Government
Stark-Watzinger: Interlinking civil and military research
According to Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP), the boundary between civil and military research is becoming increasingly blurred as technological progress increases. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
Civil and military research in Germany has so far been strictly separated. Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger wants to change that. The USA and Israel demonstrated this successfully.
The Munich Security Conference and the Expert Commission on Research and Innovation made it clear that it was time to question and re-evaluate the strict separation between civil and military research in Germany. “This is about leveraging synergies and strengthening our innovative strength. Other value partners such as Israel and the USA are successfully showing us how to do this. We can no longer do without this,” said Stark-Watzinger. “In any case, the boundaries between civil and military research are becoming increasingly blurred as technological progress increases.”
Commission: Strict separation leads to parallel structures
In its 2023 report on research, innovation and technological performance in Germany, the Research and Innovation Expert Commission writes that the strict separation of military and civilian research leads to parallel structures and prevents synergies between the two areas. Against the backdrop of the turning point following Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022, the expert commission recommends that the Federal Government consider synergies between military and civilian research when possible in its own funding.
In addition, the actors should review their voluntary commitments and regulations, which are based on a strict separation between military and civilian research, according to the expert commission. In Germany, many universities have so-called civil clauses that prohibit military research or the acquisition of corresponding third-party funds.
The Research and Innovation Expert Commission (EFI) provides scientific policy advice to the federal government and presents reports annually. The next report is to be handed over to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Wednesday.