German government launches measures to cut research bureaucracy

The German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space has launched measures to reduce bureaucracy for researchers, it announced on 05/11/2025.

One measure has already been approved: the digitisation of project funding, making processes faster, more transparent and more user-friendly. Integrating AI tools and modernising the technical infrastructure will contribute to a user-oriented funding management system for the federal government, the government said.

The government has proposed other measures including:
• Opening up data for research: "The Research Data Act creates a clear and practicable legal framework so that public sector data can be used more easily for research purposes."
• More freedom for research: "The Innovation Freedom Act will reduce bureaucratic hurdles in research funding and create more innovation-friendly structures. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden for researchers and allow more freedom for new ideas."
• More room for manoeuvre: "The flexibilisation of the prohibition on improvement for non-profit research institutions ensures that…