Innovations as a Key for Sustainability in the Economy

Fraunhofer Institut für Lasertechnik

Until the end of 2009 this funding measure supported innovative projects that could take on a key function for greater sustainability in business as a result of their breadth of application and their potential for ecological, economical and social improvement.

Primarily, interdisciplinary approaches that could ideally be sustainable in almost any value added chain were supported. By doing so, the BMBF simultaneously contributed to easing the burden on the environment and to strengthening the competitiveness of German business in the global market.

Innovations that were worthy of funding and which contributed to sustainable economic activity are:

New technologies,
New technical processes,
Innovative product or service strategies and
New forms of organisation and cooperation strategies.

To promote the innovative strength of business the funding measure directly turned towards commercial businesses in Germany. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were sponsored in the development of innovation for sustainable economic activities. The specific requirements of SMEs are consciously addressed in a broad and open thematic approach.

Further information on the funding measure and the research projects can be found at:

http://www.nachhaltige-innovationen.de/