We have a duty to think in generations and to build a solid foundation for a happy future for our children and our children’s children.
At a glance
- One of the most important reasons for Germany’s economic clout and prosperity is the innovational strength of entrepreneurs and developers.
- The interdependence and opening up of markets is increasing competitive pressure. That is also being felt by Germany, which as the “Land of Ideas”, is no longer represented in the leading groups of global innovation rankings and indices.
- Outstanding research and development is taking place in Germany and Europe. Having said that, many innovations do not survive market launch because there is no European business model.
- Freedom and competition will continue to be key aspects when it comes to the future viability of the German economy. These are guaranteed by the concept of social market economy, which also strives for social equity.
- We face major challenges. With its analyses, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung plays a role in successfully shaping the innovative transformation of the economy in Germany and Europe.
Content
1. Innovation and competitive strength
2. Regulatory framework social market economy
3. Our offers and projects on the topic
4. Publications, events and media contributions on the topic
Germany is a country that is not rich in raw materials; this makes the German economy all the most dependent on the knowledge and skills of its people. The cornerstone of Germany’s economic clout and prosperity is the innovative power of entrepreneurs, companies and developers. Having said that, the pressure on competitiveness has drastically increased in recent decades due to global interdependence and the opening of new markets. As the "country of ideas”, Germany is not represented in the immediate top group in global innovation rankings and indices. Business models are increasingly shifting towards services, digitalisation and the data economy.
Innovation and competitive strength
The German economy will only safeguard its global competitiveness if it harnesses the opportunities inherent in technological progress – and namely faster and better than before. Far too often, innovations in Germany or in Europe do not reach market maturity. There is brilliant research and development in many areas, all that is lacking is a European business model to provide added value for companies and society. Yet, a key factor for the future viability of the German economy is the innovative capacity of our economy and society.
Freedom and competition are central to the ability to innovate. That is because competition drives innovation, leading to sustainable, economic progress and to cheaper and better services for society. Competition requires entrepreneurial freedom, too, since innovations take place on the market as opposed to the political sphere.
Regulatory framework social market economy
The economic and socio-political regulatory framework for a balance between state and market represents the Christian Democratic concept of the social market economy. It is considered to be another essential pillar of the German economy and society. The social market economy calls for both state action as well as entrepreneurial freedom and competition to become aware of their roles and limits. It has always been the bracket that holds together the principle of economic freedom with the principle of social balance and the preservation of creation. Nowadays, this concept is more familiar under the term “sustainability.”
Although times have changed and the economy and society have constantly evolved since the founding the of the Federal Republic of Germany, even today, a majority of Germans still rate the social market economy as positive. Having said that, a world facing multiple upheavals also requires a successful economic system to confront and adapt to new challenges. This gives rise to key questions for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, which are dealt with in various analyses as well as discussions and publication formats.
Our offers and projects on the topic
Event series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung offers many events on economic and innovations topics. Particularly noteworthy in this context is the European Data Summit, a three-day format on data and digital topics that takes place each year in autumn and ranks among our flagship events.
European Data Summit
The European Data Summit is a symposium organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung at which experts address the prerequisites for a digital European single market. A focus is also placed on the connection of the topic to the European Union’s regulatory projects.
Publication, video and website projects
Time and again, we set priorities on certain topics, which we realise and present in different formats. Above all, this includes multi-party publication projects and series along with video projects in which we controversially discuss certain aspects of a topic.
Web3 and Blockchain
Advancing digitalisation is driving economic innovation: from Web1 to Web2 to Web3. Web1 stood for the static internet, while Web2 introduced social networks and interactivity. Web3 harbours the potential to guarantee more security, privacy and user autonomy. At the heart of Web3 is blockchain technology, which enables innovations such as smart contracts, tokens, cryptocurrencies and digital currencies through decentralised structures. It could also contribute to improved data protection in the development of artificial intelligence, create new business areas for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups and strengthen digital sovereignty. Below you will find basic studies and insights into specific fields of application.
