Claudia Eckert: New paths for Germany's innovative strength!

Claudia Eckert: New paths for Germany's innovative strength!

Claudia Eckert took over the presidency of the German Academy of Engineering Sciences (acatech) today, May 28, 2025. Your election comes at a time when increasing innovative strength is a central future task for Germany's competitiveness. Eckert, who is also a professor of computer security at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has ambitious plans to strengthen acatech's role in the innovation system and provide political impulses.

Eckert expressed optimism, saying, “We cannot solve the great challenges of our time with the same thinking we used when we created them.” In her new role, she will place a strong focus on developing evidence-based strategies aimed at transforming the German economy. The members and partners of acatech should contribute their scientific excellence as a foundation for developing facts, impulses and recommendations for politics. Jan Wörner, the outgoing president, reiterated Eckert's outstanding expertise, while Thomas Weber, co-president, emphasized the importance of her work for security and innovation.

Future-oriented options for action

The need for an overall strategy for cutting-edge technologies in Germany and Europe is becoming increasingly urgent given the challenges facing the German economy. According to information from acatech, Germany's innovative strength must be massively strengthened in order not to fall further behind in international competition. This particularly affects sectors with a medium level of technology, in which Germany is highly specialized. The loss of competitiveness is seen as a risk to Germany's strategic sovereignty, especially in the context of security policy and fiscal changes.

As part of a study for the Chancellor's Future Council, which was presented in August 2024, measures such as technology roadmaps and a focused use of resources were suggested in order to overcome the existing challenges. In her new role, Eckert will ensure that such strategies are not only developed, but also sustainably converted into innovation and value creation.

Research and development as a basis

To ensure competitiveness, the state, universities and the economy invested a total of 121.4 billion euros in research and development (R&D) in 2022. These investments are part of the future strategy developed by the federal government, which defines clear goals for research and innovation policy. Among other things, the strategy aims to protect natural resources, strengthen international competitiveness and promote the resilience of society.

A central aspect of the strategy are the six defined missions that are intended to shape transformation processes. These include resource-efficient industries, climate protection, digital sovereignty and strengthening social resilience. These missions are to be implemented by interministerial teams, and the #FutureStrategy Forum, consisting of members of business, science and civil society, will support the Federal Government in this.

Overall, these rigorous challenges and focus on cutting-edge technology require new, creative approaches to research and innovation. Eckert's contribution to acatech is a glimmer of hope in the effort to enable Germany to meet current and future challenges. Commitment to an agile and inclusive research and innovation policy will be crucial to ensure competitiveness in the coming years.