R&D Framework

German companies are global leaders in the development of new technologies. Standing for high quality and innovation, the "Made in Germany" brand has been a seal of quality for over a century. In 2008, Germany exported high-tech goods valued at EUR 110 billion – making it the top exporter in Europe and third worldwide.

In a 2007 study by Eurostat, six German regions counted amongst the top 20 high-tech regions in Europe in terms of absolute employment in high-tech sectors (Upper Bavaria, Düsseldorf, Darmstadt, Cologne, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart). While the majority of these regions provided the most jobs in high-tech knowledge intensive services, German regions stood out compared to their competitors for jobs in high-tech manufacturing sectors. In European comparison, Germany is the second leading nation in terms of science and technology personnel active in manufacturing sectors.