A position paper from the “Seeheimer Kreis” puts forward a staged approach to a capital‑based pension scheme within the statutory pension system, according to “Handelsblatt”. The paper, signed by three SPD parliamentarians-Philipp Rottwilm, Parsa Marvi, and Daniel Bettermann-calls for the creation of a “Federal Pension Fund” that could invest up to five percent of its capital in start‑ups or European companies that go public. The fund would become a selectable option for both occupational and private pension plans, and would later serve as a partial capital‑funded vehicle for the statutory pension.
Earlier this week the Bundestag approved reforms to private pensions. The SPD also intends to develop a broader reform plan in the coming months; party leader Lars Klingbeil presented the outline of that plan in a general statement on Wednesday.
The three MPs add a start‑up strategy to Klingbeil’s framework. To improve tax incentives for start‑ups, they propose “research tax credits”. They also want to make it easier for insurers and pension funds to invest in young companies, noting that the regulatory framework must also be updated. New private investor tranches in umbrella funds would enable individual investors to participate more readily in growth ventures.
The SPD lawmakers estimate that, if these measures are implemented, the WIN Initiative could grow to €25 billion by 2030, up from the current €12 billion of capital mobilised for start‑ups.
