“Giving good science and technology advice: Tales from the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation of Germany” by Ingrid Ott

The Commission of Experts on Research and Innovation (Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation - EFI) was set up by the German Federal Government in August 2006 to provide scientific policy advice to the German chancellor through formal reports on research, innovation and technological performance in Germany.The reports present a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the German innovation system in an international comparison. They explain and analyzes structures, trends, performance and prospects of the German research and innovation system; assess priority issues of the German research and innovation system; and present possible action options and policy recommendations for the further development of the German research and innovation system. Ingrid Ott, a member of the Commission, will discuss how the Commission fulfills these tasks in the face of challenges such as advising about technologies which are ever evolving, prioritizing international comparison countries, and incorporating viewpoints from other German science and technology policy advisory groups such as acatech – the German National Academy of Science and Engineering.  The talk will draw on experiences in drafting the 10th Annual Report, which was presented to the German Federal Government on February 15, 2017.