Take risks. Move faster. How Germany and Europe are leading the way in technology.
EFI is a co-organiser of the 2026 Summit for Research and Innovation.
How can Germany and Europe move more quickly from ambition to implementation when it comes to disruptive technologies? What levers can accelerate technology transfer, scaling and market launch? And how can concrete lessons be drawn from successful projects for policymakers, academia and industry.
The programme of the 2026 Summit addresses these questions – with policy impetus for the implementation of strategic goals, lightning talks featuring key figures from successful innovation projects, and a discussion of international experiences and transferable success factors. Together with leading voices from politics, academia and industry, we will discuss what is specifically required to achieve greater courage and speed in technological leadership.
On-site participation is by invitation only. The summit will be livestreamed. You can find the link and further information on the programme and guests on the Summit for research and innovation website.
Commission of Experts
The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation - EFI) provides scientific policy advice to the Federal Government and regularly submits reports to it on research, innovation and Germany’s technological performance. The EFI’s core task is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the German innovation system in an international comparison and to assess the prospects for Germany as a centre of research and innovation. On this basis, the EFI develops recommendations for national research and innovation policy. The EFI was established in 2011 by a decision of the Federal Government to carry out its advisory mandate independently.
In this year’s report, the commission of experts examines the following topics:
- Implementation of the High-Tech Agenda Germany
- security-related Research and Innovation
- European R&I-Policy
- A 28th Regime for the European single market
- Innovation in German Mittelstand
- Competition and Innovation in the German Higher Education System
- Development and application of artificial intelligence in Germany and Europe
EFI's R&I Dashboard
The R&I Dashboard provides access to the core indicators updated for the 2026 reporting year and the R&I monitoring of Germany's competitive position in selected technology areas such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics and biotechnology. It also contains indicators on Germany's technological performance.
