When it comes to translating basic research into industrial success, few nations can match Germany. Since the 1940s, the nations vast industrial base has been fed with a constant stream of new ideas and expertise from science. And though German prosperity has faltered over the past decade because of the huge cost of unifying east and west as well as the global economic decline, it still has an enviable record for turning ideas into profit.
Much of the reason for that success is the Fraunhofer Society, a network of research institutes that exists solely to solve industrial problems and create sought-after technologies. But today the Fraunhofer institutes have competition. Universities are taking an ever larger role in technology transfer, and technology parks are springing up all over. These efforts are being complemented by the federal programmes for pumping money into start-up companies.
Such a strategy may sound like a recipe for economic success, but it is not without its critics. These people worry that favouring applied research will mean neglecting basic science, eventually starving industry of fresh ideas. If every scientist starts thinking like an entrepreneur, the argument goes, then the traditional principles of university research being curiosity-driven, free and widely available will suffer. Others claim that many of the programmes to promote technology transfer are a waste of money because half the small businesses that are promoted are bound to go bankrupt within a few years.
While this debate continues, new ideas flow at a steady rate from Germanys research networks, which bear famous names such as Helmholtz, Max Planck and Leibniz. Yet it is the fourth network, the Fraunhofer Society, that plays the greatest role in technology transfer.
Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer Society is now Europes largest organisation for applied technology, and has 59 institutes employing 12, 000 people. It continues to grow. Last year, it swallowed up the Heindch Hertz Institute for Communication Technology in Berlin. Today, there are even Fraunhofers in the US and Asia.
1.What factor can be attributed to German prosperity?
A Technology transfer.
B Good management.
C Hard work.
D Fierce competition.
2.Which of the following is NOT true of traditional university research?
A It is free.
B It is profit-driven.
C It is widely available.
D It is curiosity-driven.
3.The Fraunhofer Society is the largest organisation for applied technology in
A Asia.
B USA.
C Europe.
D Africa.
4.When was the Fraunhofer Society founded?
A In 1940.
B Last year.
C Afterthe unification.
D In 1949.
5.The word expertise in line 3 could be best replaced by
A experts.
B scientists.
C scholars.
D special knowledge.
答案:1. A 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. D
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题16
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题3 形容词和副词
我国首个“网络空间安全战略”发布
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (98)
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题8 非谓语动词
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题15
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (93)
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (94)
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (100)
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题1 名词与冠词
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (78)
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题2
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题6
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (96)
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (85)
《孤独星球》选出2017年最值得一去的10大城市
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (99)
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题5 动词和动词短语
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (89)
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题5
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (97)
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (95)
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (83)
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题11
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (86)
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题4 介词和介词短语
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题4
2014届高考英语第一轮复习课时练习题10
【最新版】2014届高考英语一轮单元复习精品阅读理解提升文章精选一百篇 (84)
(北师大版)2014届高考英语一轮复习精选导学案语法强化系列专题2 代词