Speccifično, finančni minister Lindner bo z namenom varčevanja porezal izdatke za raziskave na področju kvantnih računalnikov. Kaj bodo Nemcem kvantni računalniki in tehnološka tekma z ZDA in Kitajsko?!

The trouble with austerity is that it always, without exception, hits public investment and ultimately economic growth. Investment is the part of national or federal spending that can be cut the easiest. It is happening again, in Germany, where the consequences of the 2024 austerity budget are slowly emerging. 

Euractiv reports that one of the many savings Christian Lindner identified to meet his 0.35% deficit goal for next year was the budget for quantum computing research. Having missed out on the digital revolution in the late 20th century, on digital business models and digital industry in the 21st century, Germany has now identified the next big industrial trend to sacrifice at the altar of austerity. Previously, during the pandemic, the government scoped out quantum computing as an area worthy of support to compete with the US, China and Japan. But that was then.

The total budget earmarked for quantum research was €2bn. This has now been cut by 10%. This does not sound like a lot of money, but it will hit start-up projects that require federal co-funding for research. At the start of the pandemic the German government allocated a total €130bn in investments, most of which was spent on a VAT rate cut, and family support. The quantum research programme was part of that package.

Smaller companies in particular have found that is very difficult to get hold off public money because of excessive bureaucratic application processes. This is also the reason why the US inflation reduction act constitutes such a potent threat to the EU. It is real money. In Europe, we exaggerate the size of our investment programmes for the gullible media, but the money that actually gets delivered is a small fraction of headline numbers. It is happening to the recovery fund as well.

The reason we are reporting the cut in the relatively small quantum research budget is what it reveals: Germany and the EU are once again on course to de-prioritise investments. 

The biggest problem with fiscal rules that target deficits, rather than spending, is exactly this. When non-discretionary spending items dominate your budget, and when defence spending can no longer be cut for political reasons, high-tech investments are next in line. Technology research is the low-hanging fruit for the Austerians.

Vir: Eurointelligence