Tax incentives sought for industry-university collaboration

A draft law to strengthen industry research through tax breaks should be extended to include universities, the HRK, Germany’s association of rectors, has said.

Only the wages of company employees are planned to be eligible for tax breaks under the draft law, the HRK said in a statement on 15 May. 

“When companies award a contract to a higher education institution, they cannot claim any costs as contracting authorities,” said HRK president Peter-André Alt. “In fact, universities as contractors can not benefit because they always have to offer full costs because of the European aid framework.”