The Federation of German Industries (BDI) has called on the government to swiftly implement the high tech agenda it presented in July and, to this end, proposes the creation of binding roadmaps in four future technologies: AI, AI-based robotics, quantum technologies, and mRNA medicines. To remain a leading industrial nation, Germany must generate value creation in strategic deep tech fields and develop champions in these technologies, according to a study prepared by the industry association together with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The study states that the deep tech sector could also become a driver of growth for the German economy. By 2030, the sector is expected to show high growth rates and create a global value-creation potential of up to eight trillion Euro. Germany could reinvent itself as an industrial nation. The prerequisite, however, is the opening up of new markets through the development and application of new technologies.

BDI President Peter Leibinger emphasised at the presentation of the study that speed is now crucial, since the United States and China in particular are already investing heavily in deep tech, and setting global standards. The study points out that in certain key technologies, such as large language models (LLMs) in generative AI, Germany and Europe already face a gap that will be difficult to close. According to Leibinger, this makes it all the more important to secure key positions in other areas of the value chains.

According to the BDI and BCG, Germany also has excellent preconditions for this, thanks to its strong industrial base, leading research institutions, and its „unique culture of engineering.“ Leibinger argued that when creating the roadmaps with clearly defined sector goals and binding success monitoring, all key stakeholders from politics, industry, startups, and academia must work together.

Leibinger pointed out that the global robotics market alone will more than double to 70 billion euros by 2030 – even without groundbreaking advances in humanoid robotics. Germany’s ambition, he made clear, must be to capture half of this market. In the AI sector, the study suggests that Germany should focus on strategically relevant fields such as „industrial AI,“ where competition is still open. This includes, for example, the development of so-called large industry models. However, according to the study, the significantly greater economic potential for German companies lies in the application of AI technologies rather than in their development.

In the field of AI, the study projects average annual growth rates of 26 % by 2030, leading to a global market volume of one to one and a half trillion euros – by far the largest among future technologies. The field of quantum technology, including quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing, is significantly smaller at only 30 billion euros, but with an annual growth rate of 70 %.

Michael Brigl, head of Boston Consulting’s Central Europe office, pointed out that it is not only the market volume that matters, but also future technological sovereignty. In addition, these future technologies will transform all existing industries. Brigl warned that Germany must not repeat the mistakes in deep tech that once cost it global technological leadership in the solar industry.

According to Brigl, deep tech now represents the chance to „reinvent Germany as an industrial nation.“ The „Made in Germany“ label could thus be made future-proof.

The roadmap for the healthcare sector, according to BDI and BCG, should cover mRNA medicines, gene and cell therapies (GCT), where strongly growing markets are expected. By 2030, the global market volume in these areas is expected to more than quadruple to nearly one hundred billion Euro.

For Germany, this represents not only medical and economic potential, but also – thanks to renowned companies and excellent research – a strategic opportunity to establish itself as a leading biotechnology hub in the global competition.

According to BDI President Leibinger, additional funding does not necessarily have to be tied to the roadmaps for future technologies. However, resources must be better coordinated and transfers accelerated. A prerequisite for this includes, among other things, clarifying responsibilities within the federal government. Existing funding instruments must be more strategically aligned to increase the volume available for scaling European deep tech champions.

Brigl also pointed out that investments in deep tech are characterised by high risk, since it is still partly unclear which technologies will ultimately prevail. The United States and China have so far managed these risks differently. Germany, said Brigl, is acting „too hesitantly“ in this regard.