Utilizing the potential of regional networks so that outstanding research can give rise to innovations for the future – this is the mission of the Clusters4Future initiative.

The winners of the "Science Creating Prospects for the Region!" ideas competition have been announced: the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry will be established in the central German coal-mining region, and the German Center for Astrophysics in the Saxon part of Lusatia.

The German Government is realigning its research and innovation policy. With the "Future Research and Innovation Strategy", it wants to dare more progress in order to strengthen Germany's innovative powers and secure Europe's technological sovereignty.

Innovative regions need strong international partners to remain globally competitive. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has therefore been supporting international collaborations among clusters with over 80 million euros since 2014.

The funding measure "Innovative Hochschule" supports third mission activities at German universities to boost knowledge transfer and innovation. It is aimed in particular at small and mid-size universities and universities of applied sciences.

The “Research Campus” funding initiative supports universities, research institutions and companies which seek to enter into long-term partnerships to collaborate on a research topic.

A branch of high technology has long since developed around the medium of light and German businesses are among the world market leaders in various areas of photonics, including laser technology, lighting, or microscopy and imaging.

BMBF Foresight is a strategic instrument of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) that provides technology foresight and the determination of future societal needs in terms of research and development.