Technikwirtschaft

Technikwirtschaft is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes the interaction between technological development and economic activity. It investigates how new technologies influence productivity, investment decisions, industry structure, and long-term growth, and how economic incentives, institutions, and public policy shape the rate and direction of technological progress. The term is used mainly in German-speaking contexts to describe a space that combines elements of economics, engineering, and management.

Core topics include innovation economics, technology management, industrial economics, and the economics of research and development. Methods commonly used are econometric analysis, techno-economic modeling, life-cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and scenario planning. The field draws on insights from engineering, management science, and policy studies to evaluate costs, risks, and performance of different technological options.

Applications of Technikwirtschaft span corporate strategy, technology policy, and regional or sectoral analysis. It informs decisions on funding and incentives for research and development, the diffusion of innovations, digital transformation, energy transition, and infrastructure projects. The approach emphasizes the economic viability of technologies, their market potential, and the distributional effects across firms, workers, and regions.

History and status: Technikwirtschaft grew from the convergence of engineering disciplines with economics and management studies, especially during periods of rapid technological change. In German-speaking countries the term is used alongside related concepts such as Technische Ökonomie, Technologiemanagement, and Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, reflecting a shared interest in how technology and economy shape each other.