How innovative is Germany really? The Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) regularly addresses this question in its annual report, providing science-based policy advice to the German Federal Government. Due to COVID restrictions, we streamed the report’s publication via Twitter this time and set up a dedicated Q&A session for journalists in a virtual press conference.
Adapting a Tradition to New Realities
The annual handover of the EFI report is a cornerstone event in Germany’s science and innovation calendar. Traditionally held as an in-person ceremony, the 2022 edition had to be reimagined due to ongoing pandemic restrictions. Jakobs Medien designed a fully virtual production that preserved the gravitas and formality of the event while leveraging the advantages of digital distribution. The result was a broadcast that reached far more viewers than any previous in-person edition could have.
How We Produced the Virtual Event
From our studio in Berlin, we managed the entire production workflow. The report handover and the commission’s presentation were captured and streamed live to Twitter, where viewers could follow along in real time. For the subsequent press Q&A, we set up a separate, access-controlled virtual room that allowed accredited journalists to ask questions directly — replicating the dynamics of a physical press conference in a secure online environment. Our team handled live directing, graphics integration, and stream monitoring throughout, ensuring a smooth and professional viewer experience from start to finish.
The Lasting Value
The 2022 virtual press conference proved that high-profile policy events can be transitioned to digital formats without losing their impact or authority. The commission’s feedback highlighted the production quality as a standout, and the format has since informed the planning of subsequent EFI events. For Jakobs Medien, the project reinforced our expertise in producing sensitive, high-stakes broadcasts where precision, reliability, and discretion are non-negotiable.
Even two years into the pandemic, poorly executed virtual presentations are still all too common. That's exactly why it needs to be said when something is done really well.
— Christine Beyer | Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI)
