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2020 Efi-Report

Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (EFI) presents annual report: Economy suffers from cyber-attacks - Professor of the Economics of Digitalisation at JLU contributes expertise on digitalisation.

A growing threat of cyber attacks is seen by the Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (EFI), of which Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, head of the research area "Digital Economy" at the ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim and Professor of Economics of Digitalisation at the Justus Liebig University Gießen (JLU), is a member. In its annual report, which the EFI presented to Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel in Berlin on February 19, the expert commission points out that the increasing cyber threat weakens the innovation activity of companies and has indirect negative effects on Germany's economic growth.

"Digital future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence or the Internet of Things are particularly affected here, because the success of these technologies depends not least on their security," said Prof. Bertschek. Since May 2019, she has been supporting the commission of experts in her area of expertise “digital economy”. Her research focuses on the effects of digitalisation on productivity, innovation behavior and the world of work.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of German reunification, the EFI also examined the current innovation performance of East Germany and its developments over the last few years in comparison to West Germany. Another focus of the annual report is the exchange of knowledge and technology between Germany and China.

The EFI provides scientific policy advice on behalf of the Federal Government. It presents an annual report on Germany's research, innovation and technological performance. In connection with the reports, comprehensive analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of the German innovation system are carried out in international and temporal comparison. Based on latest scientific studies, the perspectives of Germany as a location for research and innovation are also assessed and proposals for national research and innovation policy are developed.

Further information: www.e-fi.de