Germany is at a crossroads: tomorrow’s technical education will determine the economic location of the day after tomorrow. The position paper of the National STEM Forum and the VDI’s demand not to lose STEM education in the ‘confusion of federalism’ strike at the heart of a central debate. Technology is not just a tool, it is culture, and it needs a strategy.
On the one hand, there is a call for a national approach: uniform STEM standards could ensure that schoolchildren in Hamburg have the same access to high-quality technical education as those in Munich or Dresden. A nationally coordinated curriculum would not only create equal opportunities, but also make it easier to plan for the demand for skilled workers in key industries such as mechanical engineering, automation and artificial intelligence. In practical terms, this means clear learning objectives, standardised teaching materials and closer links between schools, universities and industry. For an industry in which technological advances happen on a weekly basis, this would be a competitive advantage.
But a look at federalism also reveals opportunities: education thrives on diversity, and regional solutions create space for innovation. Bavaria, Berlin and Saarland can set their own priorities – for example, in the fields of robotics, AI or sustainable production – which other federal states can use as inspiration. This leads to pilot projects that can later be incorporated into nationwide standards. It also keeps education democratically close to the citizens and more flexible in its implementation.
The political task is therefore to find a hybrid approach: national guidelines for STEM skills, accompanied by federal flexibility. Technology-oriented education needs clear guidance – but also scope for dynamic development. The federal and state governments must work more closely together: through joint funding programmes, digital platforms and practical networks.
STEM education must no longer be a topic that gets lost in debates about jurisdiction. It must become part of a clear political agenda. Technology is not a luxury, but a key resource for our future. Those who do not invest in a coherent STEM strategy today risk being left behind technologically tomorrow.
The VDI’s appeal is therefore justified: we need courage, foresight and a concept that combines federal strengths with national coordination – so that Germany remains a hub of innovation in 20 years’ time.
