Stuttgart – Research remains Baden-Württemberg’s engine of the future! With the 2025/2026 state budget, Baden-Württemberg is underlining its commitment to being the number one innovation location in Europe. Millions flow into research, universities and technologies.
“With the budget for the next two years, we are specifically strengthening our country’s innovative strength. We create the conditions so that brilliant ideas can become market-ready products,” said Andreas Schwarz, leader of the Green Partyon Friday (September 27). “By investing in research and development, we secure jobs and promote new technologies, which strengthens Baden-Württemberg as a successful economic hotspot.”
The draft budget envisages investments in several key areas. A large part – around half a billion euros in total – flows into the research infrastructure. These funds will benefit, among other things, research institutions on tumor and cardiovascular diseases, health and life sciences, AI and materials research.
The country also sets clear priorities in future-oriented research fields. “We invest in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and materials research. In this way, we ensure that Baden-Württemberg remains a top location even when it comes to new technologies,” said Schwarz.
A particular focus is on promoting technology transfer. “We have a lot of talent with clever ideas in Baden-Württemberg. We want more of these clever ideas to successfully master the path to becoming a market-ready product,” said Michael Joukov, spokesman for science and university policy for the parliamentary group.
Specifically, the state provides around 1.7 million euros per year for start-up support. Around one million euros have been earmarked for the Health Location Forum, which promotes networking and cooperation in the health sector. The investments in our innovation campus models AI / Cyber Valley as well as health and life sciences should also be highlighted. “In Silicon Valley in the USA, the best ideas come from the coffee machine or the table football table, when researchers, inventors, practitioners, entrepreneurs and financiers come together. Coffee and table football are already available in our innovation campus models. Now we have to strengthen these models so that the best talent can be hired,” said Schwarz.
A key point is the new financing agreement with the state’s universities. Joukov: “This money will benefit, among other things, the study programs. In this way, we ensure the quality of teaching and create optimal conditions for our students.”
The area of scientific further training is also being strengthened. For this purpose, the state will provide around three million euros in 2025 and 2026, in particular for the cross-university platform for academic continuing education offerings (Südwissen.de). The site clearly summarizes further training offers from universities in Baden-Württemberg in order to make it easier for citizens to have access to lifelong learning and to promote further professional development and additional qualifications in various specialist areas.
“With rapid technological change, people need specialized training to stay up to date – from 3D printing, new programming languages to management seminars. “Südwissen is the right platform on which employees can find the offers they are looking for – word gets around and it pays off noticeably in the company,” said Joukov.
The political agreement is subject to the state parliament meeting on December 18th.
