Changes of the German Agricultural R&D System by Reunification

초록

The restructuring of the GDR agricultural research system was not only an institutional problem, but also a capacity problem. Changes in research areas were only partly influenced by German unification. They were mainly determined by a further orientation of the Common Agricultural Policy towards world markets and international competitiveness, the demand of environments etc. Further, institutes were built up focusing on new research areas or items which were of minor importance in West Germany before: As a result, a drastic reduction of capacities in public financed research centres; the huge social security system reduced the personal burdens and besides the integration in the FRG research system an extension of basic and applied research in agriculture took place through the creation of five new Blue List institutes. A further integration of institutes in the west and east Germany took place since then, for which the WR provided some guidelines. After 16 years the research system seems to become balanced. Although the Korean unification can’t be foreseen it seems to be useful to intensify scientific co-operation on bilateral base. It should be based on defined research projects for which budget should be provided, covering also costs for exchange of scientific staff between research institutes. After policy decisions with the reorganization of the research system, the reorganization should be based on scientific evaluations using the principles and system of the German Scientific Council.

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