German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer (3rd L) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (4th R) pose with Irene Bertschek (4th L), Chair of Germany's Commission of Experts on Research and Innovation (EFI), and commission members Guido Buenstorf (L), Joachim Henkel (2nd L), Friederike Welter (R), Christoph M Schmidt (2nd R) and Carolin Haeussler after they handed over their annual report to the German government on February 11, 2026 at the Chancellery in Berlin. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)