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering and biotechnology and the associated fields of research are controversial in socio-political terms. The risks are unacceptable, according to many critics. However, the facts refute the criticism and show that the opportunities far outweigh the risks. Progress in medicine, pharmacy, plant breeding, agriculture, food production and environmental research would be inconceivable without modern lifesciences. All scientific findings clearly speak for a responsible approach to these cross-sectional technologies.
What are the opportunities of the life sciences? What economic potential do they hold? How can they contribute to overcoming the challenges that lie ahead? What benefits can people expect? How should genetic engineering and biotechnology, embryo and stem cell research, reproductive medicine and other fields of application be regulated? What potential dangers must be kept in mind? Information and food for thought on these questions can be found on our project page.
Free trade - Understanding global trade anew
Open world markets have undeniably led to unprecedented prosperity and technological progress. Nevertheless, global trade is currently highly controversial, as climate change, global inequalities and strategic dependencies seem to partially offset the benefits of free trade. Clearly, there is a need for rules governing global trade. On our overview page, we introduce this complex topic and, with our publications and video contributions, offer discussion approaches and suggestions on how free trade could be further developed with a view to climate change and new global political realities.
Quantum Computers and their Importance for Society
Quantum computers are considered a significant future technology with great economic and social potential. Against this background, our publications on the topic not only address the basics, possible applications and social implications of this technology, but also provide recommendations for action.
Digital Transformation in Asia-Pacific
Many countries in the Southeast Asian and Pacific region are considered prime examples and pioneers of digital developments. Digitisation has become deeply rooted in the Asia-Pacific economies and societies in the form of facilitating work and everyday life, and it is hard to imagine life without it. But the major digital technologies and future trends are also being driven forward, especially in Asia. These include artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, FinTech and e-health.
In order to generate sustainable social and economic added value for large parts of the population, our foreign offices and regional programmes in the region closely monitor technological developments around digitalisation topics. In order to achieve the above-mentioned goal, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, together with regional actors from politics, business, society and science, promotes the exchange of knowledge between Germany, Europe and Asia.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
In our three publications, we explain how artificial intelligence (AI) not only improves the performance of an economy, but also affords people with the opportunity to assert individual rights. Our expert interviews and interactive web publication address the legal implications, the design aspect in the interplay between human and machine, and use examples to illustrate how AI is already supporting human rights.
Data Protection Law and Data Trust
Despite the establishment of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Germany and Europe present a rather mixed picture when it comes to data protection. In the articles of our publication series on data protection law and data trust, we look seriously at the various perspectives on the topic and inform you about controversial debates and the current state of developments.
Learn more about the publications on data protection law and data trust
Open Data und Open Government
“Open Data” is a concept that proposes a comprehensive and collaborative use of data. The use of data, which is considered an inexhaustible and renewable resource and whose economic benefit is estimated by experts as being particularly high, should be possible for everyone; this also includes post-processing and dissemination. This would not only affect the economy and science, but politics and, above all, citizens. That is why “Open Data” represents a multi-faceted topic, which we approach from different perspectives in our series of contributions on “Open Data” and “Open Government”.
Competition Policy in the Digital World
Digital platform companies are the big so-called “gatekeepers” on the digital markets. Yet it is not Europe that is successful here, but Asian and American companies for the most part. The seven most valuable companies worldwide either come from the USA or China. Europe is in great danger of not keeping apace with the rest of the world. To ensure that this does not happen, we are intensively addressing competition policy questions on topics such as data economy or Industry 4.0. The publications of our publication project on competition policy in the digital world aim to contribute towards this and demonstrate corresponding recommendations for action.
Learn more about the publications on digital competition policy
The metaverse
In addition to its current hype, the term metaverse is always accompanied by considerable scepticism. Yet the technologies used for this are not at all new. The idea is to make it possible to virtually experience and walk through 3D worlds, which are already being used today - for example in video games. The idea has the potential to initiate a new and possibly the final stage of digitalisation. That is why we have dedicated a separate overview page to this exciting topic area, where we show which other application scenarios already exist, which are conceivable in the future and what requirements this entails for the digital infrastructure.
