The economic importance of quality infrastructure
“Made in Germany” stands for everything that defines Germany's economy. The cornerstone of the success of this seal of quality, and thus the competitiveness and innovative strength of German companies, is a reliable quality infrastructure that ensures safety, quality, and trust and contributes significantly to the functioning of trade in goods and services and to the protection of health and the environment. Now, for the first time, a study quantifies the importance of QI for Germany as a business location.
Embedded in the European and German legal framework as well as international trade agreements, standards, testing and certification, accreditation, metrology, and market surveillance ensure that requirements for products, production, and services can be defined, fulfilled, and verified. QI is therefore indispensable for the functioning of the economy, for safety and trust, and specifically for environmental, health, and consumer protection. QI is therefore of immense practical importance for the economy and society, which has now been quantified for the first time worldwide in a study commissioned by BAM.
This study provides a detailed analysis of the economic significance of quality infrastructure (QI) in Germany. For the first time, researchers have analyzed QI as a whole, including all its key elements: standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation, metrology, and market surveillance. This study highlights the interactions between these components and their influence on overall economic development, innovation, and exports, as well as on non-economic impact dimensions.
Based on complex models and data, experts at Fraunhofer ISI estimate the loss of gross domestic product (GDP) without QI services at 7.8%. Consequently, this would have meant a loss of almost €320 billion for the Federal Republic of Germany in 2023, with a GDP of just over €4 trillion. "The current study impressively underscores the central role of QI for Germany's economic performance. It shows that QI not only contributes significantly to ensuring product quality and safety, but also promotes economic strength, innovation, and international trade.
The importance of quality infrastructure in Germany: Study on economic and non-economic effects. Summary. Blind, K., Neuhäusler, P. & Schubert, T. Fraunhofer ISI, Karlsruhe, 2025. DOI 10.24406/publica-5041
Written on behalf of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).
Click here for the study (redirect to the Fraunhofer publication server)
Joint press release from BMWE and BAM “Study confirms high economic importance of quality infrastructure” (external link, BMWE).