The STEM Spring Report 2026 of the German Economic Institute (IW) makes it clear: The shortage of skilled workers remains – despite economic fluctuations – a burden on the innovative capacity and competitiveness of Germany as a business location. Currently, over 130,000 STEM professionals are missing; demographic developments are likely to further widen the gap in the long term. At the same time, the demand for STEM expertise is increasing because companies and the public sector must manage transformations – from digitalization and decarbonization to more resilient supply chains – and geopolitical shifts are raising the requirements for technology and security competence.

As an accreditation agency focusing on STEM, medicine, and business, ASIIN contributes to the quality assurance of higher education and advanced vocational education nationally and internationally.

Our work is based on a broad alliance of universities, faculty and departmental associations, technical and scientific societies, professional organizations, as well as companies and business associations. Within this network, internationally compatible quality standards are developed and updated – with a clear focus on the requirements of professional practice. Accreditation is more than a formal review of educational offerings. It creates transparency, comparability, and interoperability – criteria that play a key role in attracting skilled professionals. It strengthens trust, promotes mobility, and improves professional integration.

The IW report highlights that immigration helps to narrow the STEM skills gap. Nevertheless, the IW identifies untapped potential among the target group of international skilled workers, as well as among women and older workers. For the latter, the opportunity for reskilling is cited as a key recommendation for action. It is precisely here that we use our certification expertise to support the development of future-proof further training programmes and promote structures that reliably link learning content, qualification profiles and labour market needs.

However, to consistently strengthen STEM skills, it is crucial to consider the entire education chain: It begins with early intervention in early childhood, continues with school education and extends to vocational and academic qualifications.

As a partner in quality assurance and an international platform for certified quality in STEM, we contribute with our experts – so that Germany as a business location can produce and attract the skills it needs for innovation and prosperity.

 

Study (in German) is available at www.iwkoeln.de:

Anger, Christina / Betz, Julia / Geis-Thöne, Wido / Plünnecke, Axel, 2026, MINT-Frühjahrsreport 2026: Arbeitsmarktbericht. Beschäftigungsperspektiven in MINT, Gutachten für BDA, Gesamtmetall und MINT Zukunft schaffen, Köln.