The answer to this question is: innovative, yes - but not enough. Product and process innovation is a key to future competitiveness. However, many companies have had to painfully experience that technical intelligence alone is not sufficient in order to achieve economic results from innovations. For three years, there has been a distinct decline in the exports of research-intensive products from the Federal Republic of Germany; Japan and the USA have taken over the leading position. Analyses of company successes show: investment in research and development pays off and is the main driving force for economic growth. Inversely, it may be concluded from this: omissions in research (particularly in new fields) weaken the economic position on the world markets. Therefore, if it is true that we have become worse in international comparison, then we must discover why that is the case. And it is precisely here that the matter becomes complicated because there is not just one cause and- not just one guilty party: A rethinking process is overdue in technology and in the economy, in society and in politics - a fundamental change in behaviour in order to improve the conditions. We need comprehensive structural innovation - in the companies and in society, in science and in politics.
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