Preventing accidents means driving innovation: in order for the quality of occupational safety and health to be continually improved, investments in research and development are absolutely essential. The German statutory accident insurance institutions maintain highly specialized and internationally acclaimed institutes which conduct research, development, consultancy, testing and training. Research is characterized by its high relevance to practice: the institutes respond to topical OSH problems in plants with solutions which are rapidly available and suitable for application in the field. Interdisciplinary co-operation also ensures that prevention issues are considered from every angle.