: Hinze, S.; Grupp, H.

Abstract
The "spotlight", trained in this inqiury on East German research and development, consists of four differently "coloured" and directed "light beams": - Invention activities originating from East Germany domiciles or company registered offices are analysed isofar as they were duplicated by a patent application abroad in West Europe, indicative of the portion of East German technology important for export. - Likewise, East German patents awarded at the US Patent Office were examined in order to identify a non-obvious overseas market for the traditional business dealings of East German combines, thereby obtaining a strong selection of the economically most important East German technology. - RuD activity in the field of telecommunications was investigated as part of a case study of seleted technical work areas in East Germany. The institutional and regional structures of East Germany in telecommunications are discussed both in regard to time trends and also at the micro-level. The conclus ion yielded by this selective approach for the current transitional situation in East German Federal States (Länder) are deduced as carefully as possible; they cannot, in all conscience, be substantiated as this would fall outside the terms of reference of this hastily conducted inquiry.