The Diversity Factor: How Cultural Diversity Impacts Innovations in Germany

The 2018 Reinhard Mohn Prize on “Living Diversity – Shaping Society” is meant to bring new momentum and perspectives to how Germany lives diversity and shapes society. The present study “The Diversity Factor – How Cultural Diversity Impacts Innovations in Germany” examines the question of whether and how cultural diversity affects the innovative power of both companies and society. There is much to suggest that a culturally diverse workforce – e.g. people with different experiences, mindsets and interpretive contexts – fosters creativity and innovation. The current publication is based on evaluations of empirical studies that examine the correlation between cultural diversity and innovation. This analysis of the literature was carried out using a narrow definition of cultural diversity, one that includes, in particular, the dimensions of “ethnicity,” “religion/world view” and “nationality.” Innovation was measured in each study based on the number of patents, patent citations or companies’ self-assessments of their product and process innovations or overall factor productivity. The results of this research were then considered more deeply in interviews and conversations with business experts, public administrators and civil society leaders