1.7 trillion euros of high-tech potential: But who will scale it?

“It’s massive,” says Helmut Schönenberger, CEO of UnternehmerTUM. Together with BCG, they systematically analyzed the innovation fields, from AI to quantum technology. The result: €1.7 trillion in potential revenue per year. But one thing is also clear: this potential won’t materialize on its own.

High-tech agenda: focus, speed, ambition

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär made a statement at the panel of the inaugural event MSC Startup Hub In Munich, he presented the German government's new high-tech agenda and made clear what it is about: technological sovereignty, competitiveness and economic strength.

While Germany remains an "innovation nation," it has fallen to 11th place in the ranking of the most innovative countries in 2025 – down from 9th place in 2024 and 8th place in 2023. "We must reverse this trend," said Bär. The goal is to once again become a leading technology country and a magnet for top talent and investment.

The high-tech agenda deliberately sets clear priorities. It focuses on six key technologies: artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, microelectronics, biotechnology, fusion energy, and climate-neutral energy and mobility.

In addition, there are concrete ambitions:

• at least one AI Gigafactory in Germany
• at least two error-corrected quantum computers by 2030
• Germany as a European center for chip design
• the first fusion power plant in Germany

And: speed. The cabinet approved the agenda with a budget of 18 billion euros from the research ministry. Further funds will come from other ministries.

The money is there – but it needs to be pooled.

For Schönenberger, one thing is clear: it's not just about government funding. The crucial point is that all stakeholders pool their resources. The Munich ecosystem alone demonstrates the potential for collaboration: TUM has an annual budget of around one billion euros. Startups in the surrounding area contribute approximately two billion euros annually, primarily from private sources. The high-tech agenda could serve as a catalyst, but it needs to unlock significantly more capital, partnerships, and implementation power.

Germany boasts scientific excellence. But this is precisely where its structural weakness lies: translating that excellence into scalable business models is too rarely successful. "Transfer" will be the major guiding principle in the coming years, Bär emphasizes. It's not just about input, but about impact. Research must be translated into marketable products more quickly.

Schönenberger emphasizes that the opportunities in these six future fields are "incredible." But they must be understood and utilized. If AI research doesn't lead to global platforms, if quantum technology doesn't result in scalable business models, if deep-tech startups don't become world market leaders – then the 1.7 trillion euro potential will remain purely theoretical.

Another lever: the state itself. The public sector must act more as a customer in the future, for example with the planned AI Gigafactory. Particularly in the defense sector, large budgets enable investments in new technologies. For startups, this means that those working in strategic key technologies can expect new demand from the public sector if they are capable of scaling their operations.

The panel's central message is clear: The potential is there. The technologies have been identified. The capital – at least in part – is also available. What matters now is implementation. "Our job here is to make that possible," says Schönenberger. And by that, he means not only policymakers, but universities, startups, investors, industry, and European partners alike.