Evaluation of the indirect-specific promotion of manufacturing technology

In the Federal Repulic of Germany manufacturing technology has crystallized out over the past two decades as a promotion area per se. The promotion policy instruments used have varied greatly; however, with the indirect-specific promotion instrument, emphasis was clearly placed on the support of user firms. This contribution is concerned with the evaluation of the results of the two programmes directed towards CAD/CAM application, 1984 to 1987, and CIM application, 1988 to 1992. After situating the programmes in the context of manufacturing technology promotion in the Federal Republic of Germany, the structure and rationale of the evaluation projects are presented. Finally, some of the main results are given and their main implications for technology policy deduced.