Germany's Strategic Tech Investments

Recently, I had the privilege to visit the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to learning more about why she remains a leading country in virtually all areas of technology.

Yes, most people know Germany more for automobile innovations and technology with the likes of super brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Opel etc.

Germany has led the world for many years and still is a leader in this field. Personally, a German technology powered ride like a Benz or BWM is one that I'd love to own at some point in the future.

Be that as it may, I remember a top Government official in the ministry of Digital Infrastructure saying to me "yes the world may know us for automobile technology but the German economy is much more than that, we are investing billions of Euros to improve our infrastructure which includes ensuring that people in the rural community also have access to high quality broadband Internet"

I must state that I observed that there is an healthy competition going on among states and regions in terms of developing their respective startup ecosystem.

For example, I visited a number of hubs in various cities such as Berlin and Munich. While some of these hubs are not directly funded by Government, there are a number funds and grants that startups in these hubs have access to.

However, the model of Werk1 Hub, Munich is that the state of Bavaria funds the hub so that startups in and around Munich can make use of the facilities at a subsidized rate and most importantly to ensure that there is a strong startup community in that region.

This is in contrast to what a top Government official in Nigeria said to my hearing and I quote "my understanding is that Government has no business investing in hubs and co-working spaces, it should be left to the private sector" - a statement I find quite shocking.

My follow up question would have been, so what is Government's business, share our National wealth? Well, fortunately for the gentleman, it was not an interview session.

It drives me nuts when people say leave it for the private sector - even in the United States, projects like Google's search algorithm or even the iPad were initially projects funded in one way or the other by grants from the US Government - hmmnnn, let no one be deceived!

I like the fact that the Germans have admitted that if they do not ramp up investments in technology then they might be left behind and so they are not basking in the old glory of being a technology powerhouse rather they are enacting the relevant policies as well as the right investments to ensure that they take advantage of every opportunity available in today's super competitive Tech space.

Let's look at the gaming industry for example, each year the Government holds an annual German games award that is designed to recognise and motivate various categories of German game developers.

This is also why there is a conscious step to ensure that each year the city of Cologne welcomes a minimum of 100,000 gamers, investors, media and visitors to the annual Gamescom, unarguably the biggest gaming event in the world.

Think about the impact this event alone will have on the city of Cologne for those three days it will hold?

Germany already has what is called the Digital Agenda which is a strategic step towards ensuring that industries, businesses and the entire country makes technology and digital services a part of there everyday schedule and also a move to get the buy in of various politicians. There are no two ways about it.

If we want to play in the advanced digital game of tomorrow, then, we have to start making massive investments in the infrastructure that will support it. On top of that each year, the German government holds an IT summit and I am sure you will probably think about this IT summit as one where geeks will come to talk about the latest trends from out of space but that is not exactly the case. This summit is designed as a platform for political dialogue - designed for politicians to come together to discuss technology and digital Trends as it affects their Country! Isn't that interesting?

Let me quote Germany's Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Alexander Dobrindt, ..."digitalisation signifies a substantial economic and social revolution, it changes the conditions for growth, prosperity and the work of tomorrow - and revolutionises, in a disruptive process, industries and services, value chains and manufacturing processes, innovation and product life cycles.

This presents a great challenge but also, above all, a great opportunity. Digital technologies offer enormous potential in terms of quality, efficiency and speed."

The trip to Germany has helped dispel quite a lot of myth that I previously held about Germany. For example, I had thought that not understanding the German language would be a big challenge but that has now changed because many of the Germans I had contact with spoke English quite well and we were able to communicate.

I also held the opinion that Germans were conservative and not quite open so to speak, again all that has changed and I hope that more serious business owners will get to explore the German business environment and also more media professionals will travel to experience Germany at some point in order to tell the correct story in their own words like I am telling now.

CFA is the founder of www.techsmart.ng and co-producer/presenter of Tech Trends on Channels TV