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Science and technology in Germany

Science and technology in Germany has a long and illustrious history, and research and development efforts form an integral part of the country's economy. Germany has been the home of some of the most prominent researchers in various scientific disciplines, notably physics, mathematics, chemistry and engineering.[1] Before World War II, Germany had produced more Nobel laureates in scientific fields than any other nation, and was the preeminent country in the natural sciences.[2][3] Germany is currently the nation with the 3rd most Nobel Prize winners.

The German language was an important language of science from the late 19th century through the end of World War II. After the war, because so many scientific researchers and teachers' careers had been ended either by Nazi Germany, the denazification process, the American Operation Paperclip and Soviet Operation Osoaviakhim, or simply losing the war, "Germany, German science, and German as the language of science had all lost their leading position in the scientific community."[4]


Today, scientific research in the country is supported by industry, the network of German universities and scientific state-institutions such as the Max Planck Society and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The raw output of scientific research from Germany consistently ranks among the world's highest.[5] Germany was declared the most innovative country in the world in the 2020 Bloomberg Innovation Index and was ranked 8th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023.[6]

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

(DFG, German Research association)

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

(DAAD), promoting international exchange of scientists and students)

German Academic Exchange Service

The Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, '' supports young scientists and research projects. It was founded in 1959 and is located in Cologne. The purpose of the foundation, with an endowment capital of €542.4 million,[10] is to promote science at scientific universities and research institutes, primarily in Germany, under particular consideration on young scientists.[11]

Fritz Thyssen Foundation

Hildegard of Bingen, considered by scholars to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.[52]

Hildegard of Bingen, considered by scholars to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.[52]

Georgius Agricola gave chemistry it's modern name. Generally referred to as the Father of Mineralogy and the founder of geology as a scientific discipline.[53][54]

Georgius Agricola gave chemistry it's modern name. Generally referred to as the Father of Mineralogy and the founder of geology as a scientific discipline.[53][54]

Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, named the most important invention of the second millennium.[55]

Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, named the most important invention of the second millennium.[55]

Johannes Kepler, one of the founders and fathers of modern astronomy, the scientific method,natural and modern science.[56][15][57]

Johannes Kepler, one of the founders and fathers of modern astronomy, the scientific method,natural and modern science.[56][15][57]

Johann Joachim Winckelmann, founder of modern archaeology,[58] father of the discipline of art history[59] and father of Neoclassicism.[60]

Johann Joachim Winckelmann, founder of modern archaeology,[58] father of the discipline of art history[59] and father of Neoclassicism.[60]

Alexander von Humboldt, seen as father of ecology and of environmentalism.[61][62]

Alexander von Humboldt, seen as father of ecology and of environmentalism.[61][62]

Carl Friedrich Gauss, referred to as one of the most important mathematicians of all time.[63]

Carl Friedrich Gauss, referred to as one of the most important mathematicians of all time.[63]

Robert Koch, one of the fathers of microbiology,[64] medical bacteriology[65][66] and one of the founders of modern medicine.

Robert Koch, one of the fathers of microbiology,[64] medical bacteriology[65][66] and one of the founders of modern medicine.

Carl Benz, inventor of the modern car and father of the automobile industry.[67][68][69]

Carl Benz, inventor of the modern car and father of the automobile industry.[67][68][69]

Otto Lilienthal, who has been referred to as the "father of aviation"[70][71][72] or "father of flight".[73]

Otto Lilienthal, who has been referred to as the "father of aviation"[70][71][72] or "father of flight".[73]

Karl Ferdinand Braun, who has been called one of the fathers of television, radio telegraphy and who built the first semiconductor.[74][75][76][77]

Karl Ferdinand Braun, who has been called one of the fathers of television, radio telegraphy and who built the first semiconductor.[74][75][76][77]

Fritz Haber invented the Haber–Bosch process. It is estimated that it provides the food production for nearly half of the world's population.[78][79] Haber has been called one of the most important scientists and chemists in human history.[80][81][82]

Fritz Haber invented the Haber–Bosch process. It is estimated that it provides the food production for nearly half of the world's population.[78][79] Haber has been called one of the most important scientists and chemists in human history.[80][81][82]

Albert Einstein, who has been called the greatest physicist of all time and one of the fathers of modern physics.[83]

Albert Einstein, who has been called the greatest physicist of all time and one of the fathers of modern physics.[83]

Konrad Zuse, inventor of the modern computer.[84][85]

Konrad Zuse, inventor of the modern computer.[84][85]

Wernher von Braun, who co-developed the V-2 rocket, the first artificial object to travel into space. Described by others as the "father of space travel",[86] the "father of rocket science",[87] or the "father of the American lunar program".[88]

Wernher von Braun, who co-developed the V-2 rocket, the first artificial object to travel into space. Described by others as the "father of space travel",[86] the "father of rocket science",[87] or the "father of the American lunar program".[88]

German inventors and discoverers

German inventions and discoveries

Operation Paperclip

Technology during World War II

Körber European Science Prize

; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: A Complete Record of the Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914–1918. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.

Franks, Norman

Head, R. G. (2016). Oswald Boelcke: Germany's First Fighter Ace and Father of Air Combat. London: Grub Street.  978-1-910690-23-9.

ISBN

Kathryn Olesko and Christoph Strupp. (A comparative analysis of the history of science and education in Germany and the United States)

Competing Modernities: Science and Education

English section of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's website

Germany's science and research landscape

Articles and dossiers about Research and Technology in Germany, Goethe-Institut

Audretsch, D. B., Lehmann, E. E., & Schenkenhofer, J. (2018). Internationalization strategies of hidden champions: lessons from Germany. Multinational Business Review.

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Research-in-germany.org