Germany is not isolated in its need to address a shortage of bioinformaticists to support increasing efforts in genomic and post-genomic research (see page 102). But neighbouring countries have reacted with somewhat greater agility to the scientific opportunities being opened up by the data already flooding in from the nearly completed human genome project. Switzerland, for example, has just opened its Swiss Institute for Bioinformatics (SIB) in Lausanne, an initiative supported by local universities and research institutes.

The SIB's activities include teaching undergraduate and postgraduate university courses, leading to a nationally recognized certificate. This is exactly the sort of national initiative that Germany needs to support the programme launched by its university granting agency, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. As the German research ministry is currently in the middle of developing a new genome research strategy, this is a good time for it to try some creative thinking along the lines of the Swiss model.

Good things can happen fast in Germany if the incentives are right; a few years ago, the research ministry's Bioregio programme, a sort of formal ranking of highly competitive regions, turned around the fortunes of German biotechnology within a year. But the attack must be on several fronts. Federal and Länder governments must pursue reforms to allow universities to offer competitive salaries and more flexible employment conditions. Given the worldwide shortage of those qualified to teach bioinformatics, it is important that candidates see a good reason to do so in Germany.