Major initiatives, case by case

Background

The organisational decree of 6 May 2025 moved the High-Tech Agenda, core technology policy, AI gigafactories, SPRIND and games into the new BMFTR from the economics ministry. Germany's R&D spending reached a record €137.1 billion, 3.17 per cent of GDP, in 2024.

Problem

The old target of 3.5 per cent of GDP for R&D by 2025 was missed, and the government's 2026 research report moved it to 2030. Slow transfer from research into products and companies is a long-standing concern in German innovation debates.

Objective

Concentrate on six key technologies: AI; quantum technologies; microelectronics; biotechnology; fusion and climate-neutral energy generation; climate-neutral mobility. Flagship goals include 10 per cent of economic output being AI-based by 2030, at least one European AI gigafactory in Germany and at least two error-corrected quantum computers "at European top level" by 2030.

Action

Verified fact Adopted by the cabinet on 30 July 2025 and sent to the Bundestag as Drucksache 21/1100. Around €18 billion to 2029, including €5.5 billion from special funds.

„Eine noch klarere Handschrift als die Hightech-Agenda kann es nicht geben““There could be no clearer signature than the High-Tech Agenda.” Bundestag, 26 September 2025.

Implementation

On 20 May 2026 Bär presented the first six roadmaps (AI, microelectronics, biotechnology, fusion, batteries, quantum) to the Bundestag research committee, with a six-week public consultation. Robotics and climate-neutral energy roadmaps are to follow. Milestones include the first logical qubits in Germany by 2028 and a first approval of an mRNA cancer immunotherapy by 2028.

Outcome

Analysis Pending. The strategy, budget lines and first roadmaps exist; the substantive targets fall between 2026 and 2032. After one year, the ministry said projects were "advancing in planning and implementation".

Background

Fusion produces energy by joining light atomic nuclei, as in the Sun. Germany hosts the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Greifswald and takes part in ITER in France through the EU; several German start-ups pursue magnetic or laser approaches. Federal fusion funding had been around €150 million a year.

Problem

Moving from research devices to a power plant needs far larger investment, dedicated infrastructure and a regulatory framework that does not yet exist.

Objective

"The world's first fusion power plant in Germany", the High-Tech Agenda's fusion goal.

Action

Verified fact Adopted by the cabinet on 1 October 2025: more than €2 billion by 2029, made up of about €1.7 billion in public funding this legislative period and up to €755 million from the infrastructure special fund for a new laser-fusion research facility. Eight fields of action.

Documented statement In government question time on 8 October 2025, according to the Bundestag's summary, Bär said that €2 billion would go into fusion research by 2029 so that the world's first fusion power plant could be built in Germany.

Implementation

Planned hubs for magnetic fusion, laser fusion, and fuel cycle and materials by the first quarter of 2026; an update of the Radiation Protection Act to create a legal basis for fusion plants. The research baseline does not confirm whether the hubs were set up on schedule.

Outcome

Analysis Pending. Annual funding will be well above the earlier level of around €150 million. No fusion power plant exists anywhere; the plan is a long-term bet.

Background

ESA's member states set its programmes and budgets at ministerial councils held every few years. Federal space responsibility, including the German Aerospace Center (DLR), moved to Bär's ministry in 2025.

Problem

European access to space and independent satellite capabilities have become strategic questions; Europe's launchers face commercial competition.

Objective

According to DLR: launcher competition and commercial access to space; lunar and robotic exploration; climate satellites; satellite communication and navigation; space security and planetary defence.

Action

Verified fact Germany subscribed €5.4 billion (at current economic conditions), about 23 per cent of the total, making it the largest contributor. According to reporting by Spektrum, the previous German subscription was just under €3.5 billion. A German ESA astronaut is to be the first European to fly to or around the Moon.

„Raumfahrt ist eine Investition in unsere Zukunft. Mit Deutschland und Europa ist in der Raumfahrt zu rechnen.““Space is an investment in our future. Germany and Europe are a force to be reckoned with in space.”

