In order to catch up with the global leaders in the area of the data economy, we must substantially increase funding for research and development of digitisation of the economy. This funding is only one-tenth the amount of that provided for energy or aerospace. By promoting R&D projects in the innovative stage we ensure that forward-looking topics in ICT are addressed early on and we help expedite the transfer of scientific results on up to market-oriented leading technologies with substantial application potential. Small and mid-size companies should also be given tax advantages for research expenditures. The following must be done: • I nvestments in digital technology must be made more attractive with tax deductions. Investments in software and digital technology make a valuable contribution to company innovativeness. In order to accommodate the fact that investment cycles are becoming shorter and shorter all the time, depreciation schedules for hardware and software and for all digital technology devices should be reduced to a maximum of three years. •W  e will focus our support programmes specifically on innovative technology and applications and will identify lighthouse projects. Specific examples include, in the economy platform area: the technology programme Smart Service World (Smart Service Welt); for the technologies related to Industry 4.0 and Autonomous Systems: the programme Autonomics for Industry 4.0; for product engineering, logistics, service robotics, industrial 3D applications and industrial communication: the PAiCE programme; and for smart data and Big Data: the programme Smart Data. These technology programmes will be continually improved and expanded to include new topics in the area of the Internet of Things and the challenges to IT security (security by design). •W  e want to maintain technical independence. This will require ideas for projects that have a broad scope and involve partners from industry and the research community, both nationally and on the EU level. In particular, funding must be provided for German or European equipment suppliers in the areas of industrial communication, realtime data analysis and product engineering. •W  e want to introduce R&D tax breaks for SMEs with up to 1,000 employees. Providing this assistance in the form of a tax allowance would also enable start-ups that have not yet made a profit to benefit from tax advantages. www.de.digital 47