Innovative Solutions in All Areas
The new high tech strategy adopted by the German government is titled as Innovations for Germany. It goes way beyond the area of future-oriented tasks of the future, that are mainly taken up in the brochure. Innovative solutions in all aspects of social and economic life are now the decisive requirements for overall prosperity and quality of life for Germany. The key ingredients for long term sustainable development include, healthy and a balanced economy, socially liberalize communities, with less dependency on traditional sources of energy and infrastructure, and preserve its democratic political system.
These innovative solutions are now being practiced in the daily lives of people, especially in the areas of research and higher education. The German research and university colleges have adopted a new philosophy of working that is more adapted to the time and place of the student rather than the location of his faculty. They are realizing the need of being flexible while operating in such an ever-changing environment. They have come up with innovative solutions for students who are interested in the subject matter of the university and are therefore willing to learn on the move or in a distance environment.
The innovative initiatives of higher education institutions in Germany include creating a culture for independent research and higher education, better access to higher education and research, better teaching practices including the implementation of online learning courses. Innovations in transportation sector have resulted in better safety for the general population traveling on the highways. Innovative initiatives in information technology are ushering in a new era of global communication, that is faster, cheaper and safer than the conventional systems.
The cost saving measures have resulted in increased efficiency. The use of recycled paper and other material and the use of energy efficient light bulbs, have led to significant reductions in the electricity bills. The increased productivity has resulted in innovative solutions in all areas. The innovative solutions for the development of the nation are evident in the high number of patent applications granted.
Innovation is also evident in the increased number of higher education institutions that are offering distance learning programs. Distance learning offers students the chance to study at their own pace in a traditional school setting. This innovative solution was first introduced in Germany twenty years ago. It has now reached almost fifty countries worldwide and has become a very common higher education option. This achievement is due to the fact that it has been able to mitigate the financial impact on the institution by offering courses at lower cost and offering flexibility to the students to opt for an online program as per their convenience.
Innovation is also evident in the different research initiatives that are being taken by the various institutes. These initiatives are aimed at inculcating the principles of innovation as a part of the academic curriculum. There are new discoveries being made every day. A research project will be innovative if it comes with an initiative or strategy that has been thought of a few years back. Many times the research is borne out of the need for innovative products or services.
Many institutes have realized that there is a need for a more interactive teaching style. This has led to a change in teaching styles like Interactive Whiteboard and Virtual Classroom. The teachers of yesteryear used to chalk out notes and do several calculations on the whiteboard. However with the advent of better teaching technologies and the introduction of Online class systems, teachers are now able to interact with the students in a more interesting and enjoyable manner.
Another area where innovative solutions in all areas are being practiced is in the domain of healthcare. Pharmaceutical research has come up with a number of innovative solutions in the form of wonder drugs. These wonder drugs are able to fight against critical diseases and at the same time cure them. These medicines are made to target a person’s malfunctioning kidneys, liver, pancreas and other organs that are essential for the human body. Other areas where innovative solutions in all areas are practiced are aerospace design, space technology, computer science, biomedical research and development, energy, mechanical engineering, electronics, biomedical equipment and so on.