From a survey in March this year on 1,600 R&D intensive businesses, DIHK of Germany has observed a trend of building overseas R&D centers.

Two-thirds of the enterprises which have set up R&D centers outside Germany feel their overseas R&D centers enjoy better environment than those in Germany.

28 percent of them are considering transfer their R&D centers to Asian countries, including China. 31 percent are thinking of R&D centers in central and Eastern Europe. And 47 percent hope to have their R&D moved to the 15 old EU members.

The survey shows that 15 percent of German R&D intensive businesses have relocated their R&D centers outside Germany and another 17 percent will do the same within the next 3 years.

Their intention is largely motivated by their transfer of production facilities to better serve their customers. They are also driven by competitive labor costs, flexible work schedule and less red tape.

Statistics of Stifterverband presents an upward curve of investment on overseas R&D centers by German companies in recent years since 2001 when the input valued 11.9 euro.

By People's Daily Online