Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

Research and innovation policy is a priority of the state government of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The aim is to efficiently structure the existing research landscape and set priorities for the capacity to operate successfully in national and international competition. This objective is to be achieved by targeted funding of special research priorities (e.g. plasma physics and its technological spectrum of application, biotechnology, information and communications technology, marine, environmental, climate and atmospheric research, sensor systems, medical research, maritime systems engineering and technology, and materials and agricultural research).

The state government’s research and innovation policy is also summarised in the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS), which was adopted in its new version on 15 June 2021 by the Strategy Council for the Economy and Science. The thematic fields of action for increasing support for collaborations between science and business partners are: renewable energies – hydrogen technologies, medical technology and biotechnology, as well as mechanical and plant engineering. In addition, there are horizontal technologies in the form of information and communication technologies and the bioeconomy.

These research focuses, which go beyond the traditional profile, open up new technological and economic options. This also includes providing targeted support for excellence-based research and the profiling of early-career academics for their optimal professional development.

Complementary open-technology instruments have been defined for the areas outside of the aforementioned fields of action and horizontal technologies, for instance funding for feasibility studies, individual company funding for research, development and innovation, and funding for process innovations. Support for the intellectual property activities of small and medium-sized enterprises will be continued. Another focus is promoting technology transfer from science to industry and supporting access to international markets.

The research landscape and research priorities are continuously being expanded and are a priority area of responsibility for interministerial political action.

In addition to implementing the Pact for Research and Innovation, the focus is on networking between universities, non-university research institutions and the business community.

Promoting both knowledge- and problem-driven research, especially in the form of applied and market-focused projects, is intended to stimulate excellence in research and development, give research and science institutions a higher profile, boost their competitiveness in attracting third-party funding, and expand international science contacts. In addition, the aim is to reinforce basic research at the state’s universities, taking into account the development goals agreed with the state.