The German government's bail-out package has assigned billions of euros for Opel and other major employers. But how much of is earmarked for research and development? Germany's export-oriented economy also depends on its traditional ability to produce innovative new products and ideas.Probably the most important funding programme in the R&D sector is the Initiative for Excellence ,which supports exceptional projects and colleges. Aachen University,for example,has researchers working in close cooperation with commercial firms on the development of new innovations for industrial production in high-wage countries. We look at what is possible when the means are available. Report by Sonja Schock