The German government will present a new energy research program in summer 2023 under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). For this, the BMWK is starting the stakeholder process to involve stakeholders from science and research as well as industry and society.
The 8th Energy Research Program focuses on completing the energy transition and accelerating the transformation. The research contributions are intended to support the German government's goals in the heat and power sectors for 2030 and 2045 and in the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. In this way, energy research policy responds to the new current challenges and follows the German government's realigned energy and climate policy.
"Energy research is and remains a central strategic key the energy transition. The technological transformation of the energy system must proceed quickly and in a targeted manner. In this context, the energy research program makes a decisive contribution to the technological implementation of the energy transition and helps promising ideas to reach market maturity," says Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Protection.
Funds from the federal government
The federal government will provide around 1.3 billion euros for energy research in 2023. For the coming years, the 8th Energy Research Program will form the basis of the federal government's funding policy for research, development and innovations for a climate-neutral and resilient energy system in 2045. It is intended to help companies and research institutions to develop ideas for the diverse transformation tasks and to test innovative solutions.
In the consultation process now launched, the BMWK is relying in particular on the broad expertise of the energy research networks. Around 3,700 experts are currently active in the nine networks. They support the further development of the BMWK's funding strategy in the field of energy research by providing recommendations for action and statements, among other things. The transfer of research results into practice is promoted by networking experts from science, business, and industry.
Following the consultation process, the program is to be presented in the summer of 2023 and enter into force following a decision by the cabinet.
