Germany - Research and development services and related consultancy

Description

In its decision of 10 July 2019 on the implementation of the results of the Commission on Equal Living Conditions ("Our Plan for Germany"), the Federal Government reaffirmed its objective of using its policy to promote the creation of equal living conditions in all sub-regions of Germany, to reduce existing disparities and to prevent their consolidation. With a variety of approaches in home affairs policy and regional development policy, the Federal Government wants to take countermeasures and shape a future-proof, sustainable Germany in which social cohesion is strengthened and people are at the centre of attention. One recommendation in "Our Plan for Germany" is the decentralisation of federal authorities. New settlements and spin-offs should increasingly be located in central rural areas, such as small and medium-sized towns, in order to maintain and expand the historically grown, polycentric settlement and economic structure (p. 70). The same applies to university and research institutions. "Clusters of (technical) colleges, public authorities, universities, non-university research institutions and companies should be aimed for, so that training and practical application are close together (p. 17).". The Structural Strengthening Act for Coal Regions (draft 2019) follows the same approach with concrete proposals for spin-offs and new settlements of public authorities and research institutions. By 2028, up to 5,000 jobs in federal authorities and other federal institutions are to be maintained or newly established there (Section 18, Paragraph 1).the first decisions on settlement have been made and implementation has begun. Thus, by the cut-off date of 31 December 2019, around 327 of the approximately 4,800 jobs planned in four coal-producing regions had already been actually filled. For this reason, the Federal Rural Development Programme (BULE) of the Federal Ministry of the Interior will investigate how this process can be supported. The tendered study on the settlement of (federal) authorities/institutions in regions with rural and in particular structurally weak regions or regions affected by structural change (e.g. coal-mining areas) is intended to clarify the extent to which the settlement of authorities is a suitable instrument for establishing equivalent living conditions and sustainable spatial development. What successes and problems have become apparent over the years, both in relation to the institutions themselves and to the siting regions?- In which regions is there good potential for future settlements?- What factors can politics influence in order to achieve the creation of equivalent living conditions and sustainable spatial development through the settlement of authorities and research institutions in the sense of an active structural policy?
See "Description of services".

Opportunity closing date

12 August 2020

Value of contract

£100k-1m