, could be linked up with America's "Partnership for Sustainable Communities" (PSC) governmental programme. American cities would make excellent partners, particularly in developing concepts for sustainable urban development or effective health care. We have much to gain from transatlantic inventiveness and creativity.