The Free State of Bavaria has an excellent and diverse nationally and internationally recognised science and research landscape built on the foundation of its universities and non-university research institutions. The science system in Bavaria features attractive general conditions for early-career scientists as well as the close dovetailing of excellent research with its application.
The aim of the research, technology and innovation policy of the Free State of Bavaria is to create the ideal environment for science with attractive research and working conditions and modern infrastructures. Its purpose is also to support the growth and competitiveness of companies using targeted instruments of technology funding and to strengthen society’s awareness of science, research, and knowledge and technology transfer. It focuses on mobility, the life sciences, energy, materials and digitalisation. This is complemented by strong humanities and social sciences that facilitate interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in the interaction between fields.
The transformation processes that have already been energetically launched as part of the High-Tech Agenda Bavaria (HTA) and the High-Tech Agenda Plus (HTA Plus) will also be pursued and systematically advanced by the Bavarian State Government in subsequent strategies. Through the HTA, the Bavarian State Government has provided 2 billion euros to secure Bavaria’s position as an innovation and technology leader.
The HTA includes four programmes of investments and reforms: the AI and SuperTech programme (600 million euros), a redevelopment and acceleration programme (600 million euros), a higher education reform programme (400 million euros) and an SME initiative (400 million euros).
The Bavarian State Government has provided further impetus for digitalisation and technological transformation through HTA Plus, amounting to an additional 900 million euros in 2021 and 2022. This Bavarian Economic Stimulus Package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences accelerated the implementation of the HTA – measures that had initially been planned for later years were brought forward and new, additional projects were started.
Through this measure, the state government has given impetus to key enabling technologies and fields of the future, while also intensifying the transfer of technology into practice. It has enabled the full capacity of the new Bavarian Start-up Fund to be leveraged earlier and strengthened the attractiveness of the regions and tourism destinations. The HTA extensions complement and reinforce the programmes and impetus for AI, additive manufacturing and the life sciences. They also encompass new, important horizontal technologies, as well as fields of action that have become more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In terms of research and development in the private sector, Bavaria’s technology-focused funding programmes are of particular importance. The aim of these programmes is to strengthen the international competitiveness of the private sector, improve growth potential and create skilled jobs by promoting innovation.