Technological and Regional Patterns in R&D Internationalization by German Companies

Artikel

An analysis of patent applications filed with the European Patent Office reveals that German companies primarily expand their research activities abroad in high-tech sectors in which they already conduct long-term intensive research. These sectors are: electrical engineering, control technology, engines, pumps, turbines, thermal processes, mechanical components, and transport. German R&D internationalization is thus founded on fields of research that are highly productive domestically. By contrast, there is cause for concern for Germany as a location for research in the fields of telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. In these areas German companies have been intensifying their research activities abroad due to relative weakness at home. A particularly controversial topic in the political arena concerns the global competitiveness of Germany as a location for research. Empirical investigation of German research and its main competitors yields surprising results: Germany's competitors are almost exclusively Western European countries, particularly Austria, Switzerland, and France - all German neighbors. While the US continues to play a central role as a location for research funded by German companies, its importance has declined drastically since 1990.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Weekly Report ; ISSN: 1860-3343 ; Volume: 4 ; Year: 2008 ; Issue: 15 ; Pages: 94-101 ; Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights: General ; Technological Change: Government Policy ; Comparative Studies of Countries
• Subject: Innovation system ; Composite indicator ; Industrialized countries

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Belitz, Heike ; Schmidt-Ehmcke, Jens ; Zloczysti, Petra
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2008

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/151038
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET