The six mission teams comprise representatives from various federal ministries and were formed on 25 May 2023. Their role is to monitor and assess the implementation of the mission goals in the individual ministries. The teams consist of 10 to 15 members from departments of the ministries concerned. They act as interface between the ministries and the Forum #Zukunftsstrategie.

The mission teams are jointly coordinated by the two (in some cases three) federal ministries with the biggest stake in each mission. The first meeting of the advisory Forum #Zukunftsstrategie on 21 September 2023 kicked off the collaboration between the mission teams and the experts of the Forum.

The mission teams broke down the missions into sub‑missions to which they assigned the goals laid out in the Future Research and Innovation Strategy. The sub‑missions largely correspond to the subheadings in the relevant chapters on the missions in the full text of the Future Strategy. You can download a list of the sub‑missions and corresponding goals for each mission here (in German) .

Further information on the focus and composition of the six mission teams is provided in the following.

Mission team 1

The goal of mission 1 is a competitive industry that is characterized by resource efficiency and circularity. To this end, modern technologies for a competitive and climate‑neutral circular economy are to be developed and renewable and secure sources of energy are to be tapped. Mobility, buildings as well as urban and regional development are to be designed sustainable.

Coordination: BMBF, BMDV, BMWK

Ministries involved: BMEL, BMF, BMUV, BMVg, BMWSB

Mission mentors:

• Professor Dr.-Ing. Christine Ahrend (Technische Universität Berlin)
• Dr Alexandra Dehnhardt (Institute for Ecological Economy Research, IÖW)
• Dr Helmut Winterling (BASF SE)

Mission team 2

Mission 2 is aimed at advancing climate protection, climate adaptation, food security and the preservation of biodiversity. Protecting people, the environment and nature is essential for safeguarding the natural basis of human life. Research in the coming years will focus on understanding the whole picture of global correlations and regional impacts of global warming and biodiversity loss. Another goal is to develop and implement strategies and solutions for mitigating causes and negative impacts and adapting to those changes. Climate change and biodiversity loss require quick, efficient action. Another research policy focus is on how the world population can be fed in a sustainable way, or in other words how food security can be ensured without jeopardizing biological diversity and climate protection.

Coordination: BMBF, BMEL, BMUV

Ministries involved: AA, BMAS, BMDV, BMF, BMWK, BMWSB

Mission mentors:

• Professor Dr Ottmar Edenhofer (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)
• Professor Dr Frank Ewert (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, ZALF)
• Professor Dr Christian Wirth (Leipzig University)

Mission team 3

Mission 3 is committed to improving the health of the population. More specifically the aim is to enhance the understanding and treatment of widespread as well as age-related diseases, to further utilise the potential of digital technology in health research and in the provision of medical and nursing care, to strengthen innovation and improve prevention based on a One Health approach, and to unlock the innovative potential of biotechnology. Moreover, Germany wants to assume international responsibility also in the area of health research.

Coordination: BMBF, BMG

Ministries involved: BMAS, BMF, BMFSFJ, BMUV, BMVg, BMWK

Mission mentors:

• Professor Dr. med. MPH Wolfgang Hoffmann (Greifswald University Medicine)
• Dr Isabel Nahal Schellinger (Angiolutions GmbH)
• Dr. med. Benedikt Westphalen (University Hospital of Munich)

Mission team 4

Mission 4 is aimed at securing Germany’s and Europe’s digital and technological sovereignty and harnessing the potential of digitalization. Technological and digital sovereignty in Germany and Europe is a guiding principle of our industrial, digital and innovation policy and should be strengthened on a lasting basis. Therefore we want to achieve a leading position internationally in key technologies and tap into new topics. The aim is to actively shape these internationally and on an equal footing in line with our values and to define relevant norms and standards – for a sustainable and free future, for securing our prosperity, and for safeguarding our values. Further aims of this mission are to ensure the resilience of information and communication systems, increase the efficiency of modern production technologies, digitalise materials research, broaden access to data, and use digital technologies to speed up innovation.

Coordination: BMBF, BMDV, BMWK

Ministries involved: AA, BKAmt, BMAS, BMF, BMG, BMUV, BMVg

Mission mentors:

• Professor Dr Irene Bertschek (Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, ZEW)
• Dr Stefan Joeres (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Verena Pausder (German Startup Association)

Mission team 5

Mission 5 is aimed at strengthening the space sector as well as further exploring, protecting and making sustainable use of space and the oceans.

Space exploration and research are a major challenge for the decades to come. Their global nature means they will have a strong impact on our planet and on our management of natural resources, environmental protection, risk prevention, disaster management, and the development of new supply chains. Space exploration and research are aimed at gaining a better understanding of our world and creating benefit for all. The aim is for space research to be done in a way that is environmentally friendly and climate‑neutral.

The ocean is the largest ecosystem on Earth, with a diversity of species and habitats that has still only been partially explored. The seas and oceans play a key role in the global climate and carbon cycle. Their importance for life on Earth and for the global economy makes reconciling the protection of the ocean and its sustainable use a central challenge. Marine research should be organised on an interdisciplinary and international basis, and sustainability for and through marine research should be promoted.

Coordination: BMBF, BMWK

Ministries involved: AA, BMDV, BMF, BMUV, BMVg

Mission mentors:

• Professor Dr Antje Boetius (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)
• Professor Dr Günther Hasinger (German Center for Astrophysics, DZA)
• Dr Anke Pagels-Kerp (German Aerospace Center, DLR)

Mission team 6

Mission 6 is aimed at fostering the resilience, diversity and cohesion of society. To this end, it is necessary to defend security and peace and to consolidate the role of education, science and research. A central aim of mission 6 is to use research and innovation to foster the resilience and cohesion of society and thus increase the resilience of democracy. Social innovations are expected to contribute towards making provisions for the future. Another aim is for research to support the further development of government, business and civil society and enable them to overcome future crises.

Coordination: BMBF, BMI

Ministries involved: AA, BMAS, BMF, BMVg, BMWK, BMEL, BMFSFJ, BMUV, BMWSB, BKAmt (Stab Ost).

Mission mentors:

• Paulina Fröhlich (Das Progressive Zentrum, Berlin)
• Dr Axel Salheiser (Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, IDZ Jena)
• Professor Dr Andreas Zick (IKG Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University)

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