In 2023, the higher education expenditure on R&D in social sciences in Germany was approximately 3.58 billion euros. The forecast indicates a steady increase in funding, rising annually from 3.74 billion euros in 2024 to 4.35 billion euros by 2028. Notable year-on-year growth rates are projected to be around 4% to 4.5%. Over a five-year period, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be about 4.1%, reflecting ongoing investment in social sciences research within the higher education sector.

Future trends to watch for:

Potential shifts in governmental funding priorities and policies affecting R&D investment.
Increased focus on interdisciplinary research linking social sciences with technology and environmental studies.
Growing partnerships between universities and private sectors to bolster research outputs and funding.