Germany to develop technology with 'Make Germany Great Again' plan

The German government has announced its Innovation Agenda 2030, which aims to restore Europe's largest economy to power.

In the face of declining competitiveness and human resource shortages, the plan focuses on three key pillars: attracting talent through immigration policy, promoting Deep Tech and injecting strong capital into high-tech companies.

*Deep techs are technologies with complex scientific and technical foundations that require years of research and large investments to develop. These are not conventional technological applications but innovations that can change the entire industry.

The main goal of the plan is to make Germany a global innovation hub by 2030, while ensuring competitiveness with tech powers such as the US and China.

One of the most important changes is reform of immigration policyto attract skilled workers from all over the world. Germany is facing a severe shortage of human resources, especially in the technology sector.

According to research from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), the country needs at least 400,000 migrant workers a year to maintain its current level of economic growth. To achieve this goal, the government will fully digitize the visa application process by 2030, and establish the Federal Ministry of Immigration to consolidate recruitment, settlement and integration procedures.

In addition, English will be included in the administrative systemas an official language, making it easier for foreign workers to adapt. The recognition of qualifications and professional skills will also be simplified, empowering businesses to assess and validate labor competencies.

Currently, 70% of startups in Germany report that they are struggling to scale due to lack of staff, and 81% of companies admit that the recruitment process outside the EU is still too complicated.

If the plan succeeds, Germany could rise to become one of the most attractive destinations for global talent, second only to the US according to the OECD report.

In parallel with the policy of attracting talent, Germany is also Big Bet on Deep Tech, the field of advanced technology is capable of generating fundamental breakthroughs. The government aims to make Germany a leader in Deep Tech by 2030, with supportive policies ranging from investment capital to research commercialization.

One of the key initiatives is to increase the budget for the “Deep Tech & Climate Fund” (DTCF), which makes it easier for high-tech startups to access funding. At the same time, the Startup Factories model will be implemented in universities, requiring that at least 1% of the budgets of these institutions be dedicated to supporting startups.

In addition, the government will remove barriers between military and civilian research, helping advanced technologies to be deployed faster in the commercial market.

Data shows that deep tech startups in Germany are underfunded, with funding gaps of up to €30 billion a year, and only 20 percent of venture capital in Germany is allocated to ClimateTech and DeepTech, although these are important sectors for the future.

If the plan is executed in the right direction, Germany could double the number of “Climate Unicorns” by 2030 and become one of the world's top three climate technology hubs.

To realize these ambitions, the German government is committed to Increase investment in high-tech companies, with plans to triple capital by 2030, or 1% of GDP. Specific measures include raising funds from pension funds and insurance companies, to raise the share of investment in startups from less than 1% to more than 10%, on par with Sweden.

In addition, the government will Promoting venture capital funds under the fund-of-funds model, which attracts large organizations by creating more secure portfolios. Another important factor is the simplification of the IPO process in Europe, allowing German tech companies to raise capital in their home countries, rather than listing in the United States like previous generations of startups.

In fact, since 2015, more than €400 billion of economic value has been lost when German companies IPO abroad. If these measures are implemented successfully, Germany could raise at least 30 billion euros a year for startups, equivalent to the level of investment in the United States.

These changes mark a major turning point in Germany's development strategy, which aims to turn the country into a true technological powerhouse.

As the government pushes to attract talent, support Deep Tech and inject strong capital into the startup ecosystem, Germany is creating an ideal environment for innovation and investment. If the plan succeeds, Germany could not only regain its place in Europe, but also become a leading innovation hub in the world by 2030.