Image illustrating artificial intelligence

© Source: iStock.com/Ryzhi

The Federal Cabinet today adopted the Federal Government draft of the 2020 federal budget, including the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. According to the draft budget, the Economic Affairs Ministry’s expenditure in 2020 will total €9.1 billion; this corresponds to a rise in the budget of around €300 million compared to the previous fiscal planning. Funding to promote business and research, etc., accounts for about €7.8 billion of the budget. The Ministry’s budget will increase by €950.6 million compared with 2019.

Federal Minister Altmaier said: “The federal government draft budget for my Ministry shows that we are clearly focusing on forward-looking fields that are very important for Germany as a business location. More funds will be made available for the development of artificial intellegence, the expansion of digitisation and the promotion of breakthrough innovations. In addition, we will strengthen the aerospace sector.”

An additional €44 million have been allocated to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for 2020 to fund the promotion of artificial intelligence. In order to ensure sustainable seed financing, the funds will be made available not only for one year, but also for the following two years (a total of €137 million). Furthermore, an additional €45 million annually will be made available for artificial intelligence (AI) and digitisation beyond the fiscal planning period by means of internal reallocations. Departmental budget 60 provides for an additional €500 million for AI beyond the fiscal planning period, €125 million each for the years from 2020 to 2023. These funds are to be allocated among the Ministries in line with their needs before the conclusion of the parliamentary legislative procedure on the 2020 federal budget.

Furthermore, the aerospace sector will be strengthened. New funds for the continued German participation in the International Space Station ISS will be made available, thus consolidating the contribution at €850 million annually. Funding for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will be increased by €57.4 million annually, thus implementing the decision taken in the context of the 2019 parliamentary procedure to set up six new DLR institutes.

Funds for measures in the field of innovative shipbuilding will continue to be made available beyond the fiscal planning period at the current high level. In order to enhance the activities especially of small and medium-sized enterprises on the African markets, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy will provide a pool of advice and support in the context of the Africa Business Network.

The Joint Science Conference has for the fourth time extended the Pact for Research and Innovation (PRI). The funds for the scientific organisations will rise by 3% annually in the period 2021 to 2023. For these purposes, a total of around €150 million will be made available for DLR and the institutions of the Leibniz Association.

You can find an overview of the 2020 budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (in German) here (PDF, 202 KB).