Learn more about the metaverse
Scholarship and didactic offers
On the web page of our learning laboratory, the Adenauer Campus, teachers and pupils can find teaching material and exercises for the classroom, which are well prepared and divided into several learning modules. Doctoral students will also find what they are looking for here. Those wanting to obtain a doctorate and who are interested in the social market economy, may want to look into the interdisciplinary doctoral programme “Social Market Economy”.
“Social Market Economy” doctoral programme
With the “Social Market Economy” doctoral programme, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung presents doctoral candidates with an exciting study and research opportunity. It intends to stimulate the academic debate on basic principles of the social market economy, and inspire its creative further development against the background of current challenges for politics, society and the economy.
The dissertation topics should make a significant scientific contribution to understanding the social market economy model, and demonstrate practical relevance. The fellows are supervised by the Academic Advisory Board and undergo an accompanying curriculum comprising doctoral seminars on the basics of the social market economy and regulatory thinking as well as on economic policy.
Learn more about the “Social Market Economy” doctoral programme
Didactic Teaching Material for the Classroom
The learning laboratory of our Adenauer Campus, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s digital learning platform, provides teachers, pupils as well as politically interested people with a broad range of teaching and learning opportunities. In addition to exciting learning content, there are also classroom exercises on the topic of the social market economy. We invite all interested people to take a closer look at our free and interactive offers.
Prizes
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been awarding the Social Market Economy Prize since 2002. The award-winners are nominated by a jury consisting of renowned members and confirmed by the Stiftung’s Board of Directors.
Social Market Economy Prize
With the Social Market Economy Prize, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung honours personalities who champion the preservation, realisation and further development of the social market economy. When selecting the winners, the jury places special emphasis on those who exhibited a high degree of independence and individual responsibility or have made an important contribution to the justice of our economic and social system.
Publications to the topic
Flickr/UN Geneva/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Geneva Barometer
Developments among Geneva-based international organisations from September to December 2024
panthermedia
International talent for the German middle class
Measures to improve skilled immigration
Mit der KI Adobe Firefly generiert/ Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.
Research nation China
Partner, competitor and systemic rival
Sven Lorenz/RWI
Economic expert Christoph M. Schmidt becomes a new Fellow of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The former chairman of the German Council of Economic Experts provides the foundation with impetus for its work in times of economic transformation
Adobe Stock / Artlana; generiert mit KI
AI and Elections: New dynamics of digital democracy in Germany
Opportunities and risks for our democratic order through AI in the super election year 2024
Dante Fernández/ FocoUy
Political breakthrough on EU-Mercosur trade agreement
Founding of one of the world's largest economic areas after 25 years of negotiations
Adobe Stock / Korawan; generiert mit KI
Greater capacity for action for public administration with artificial intelligence
Strengthening the future viability of the administration through practical AI expertise, simplified regulatory compliance and European AI in critical areas
panthermedia.net / Elena Platova
Proposals for a new conservative climate narrative
Engaging conservative groups for a technology-open, market-based, and internationally climate policy
Fast, but not fast-tracked
Mitglieder der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) bestätigen WTO-Generaldirektorin, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala für eine zweite Amtszeit
KALUZA + SCHMID Studio GmbH
Aligning growth and climate Protection
On the necessity of economic growth for successful climate protection
Event Reports on the topic
Bürokratieabbau als Motor der Wirtschaft - Perspektiven für Deutschland
"Franz-Meyers-Forum" unter der Schirmherrschaft von Dr. Günter Krings MdB
"Trumps Schutz hat ein Preisschild" - USA nach den Präsidentschaftswahlen
Wintervortrag in Zusammenarbeit mit GSP und Bundeswehr
Jana Reimann-Grohs/KAS
Preis Soziale Marktwirtschaft 2024 verliehen
Dynamik, Mut zur Veränderung und Neugier auf Neues
Thomas Ehlen / kas.de
DemocrAIcy III
Gesellschaftliche Chancen und Risiken Künstlicher Intelligenz im politischen Prozess: Fake News und Cybersicherheit
„Es gibt keine Alternative. Wir brauchen eine ökologisch-soziale Marktwirtschaft“
Eine Fishbowl-Diskussion zur Vereinbarkeit klima- und wirtschaftspolitischer Ziele
Media library
