Irreplaceable in the German Innovation System

As “network of networks” the AiF is restructuring and has therefore launched an external evaluation of the organization which was founded in 1954. This evaluation report was presented in early May 2023 by an evaluation team of representatives from science and research, business and politics.

The team was headed by Prof. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the RWI Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (Leibniz institute for business research), and Prof. Friedericke Welter, President of the Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (Institute for SME research, IfM). Among other findings, the report certifies that the AiF “in the case of consequent implementation of the reform process it has embarked upon, can play an irreplaceable part in the German innovation system.”

It says further: “The AiF can and should be the otherwise missing organization which focuses the interests of SME researchers and acts as their voice. No other organization in Germany is able to aggregate and articulate these interests across different industries in the same way.” and “The strengths of the AiF lie in its organisation as a representative of SME research, the results and advantages which stem from the successful support and administration of research programmes, and the correlating transfer from research into companies.”

The evaluation team recommends the consequent continuation of the strategy and reform process already entered into. The idea is to consciously close strategic gaps in the innovation system and to change “from administration to creation”. Looking inwards, what needs strengthening is adaptability, agility and diversity while continuing to develop the association's business model and providing a new base that will carry it forward into the future. “In order to implement these recommendations, we will for example expand and strengthen the established theme-oriented AiF research and transfer alliances and the AiF InnovatorsNet as a new, agile innovation centre with a platform for digital transfer, competence and networking, continue to force exchange and networking among our research associations, develop a reliable transfer indication with regard to input, output and impact, and thus significantly increase the effectiveness of the organisation...” says Prof. Michael Bruno Klein, CEO of AiF.