BERLIN – November 13, 2026 -- The Economisten, a new German political movement drawn from business, start-ups, finance, science and education, have named a state ratio (Staatsquote) of 30% as their guiding target. The Federal Statistical Office put the ratio at 50.3% in 2025. By FairsOnline's calculation, reaching 30% would mean a cut of 20.3 percentage points, or about 40% of the 2025 level.
The movement gave no timeline for reaching the 30% ratio.
Biotech investor calls the German economy an emergency case
Friedrich von Bohlen und Halbach, a biotech entrepreneur, investor and chairman of the Förderverein Economisten, described the economy as an intensive-care patient in need of emergency surgery. He said one task matters: making the economy competitive again. That requires high attractiveness for private equity capital and a state that concentrates on its core functions, he said.
He spoke at a press conference in Berlin, held in the former pathology building of the Charité.
Economist says US deep-tech investment was 45 times Germany's in 2025
Stefanie A. Schubert, professor at SRH University Heidelberg, said US investment in deep-tech companies in 2025 was 45 times the German figure. The US population is about four times Germany's, she said. By FairsOnline's calculation, that works out to roughly 11 times more investment per inhabitant (45 divided by 4).
Schubert also said the German economy is stuck at about its 2019 level, after several titles as export world champion.
Study of 47 experts supplies the movement's vision for Europe
Jan Berger, CEO of the futures institute Themis Foresight, presented the study Europa und Deutschland 2035. It is based on a survey of 47 experts from across Europe and different political camps. The Economisten adopt from it the concept of an "innovative core Europe": an expandable core of economically strong states. According to the movement, Germany belongs to it only after radical renewal.
Thomas Sattelberger, chairman of Economisten e. V. and a former parliamentary state secretary, said every policy field must also be assessed economically. He wants more economic expertise in the German parliament.
Regional forums to grow from four to six states by year-end
The Economisten run regional forums in four federal states and plan six by the end of the year, an increase of 50%. The movement describes itself as a political start-up. It will consider founding a party at a later point, after a successful start.