Implementation

The 2026 federal budget provides almost €2.4 billion for space. A national space law remained in inter-ministerial coordination in July 2026, with no cabinet draft as of October 2026.

Outcome

Analysis The subscription itself is done; what it buys will emerge over years. In September 2026 Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket became the first commercial launcher to reach orbit from continental Europe, a company success that reflects the launcher-competition policy but is not a ministerial achievement in itself.

Background

According to reporting, the programme was launched in July 2025, shortly after the new ministry was formed. It is also known by its English name, Global Minds.

Problem

Germany competes with other countries for researchers at every career stage, and its universities often find it hard to offer comparable conditions.

Objective

Recruit researchers from abroad and strengthen Germany's appeal as a place for science, as the programme's name suggests, on the scale of a thousand people.

Action

Verified fact Federal funding of €602 million is committed for 2025–2029 to bring researchers from abroad to German institutions.

Implementation

DAAD, April 2026: 286 approvals in the first year, researchers from 45 countries; 37 per cent from Europe, 30 per cent from Asia and 20 per cent from North America.

„Das 1.000-Köpfe-Plus-Programm wirkt. Schon nach einem Jahr haben wir 286 Bewilligungen erreicht““The 1,000 Heads Plus programme is working. After just one year we have reached 286 approvals.”

Outcome

Analysis Partial. Approvals are not the same as researchers in post, and the programme's name sets a target well above the first-year figure. Long-term retention is not yet measurable.

Background

International cooperation is central to science, but some partnerships carry security risks, especially in dual-use fields where civilian research can have military applications.

Problem

Individual institutions lacked shared advice and standards. In October 2026 Bär presented the results of a special investigation at the CISPA Helmholtz Center in Saarbrücken, which found that security-relevant knowledge could have leaked.

Objective

Protect research without undermining academic freedom.

„Die Welt ist massiv im Umbruch. Für Wohlstand und Souveränität in Deutschland und Europa müssen wir unsere Forschung sichern und gleichzeitig die Wissenschaftsfreiheit schützen.““The world is in massive upheaval. For prosperity and sovereignty in Germany and Europe we must secure our research while protecting academic freedom.”

Action

Verified fact On 19 December 2025 the federal government, the states and the science organisations agreed key points. The BMFTR leads the platform and is its sole funder until 2029.

Implementation

Work begins in autumn 2026; the platform is to be fully operational in January 2027.

Outcome

Analysis Pending. The platform is not yet fully operational as of the research baseline.

Background

The annual Science Years are federal campaigns to bring research closer to the public. The 2026 edition is devoted to the medicine of the future.

Problem

Medical research has historically under-studied conditions that mainly affect women and differences in how diseases present in women and men; this is the case for gender-sensitive medicine.

Objective

According to reporting, Bär set women's health as a focus of the Science Year, with endometriosis named as a particular priority.

Action

According to Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the ministry provides €18 million a year for women's health and gender-sensitive medicine, about €90 million this legislative period, and set up a dedicated women's-health unit in November 2025.

Implementation

Not independently verified beyond that reporting; the research baseline does not list funded projects.

Outcome

Analysis Too early to assess. Research funding of this kind typically shows results over many years.

Background

Bär has long been associated with the German Computer Game Award, and games funding moved into her ministry in 2025. Charitable status is a matter of tax law.

Problem

Without charitable status, e-sports clubs could not benefit from the tax advantages available to other voluntary associations, such as accepting tax-deductible donations.

Objective

Put e-sports clubs on an equal footing with other non-profit clubs.

Action

Verified fact The cabinet approved the change on 10 September 2025 within the Tax Amendment Act 2025, a finance-ministry bill. Bär welcomed it:

„Meilenstein für Gaming, Jugendförderung und Vereinsarbeit““A milestone for gaming, youth development and club work.”

Implementation

As a tax measure it requires passage of the bill through parliament. The research baseline verifies the cabinet decision but not the later legislative steps.

Outcome

Analysis A long-standing demand of the gaming community reached cabinet level. It should not be described as her ministry's measure; she was its most prominent advocate in government.