Investments in education and research are essential investments in the future, as they contribute significantly to high-quality value creation, prosperity and international competitiveness. Within the federal government, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is the central player in shaping education and research policy. Particular attention is paid to the transfer of research results into practice. In order to strengthen Germany as a location for innovation, research, development and innovation for a circular and resilient value chain, sustainable energy production and technological sovereignty are being promoted, among other things. This is an important basis for a sustainable transformation of the economy and society.

Becoming more technologically independent

The BMBF is now addressing these challenges with its new framework program “Research and Innovation for Technological Sovereignty 2030 (FITS2030)”. It is designed to help Germany to be better and, above all, more independent in the development of new technologies in the future in international comparison. The framework program combines the BMBF's funding for new technologies in eight digital and four industrial key technologies and puts them on a new holistic basis. The State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Karl Eugen Huthmacher, explains: “Germany is at the forefront of research. However, we have to improve when it comes to transferring research results into applications. And in view of the international political situation, we must above all become more technologically independent in this regard. We need new technologies that are Made in Germany. This is precisely the goal we are pursuing with our new framework program 'Research and Innovation for Technological Sovereignty 2030 (FITS2030). We are further developing our technology funding in close cooperation with companies. Only if we can independently and self-determinedly, that is, sovereignly, develop and market new technologies such as AI or quantum technology, can we actively set impulses and take on a leading international role. To achieve this, we need a determined strategy for technological sovereignty. FITS2030 is our answer to growing geopolitical challenges, the global technology race and ongoing climate change.”

The key technologies

The new BMBF framework program FITS2030 defines goals and measures up to the year 2030 in the eight key digital technologies “artificial intelligence” (AI), software engineering, microelectronics, high-performance computing, communication systems, cyber security, quantum technologies and photonics, as well as in the four key industrial technologies of innovative materials, battery technologies, robotics and Industry 4.0. In line with the Federal Government's Future Strategy for Research and Innovation, it not only identifies ways of securing technological sovereignty, but also of achieving it in new fields.

Funding in the billions

The activities in the framework program are mainly funded from the budgets of the BMBF's specialized programs for research for technological sovereignty and innovation. For the year 2025 alone, around 1.6 billion euros are currently earmarked for funding digital and industrial key technologies and innovations. In addition, there are the technology-related research activities of the institutionally funded research organizations, whose work will now be even more closely interlinked with the BMBF's project funding. However, a new overall framework with additional funds for research for technological sovereignty can only be created by a newly elected federal government. Nevertheless, FITS2030 goes further than previous funding. Building on many years of research funding in key technologies, the BMBF is focusing even more strongly on the funding of technological applications and innovations with FITS2030. The new BMBF materials research program “Material Innovations for the Transformation of the Economy and Society” (Mat2Twin) will be launched at the same time as FITS2030.

It will be possible to expand the framework program at any time.

Another new and crucial aspect is that FITS2030 will focus more strongly on important cross-cutting tasks. These include, among other things, securing the necessary supply of skilled workers, the necessary interlinking of technological research and innovation within the EU, risk-sensitive cooperation with third countries, and the environmental and climate compatibility of new technologies. To this end, the BMBF will continue the social discourse on important issues of technological sovereignty. The initial term of FITS is set to run until 2030. As a “learning framework program,” it can be continuously expanded and adapted to include new key technologies and priorities.