Berlin’s raw material is knowledge – the city has a science and research environment that is unique in Germany. At 3 universities, 8 specialist colleges, 4 art colleges and over 80 state-subsidised research establishments there are about 50,000 people working on products, solutions and innovations for the world of tomorrow. With its two university clinics, the Charité and the Benjamin Franklin Clinic, Berlin is continuing a successful tradition that is closely associated with the names of Rudolf Virchow, Robert Koch and Ferdinand Sauerbruch.

About 132,000 young people are studying at the universities and colleges. In relation to the Federal Republic as a whole, Berlin is thus making an above average contribution to the training of the young generation.

The city sees itself as a laboratory in which ideas, products and social solutions are created. For example, new paths are being trodden in the reform of the tertiary education system. The influence of the state will be reduced and the universities and colleges will be given more independence and responsibility, especially in their financial planning. The exemplary Berlin university and college contracts guarantee the amount of the state grants for four years and oblige the universities and colleges to carry out structural measures and reforms in the study courses. At the same time, a pilot project clause suspends 60 paragraphs of the Berlin Universities and Colleges act and enables reforms in financing, organisation and management to be tested. Outside funds need to be increasingly attracted and advertising methods used.