Innovation Nation - German Inventions That Changed the World

 Innovation is at the center of human life and an indispensable resource in today's competitive global environment. From quick bursts of creativity from individuals or collaborative efforts, innovation plays an integral part of human existence and must remain part of everyday life to remain relevant in our rapidly-evolved environment.

German inventors are world renowned for their many inventions. Oskar Barnack's pocket camera inspired spontaneous snapshots while Karl Benz created his gasoline-powered automobile; these breakthroughs forever changed lives around the globe.

German Ingenuity: A History of Innovation

Germany's engineers, inventors and scientists are responsible for some of humanity's most remarkable innovations - from Johannes Gutenberg's printing press to aspirin pills that help ease headaches. Some innovations were born of necessity while others are considered simply genius.

German innovation is world renowned. When you see products with "Made in Germany" labels, you know they will be of high quality. But what exactly inspires their creative brilliance?

Germany's creativity stems in part from an emphasis on research. As evidenced by their ranking as second worldwide for patent registrations and home to such innovative firms as Siemens, Robert Bosch, and BASF - research is an integral component of German creativity.

Germany is well known for its creativity. Bakers in its southwest began decorating Christmas trees with decorations at Christmas time during the 14th century; later this tradition spread throughout Europe and was even introduced by emigrants to America.

Germany has long been at the forefront of scientific innovation. Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen revolutionized medical technology when he discovered X-rays in 1895, helping doctors diagnose numerous illnesses. Since then, their discovery has transformed medical science.

Max Schulz invented and patented an electric toothbrush in 1949; this innovative product features a rotating bristle head with a replaceable brushhead that helps remove plaque and keep teeth cleaner for longer.

Germans are well known for setting stringent standards when it comes to manufacturing products, and buying something with a German label guarantees high-quality craftsmanship.

German inventions have transformed lives worldwide - from the autobahn to MP3. And with plenty of innovation yet unexplored, the future looks bright for this nation of engineers and inventors.

From the Autobahn to the MP3: The German Legacies

Germany is famed for many groundbreaking inventions that have helped shape modern society, such as the diesel engine, Bunsen burner and airbags. Additionally, German inventors created electronic television and radar systems as well as electromagnetic compasses and electron microscopes - these inventions all hailed from this land of innovation!

Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized printing in the 1500s by inventing a mechanical printing press, making it possible to print books of many pages without having to manually insert each piece of metal movable type again and again.

Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler made humankind mobile during the 1800s by developing internal combustion engines that powered vehicles that could be driven anywhere and at any time - such as today's Volkswagen Beetle with its distinctive round shape courtesy of German engineering.

Christian Friedrich Buschmann first created the accordion in 1822; this musical instrument continues to be widely used today in traditional German folk music styles.

Other innovative German developments include the phonograph, automobile and bicycle. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was responsible for developing calculus which forms the basis of modern number theory; German scientist Robert Koch made major contributions to understanding disease transmission as he discovered bacteria that helped explain disease spread as well as antiseptics, vaccines and blood typing systems.

Although it can be challenging to differentiate innovation and invention, some key distinctions can be drawn. For a new idea to be patentable, it must be innovative and industrially applicable - mathematical formulae, intellectual games or business procedures do not qualify as patentable inventions.

German inventors are known for creating innovative products, while also being adept at keeping secrets. This can be seen by the number of German companies which rank among the top ten registrants of patents with the European Patent Office.

For those curious to gain more insight into innovation, The Henry Ford is proud to present Innovation Nation on CBS Sunday Morning each week, which showcases present-day change-makers worldwide. Hosted by news correspondent and CBS Sunday Morning regular Mo Rocca.

Made in Germany: A Century of Innovation

From Einstein's revolutionary theory of relativity to common headache remedies such as aspirin, Germany is home to many world-changing inventions used worldwide today. From cars and phones to appliances such as fridges and ovens, their innovations are an integral part of modern life, and when something says "Made in Germany", you know you are getting high-quality goods.

Great German inventions often happen by chance. Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler's motor-driven automobiles initially met with negative public reactions: too noisy, fast and unsafe; yet their work would go on to revolutionize human locomotion and make human movement quicker than ever.

Dario Fontanella noticed that pressing together the hollow walls of his glass containers produced an entirely new flavor of ice cream; when this discovery led him to create the delicious dish now known as spaetzle ice cream; while a Dresden housewife observed that boiling loose coffee grounds created harsh and bitter coffee that produced too much acidity from her pot, she invented the Melitta filter; today this household brand is still operating worldwide.

Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen's accidental discovery of X-rays in 1895 revolutionized medical technology; by providing doctors with an unprecedented tool to examine human bodies inside out, these X-rays allow doctors to diagnose illnesses and injuries more accurately than ever before.

German products may be known for their meticulous quality, yet even they can fall victim to changing global conditions. According to OECD economist Rob Bertolotti, Germany's strength in automotive, aerospace and industrial electronics may seem impressive at first, but this may only be due to an economy in growth mode rather than any inherent advantage inherent to these industries. As economic landscape shifts further Germany will need to shift their innovation efforts away from traditional areas in order to retain their competitive edge.

Masters of Invention: The German Innovations

Invention is an exploratory process and not all ideas that emerge will become successful innovations. Even when these efforts do not bear fruit, their inspiration can still prove beneficial in developing new technology.

That was certainly the case when Robert Bunsen developed the Bunsen burner in 1852 at Heidelberg University. They wanted to attract him away from Leipzig University, so they made him an offer: they would build him a new chemistry lab at Heidelberg. Bunsen and his assistant Peter Desaga developed a burner that burned gases with oxygen at precise ratios in order to create soot-free flames - an invention that revolutionized laboratory work and has since become standard equipment today.

German ingenuity was responsible for the 1897 discovery of aspirin, one of the world's most widely used painkillers with minimal side effects. Aspirin stands as an excellent example of how inventions that may seem innocuous at first can ultimately have profound repercussions for society at large.

Other great examples of German invention and innovation are the bicycle (invented in the 19th century by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler), the airplane (first flown by Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1903) and helicopters (with Heinrich Focke contributing substantially by creating the first remote controlled model).

No matter where it can be found - from autobahn to MP3 player and ice cream cone production lines - Germany's innovative legacy can be seen everywhere. As per the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, Germany stands as an innovation pioneer.

As the world faces new challenges - such as COVID-19 pandemic and overreliance on fossil fuels - Germany must find innovative answers. Their innovation policy must be adaptable enough to respond swiftly, setting the foundation for future success. A new generation of innovators must emerge to produce solutions for old problems; public and private innovation agencies are required to support these innovators. Germany has already begun setting in motion an incentive system that will spur future breakthroughs of creativity.