The money represents an increase of 6 percent over 1987, compared with a 4 percent rise in the government’s overall science budget. Sectors due to receive a reduced share of the $4.7 billion budget include research into the use of coal and other fossil fuels (down 10.5 percent) and nuclear fission technology (down 15.3 percent). Biotechnology (up 7.7 percent), oceanography (up 11 percent) and ecology (up 8 percent) are among the beneficiaries.
Presenting his budget to the Bundestag, Research and Technology Minister Heinz Riesenhuber cited “a stronger integration of Europe and the Western world generally” as the reason for greater spending on space research. He argued for greater international collaboration to counter “growing concern about protectionism and current discussion about the disadvantages of the free flow of technological information.” Riesenhuber also announced a 15 percent increase, to $55 million, to enhance the transfer of technology and knowledge from West Germany’s...
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