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Government strengthens European research

Minister emphasises: “Finding responses to the current challenges in Europe together”

19.11.2023
Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger
Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger © pictureAlliance/dpa

Berlin (d.de) – With its “National Action Plan for the European Research Area”, the German government wants to maintain the leading position held by Germany and Europe in the research landscape. The European Research Area was created in 2000 with the aim of establishing a single market for research and innovation and guaranteeing freedom of movement for researchers throughout Europe. With the Action Plan, Germany is laying the foundation for the strategic alignment of its EU research and innovation policy until 2027.

Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger said: “Research and innovation are the driving force for creative solutions”. She explained that this was increasingly important in times of wars, crises and conflicts worldwide. The minister firmly believes that “we can only find responses to the current challenges in Europe together”. The central objective of the plan is to fund innovative, excellent and independent research. In the European Union we share the same basic values, asserted the federal research minister. “This is a special opportunity for us, as it will allow us to secure our freedom, peace and prosperity, as well as our technological sovereignty in the face of global competition.”